Sincerely,
Greetings from the House, where last night the majority approved a bill (H.F. 7) which extends and increases Minnesota’s renewable energy standard to 55 percent by 2035 and requires electric utilities in the state to generate or acquire 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2040.
Unfortunately, this Blackout Bill would increase consumer energy prices, reduce power reliability and ultimately compromise the safety of Minnesotans.
A report from the Center of the American Experiment estimates the plan to move to 100 percent carbon free electricity by 2040 will cost $313 billion, or nearly $3,900 per family per year. The same study indicates the return on these massive consumer costs would be negligible at best, paying to potentially avert 0.00096 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100.
Minnesota should focus on delivering affordable, reliable and safe energy but this package goes the wrong direction. Technology is advancing every day, but our infrastructure is nowhere close to ready for the mandates this energy package imposes.
Let's look at ways of diversifying the state’s grid, tapping into new nuclear technology, and carbon capture and storage as lower-cost alternatives for reducing carbon emissions.
Reliability is another major concern with this proposal. The Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator currently has reported a 1,200-megawatt capacity shortfall, indicating Minnesota already doesn’t have enough reliable power-plant capacity online to meet expected peak electricity demand. MISO warnings of capacity shortfalls for peak periods will become more commonplace if our state continues to rely more on intermittent, weather-dependent energy sources as House Democrats propose.
All blackouts are bad, but winter blackouts in Minnesota – especially northern Minnesota – could pose great dangers this bill does not seriously address.
Amendments intended to improve H.F. 7 were offered on the House floor, including by allowing generation and transmission outfits to evaluate their own criteria on whether to modify or delay standard obligations. This takes the decision-making away from the Public Utilities Commission and provides a more flexible, common-sense approach allowing for market-based solutions instead of government mandates.
That amendment and other Republican proposals were blocked before the majority approved the bill and sent it to the Senate for a vote.
Whether it’s the Blackout Bill, the extreme abortion bills or any number of other controversial proposals this session, we are seeing a common thread of very minimal opportunity for public dialogue and scrutiny in the House. The committee process is designed to provide transparency and to serve as a place for the tough questions to be asked as we prepare to make decisions on rather important subjects.
But, instead of subjecting these bills to a series of committee hearings by all relevant committees, it’s been fast-track bill after fast-track bill in the House. People often express concern over the deliberate nature of our government, but these bills are classic examples of why our system was designed that way.
As people have said for years, if you think it’s bad that government “can’t get anything done,” just be thankful passing laws usually is not easy. That point is being driven home this year as bills are rushed through the process at the expense of citizens who are being pushed aside in favor of special-interest groups.
I sincerely hope this changes very soon.
Sincerely,
Matt