ST. PAUL – House Democrats on Thursday approved legislation Rep. Jeff Dotseth, R-Silver Township, said increases consumer energy prices, reduces power reliability and ultimately compromises safety.
The bill (H.F. 7) 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.
A report from the Center of the American Experiment estimates the Walz/Democrat plan to move to 100 percent carbon free electricity by 2040 will cost $313 billion, or nearly $3,900 per family per year. Dotseth said 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.
“This Blackout Bill would be a major burden on Minnesotans and it concerns me the damage it could cause, especially among our elderly and vulnerable citizens,” Dotseth said. “People already are struggling with higher energy costs. How in the world would we afford higher costs that would result from what House Democrats propose?”
Dotseth said reliability is another major concern with the House Democrats proposal. He indicated all blackouts are bad, but winter blackouts in Minnesota could pose great dangers that House Democrats are not taking seriously.
“The weather-related power outages people in our area recently suffered for days on end gave us a fresh reminder of the threats a widespread blackout could pose Minnesotans,” Dotseth said. “This was just a taste of what could happen, and I hope it opened some eyes to the importance of a reliable energy grid fueled by diverse sources.”
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. He added that 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.
Republicans offered amendments intended to improve H.F. 7, including by allowing generation and transmission outfits to evaluate their own criteria on whether to modify or delay standard obligations. Dotseth said 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.
“I’m all for safe, clean energy driven by advancements in the private sector instead of our government forcing mandates on our state before adequate technology and infrastructure are there to support our needs,” Dotseth said. “Let’s focus more on new nuclear technology and carbon capture and storage as lower-cost alternatives for reducing carbon emissions. In fact, I’m looking at other legislation that will help our environment and help deliver clean energy in our state.”
House Democrats blocked that amendment and other Republican proposals before approving the bill and sending to the Senate for a vote.
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