Jan 17, 2008 5:57 pm US/Central
MN Lawmakers Hope To Lure Danish Wind Research
ST. PAUL (AP) ―
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Vestas is the world's largest market of wind turbines. The company plans by build a research center in the U.S., but hasn't picked a location.
CBS 5
The move toward clean energy showcased rare unity Thursday at the Capitol, as lawmakers pushed to bring a Danish wind research center to Minnesota and Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed a loan program to help homeowners start using solar panels and other renewable power sources.
The Democrat-controlled Legislature and the Republican governor clash on most subjects. But last year, they gave Minnesota one of the most aggressive renewable energy standards in the nation, requiring a quarter of the state's electricity to come from wind and other clean sources by 2025. Another law aims to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050.
Lawmakers and Pawlenty aim to inch toward both goals this year.
"Last year we set very large, very aggressive, big goals. And now we need to roll up our sleeves and do the work to actually achieve those goals," Pawlenty said.
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and several other Democrats said they're considering a package of unspecified incentives -- possibly bonding dollars, or tax breaks -- to draw Denmark's Vestas Wind Systems to the state. Vestas, the world's largest maker of wind turbines, plans to build a U.S. research center, but hasn't picked a location.
Minnesota is already the third-largest producer of wind energy in the nation, behind Texas and California. Kelliher and her colleagues, DFL Reps. Aaron Peterson and Jeremy Kalin, said the Vestas research center would create 80 high-paying engineering jobs and put Minnesota on the leading edge of green power.
"A big part of our economic future can be these green-collar jobs," Kelliher said.
Bringing Vestas to the state is "a great idea," Pawlenty said, adding that his administration is holding talks with the company. He said he would support state help if the turbine maker would commit to Minnesota for its research center.
At a separate news conference, Pawlenty presented the Local Renewable Energy Initiative, his plan to offer low-interest loans to homeowners, farmers, small businesses and local governments to install solar panels, small windmills, geothermal pipes and other renewable power sources.
Legislative approval is needed so local governments can issue bonds for the loans.
Pawlenty also outlined several new layers of state government to focus on clean energy. He signed executive orders creating two new entities:
--The Clean Energy Technology Collaborative, a 15-member group of academics, scientists and state officials, will keep up with the latest research on clean energy.
--The Office of Energy Security is established within the state Department of Commerce, headed by deputy commerce commissioner Ed Garvey. The move essentially puts a new name on activities that were already happening, and highlights the importance the governor places on them.
Pawlenty also wants to establish a carbon market planning authority to prepare for the time when carbon emissions are capped and credits can be traded or sold. That step also needs lawmakers' approval.
The governor's initiatives drew qualified praise from DFL Sen. Ellen Anderson, who heads the Senate environment budget division.
"It's just a drop in the bucket of what we need to get done," she said. "But it's a good drop."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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