Not only are Duluth’s Minnesota Power and the rest of the state absolutely killing it when it comes to meeting and exceeding renewable-energy goals, we’re feeling pretty darn good about it.
That includes in Duluth, where the nonprofit advocacy group Conservation Minnesota mailed surveys to more than 16,000 randomly picked registered voters. More than 10 percent responded, which is great for direct mail. And those 1,767 Duluthians indicated overwhelmingly that they supported measures already taken to promote energy conservation and to move toward renewables like wind power and away from climate-changing fossil fuels. Respondents also indicated they’d support more efforts.
“The public really likes it when we move forward on this,” Conservation Minnesota Executive Director Paul Austin told the News Tribune Opinion page Thursday in Duluth while driving around the state to draw attention to survey findings just released here and elsewhere. “Since Minnesota Power is doing such a good job of meeting what’s there now, folks here are interested in seeing more.”
In 2007 Minnesota became a national leader when it set a goal of using 25 percent renewable energy by the year 2025. Utilities across the state are more than on pace to meet the standard. Minnesota Power, for one, has achieved it 10 years ahead of schedule.
That success has some hungry for more. But maybe too hungry. Last summer Gov. Mark Dayton floated eliminating coal altogether as an energy source. The idea is unrealistic. Coal is a reliable base energy well-complemented by more-intermittent and less-reliable sources like wind. A mix of energy best serves Minnesotans - and their pocketbooks. And a mix is what Minnesota Power’s Energy Forward plan is all about.
So Minnesota lawmakers can move cautiously this legislative session as they consider a request to up the state’s renewable standard from 25 percent by 2025 to 40 percent by 2030.
That seems, potentially, like too much too fast - even if Duluthians support easy-to-support clean-energy proposals. They sound so good but sometimes just aren’t affordable or practical.
In the survey, among other findings, 80 percent of responding Duluthians said they supported the energy-saving programs, grants and loans offered through the Duluth Public Works and Utilities; 78 percent supported Minnesota clean-energy policies, which are said to have created 15,000 jobs and $1 billion in wages last year; 73 percent supported replacing power plants when they reach the end of their lives with low-cost renewable energy; and 74 percent said Duluth should support increasing the state’s renewable-energy goals.
Findings were similar in other communities around the state, said Austin, who’s based in Minneapolis; Conservation Minnesota opened an office in Duluth in July. Similar surveys were done in Austin, Brainerd, Owatonna, Two Harbors, Rochester, Virginia, St. Peter, Hibbing, Grand Rapids and Grand Marais. Support ranged from the high 60s in percentage to the low 80s.
With its findings, Conservation Minnesota will advocate for even more renewable energy in Minnesota.
“Let’s create a future that has less pollution,” Austin said. “We all have to work together.”
Yes, but responsibly, and with a willingness to step back, as Minnesota law allows, if renewable goals prove too costly to ratepayers or result in unreliable energy service. Duluthians and Minnesotans would agree with that, too.
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