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Milli, <br /> MINNESOTA MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ASSOCIATION <br /> 12805 Highway 55 • Suite 212 • Plymouth, MN 55441-3859 • 763 551 1230 • 800 422 0119(MN) • Fax 763.551.0459 <br /> Renewable Energy <br /> Minnesota's public policy encourages the inclusion of renewable resources in the <br /> generation mix. The 2001 omnibus energy bill expanded on that policy by calling upon <br /> power suppliers to make a "good faith effort" to secure 10% of their total electric sales <br /> from renewable sources by the year 2015, and by requiring utilities to provide customers <br /> with power from renewable sources when requested. <br /> We believe that Minnesota's renewable energy policy should recognize the following <br /> principles: <br /> • State policy should recognize that all existing domestic hydroelectricity is a <br /> renewable form of energy. <br /> • Minnesota should adopt state policy that creates uniformity in defining renewable <br /> energy sources that encompass renewable initiatives at the federal level. That <br /> definition of renewable resources should include the following: <br /> > Conversion of cellulose biomass to liquid fuels <br /> > Ethanol and ethanol byproduct processes <br /> > Direct combustion or gasification of biomass <br /> > Biofuels energy systems <br /> > Photovoltaics, including utility scale and remote applications <br /> • Solar thermal, including solar water heating <br /> > Wind energy <br /> > High temperature and low temperature geothermal energy <br /> > Fuel Cells, including transportation and stationary applications <br /> > Nondefense high-temperature superconducting electricity technology <br /> > Source reduction technology <br /> > Landfill Gas <br /> • Advance district cooling <br /> > Hydropower <br /> > Refuse derived fuels <br /> > Mixed Municipal Solid Waste <br /> • Minnesota should avoid policies that would require utilities to provide a fixed <br /> percentage of all the electricity they generate or a fixed percentage of their <br /> generating capacity from renewable sources. Instead, utilities should be allowed <br /> to offer customers "green pricing" options. <br /> • Any change in Minnesota law concerning renewable energy should continue to <br /> recognize the need for communities to be able to maintain local control over <br />