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ff rs bitious ener -initiatives
<br /> Pawlerity o e am gY
<br /> . ENERGY FROM Al forts enough to reduce sales of' ments about that figure and Meanwhile, Xcel Energy
<br /> electricity and natural gas by what should be counted as a Corp. executive Dave Sparby
<br /> ' All the moves are designed 1.5 percent each year. renewable resource. said the state's largest utility
<br /> to reduce Minnesota's depen- He called for a more-than- Pawlenty's initiative,which is"supportive and at the same
<br /> dence on fossil fuels. tenfold increase to 1,000 Ener- :would upgrade the state's cur- time very interested in learn-
<br /> The state's and nation's gy Star commercial buildings, rent Renewable Energy Stan- ;ing more" about the gover-
<br /> prosperity and security both and for a fivefold increase to dard (RES)''of 10;'percent by 'nor's,plan.Sparby,vice presi-
<br /> depend on moving away from 1,800 Minnesota outlets for the 2015, has failed so far in the dent of governmental and reg-
<br /> "funding both sides of the war 85-percent ethanol motor fuel. Legislature.' ulatory'affairs,called the pro-
<br /> on terror"via military spend- known as E85-both by 2010.' DFLers called Tuesday for posal"very aggressive"and ex-
<br /> ing and oil ,imports from a new target of 25 percent of ;pressed concern that mandato-
<br /> "countries'that don't like us," Carrots and sticks electric generation from re- ry reductions in sales of natural
<br /> Pawlenty said. Pawlenty said financial in- newable sources,mainly wind, gas and electricity could cut in
<br /> – . The`' Republican gover- centives should be offered to by 2020. A similar DFL pro- to the company's profits unless
<br /> nor's "Next Generation En- . utilities and other businesses to "posal also has failed to pass the rate adjustments are made.
<br /> ergy Initiative" was present- spur them to reach those goals. "Legislature. Pawlenty acknowledged
<br /> ed Tuesday largely in outline.° Incentives and funding should "Minnesota is already a that his proposal could have fi-
<br /> form,with none of the financial also be offered to help'develop, " leader in renewable fuels,"Pe- nancial effects"on utilities and
<br /> details spelled out.But DFLers ethanol from trees or grass as terson said.`And while we sup- possibly ratepayers if it's not
<br /> who will control the 2007 Leg- well as biomass gasification-: port the governor's efforts to managed well."
<br /> islature hailed the proposal as futuristic technologies that he grow the renewable fuel mar- On global warming,
<br /> a breakthrough while also say- said"will be Minnesota's next ket in Minnesota with next- Pawlenty noted that"Minn-
<br /> ing it falls short of their goals bio-energy home run." generation ethanol; for exam- sotans did not create this prob-
<br /> for ramping up electricity gen- In addition, Pawlenty`re- ple,there is a need to establish lem,nor can we solve it by our-
<br /> eration from wind. peated. his.proposed strate an R.ES for electricity." selves." But he said the state
<br /> `The winds of change have, gic goal that 25 percent of all can take "reasonable and fair
<br /> made.it to the governor's of- of Minnesota's energy — for Agree on independeruce steps"to cut greenhouse.gas-
<br /> Lice," said Rep. Aaron Peter- . electricity,transportation and Senate Majority Leader Lar- es, including ;a requirement
<br /> son,DFL-Appleton. "It seems heating-come from renew- ryPogerailler,DFL-Minneapo- that electric utilities offset car-
<br /> , like he's now on board with re- able sources by 2025,:backed lis,said his caucus shares the bon emissions from new fossil-
<br /> al numbers for,renewable en- . by what he called"significant governor's desire to achieve fuel generation plants.:
<br /> ergy." ,. penalties"for failing to reach .energy independence and will That could be doneby shut-
<br /> Ambitious numbers were .objectives.., . eagerly await his detailed legis- frog down other operations
<br /> plentiful in Pawlenty's plan. The plan would represent lative proposals. or by.buying emissions cred-
<br /> He called for Minnesotans to a five-fold increase from the 'House Speaker-Designate its from registries such as the
<br /> reduce,their use of fossil fu- roughly 5 percent of state en- :Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Chicago Climate ..Exchange,
<br /> els 15 percent by 2015.He said ,ergy that is currently,estimat DFL-Minn eapolis,' predict- he suggested.He also said he
<br /> the state should require utili- ed to come from renewables ed House passage of signify- is inviting the Pennsylvania
<br /> ties to step up conservation ef- —although there are disagree- cant energy legislation early non-profit Center for Climate
<br /> in the 2007 session. Steps to Strategies,which he described
<br /> spur manufacturing of wind as "nationally recognized,"to
<br /> s . turbines in Minnesota,already :help develop a broad state plan
<br /> •on track with a new factory in. for cutting carbon emissions.
<br /> Pipestone,will probably be,iii-" -- "Taking °- these -' steps,'
<br /> eluded,she said.- Pawlenty concluded, "will be
<br /> House `Minority' Leader-- good for the environment,
<br /> Marty Seifert,R Marshall,pre- - good for rural economies,good
<br /> dicted bipartisan agreement for national-security and good
<br /> ' on many of Pawlenty's irntia ',.for consumers:'
<br /> fives;"You're going to be sur `, '
<br /> prised that we're going to have Staff Writer Mark Brunswick contributed
<br /> a-very common goal on all of to this report
<br /> this,"Seifert said. Conrad deFiedre•651-222=1673
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