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2021 Position Statement <br /> <br /> <br />Clean Energy First (CEF) / Energy Optimization (CIP) / <br />100% Standard <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />MMUA recognizes that energy issues will play a central role in the 2021 legislative session, with <br />an emphasis likely being placed on Clean Energy First, Energy Optimization (CIP Reform), and <br />increased Renewable Energy Standards. <br />In recent years, these issues have been bundled together by the Governor and the Department <br /> MMUA recognizes the interaction and common <br />goal of these issues, but believes that each of these three measures need to be discussed <br />separately with individual bills standing or falling on their own respective merits. <br />The interchangeable use of terms like clean energy, renewable energy, carbon-free <br />energy, carbon-neutral energy, etc. has created a lot of confusion as each term has its own <br />definition, but their important distinctions get easily lost and the terms erroneously used <br />interchangeably. Further, few people understand the difference between meeting such a <br />versus <br />Mi cleaner and renewable <br />energy and have substantially reduced their greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, are <br />already meeting or exceeding current mandated standards, and are no longer the leading <br />source of greenhouse gas emissions. This success will accelerate over the next decade with <br />planned coal plant closures and new lower carbon energy projects coming online. <br /> <br />CURRENT STATUS <br />Clean Energy First (CEF) Based on bills introduced to date, CEF legislation seeks to <br />increase non-carbon-in <br />the Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process. Municipal utilities primarily rely on Joint <br />Action Agencies to address this issue and MMUA has been and will continue to work <br />with the JAAs on any CEF legislation introduced during the 2021 legislative session. <br />MMUA believes a well-designed CEF approach will steer utilities towards the continued <br />increase in the use of clean energy without artificial deadlines that fail to recognize both <br />the technological limits and physical obstacles (such as large transmission investments) <br />that must be overcome to continue to reduce the overall carbon footprint of utilities. <br />Again, it is critical to note that Minnesota utilities have already made changes that have <br />3131 Fernbrook Lane North, Suite 200, Plymouth, MN55447-5337·763.551.1230 ·763.551.0459 Fax ·www.mmua.org <br />381 <br />