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Municipal utilities in Minnesota are dedicated to providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable <br />services to their customers. Recent carbon-free mandates and renewable standards placed on <br />all Minnesota electric utilities by the State legislature heighten the importance of maintaining <br />and strengthening any and all assistance available at the federal level. Policy priorities at the <br />federal level include limiting additional mandates, sustaining funding for infrastructure updates <br />and the energy transition, and streamlining administrative procedures. <br />In addition, new rules and regulations that help implement key federal legislation, including the <br />Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), need to be <br />simple, clear, and flexible, allowing all Minnesota communities—especially smaller towns—to <br />benefit. Most importantly, federal guidance should never hinder a municipal utility’s ability to <br />provide reliable and affordable electric service to our member communities. <br />FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION <br />2023 Federal Legislative Priorities <br />In 2021, the Hutchinson Utilities Commission (HUC) dedicated its second solar energy plant within <br />the last seven years. This plant combines with the previous solar plant, opened in 2015, to supply <br />over 1,100 kilowatts of electricity to the city. <br />HUC is now able to supply customers with 100% renewable energy. Hutchinson can still use local <br />generators in addition to these solar plants to ensure electric reliability during outage times. HUC's <br />legacy generation cability enables the utility to hedge against high market prices and maintain <br />power for the citizens of Hutchinson when required. <br />COMBINING OLD WITH NEW FOR CLEAN, RELIABLE ENERGY <br />227