Minnesota imports $12 - $20 billion worth of energy every year. Minnesota's dependence on oil and traditional energy sources makes us vulnerable and damages the environment. Reducing that dependence can increase our economic competitiveness while enhancing environmental sustainability.

Minnesota should lead the nation in transforming its energy future from a competitive risk to a competitive advantage.

Minnesota's environmental resources are precious assets. The Pollution Control Agency estimates that we're already the land of 10,000 "impaired" waters. Every year we hear more warnings: Don't swim in our lakes! Don't eat the fish you catch! Every year the Legislature debates a clean-up bill. Every year partisan gridlock prevents approval. We need to reverse course now.

• Zero net pollution, zero net dependence - creating expectations, incentives and rewards so that we maintain or improve environmental conditions and energy independence.
• Diversifying - bringing energy alternatives into the marketplace - especially alternatives that reduce the use of energy imports AND reduce effects on air, water and soil (e.g., wind, solar, biomass 'green steam', efficiency investments).
• Investments in repair and sustainability - making environmental resources better, more useable, and longer lasting.
• Compliance - winning voluntary compliance whenever we can, using enforcement when we must.

Click below to see our proposal for reforming the state's Environment/Energy.

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