The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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November 20, 2009

Your View — Senators should fight for strong clean energy bill

Ariana Riegel, Minneapolis

I am with Environment Minnesota, a statewide, citizen-based, environmental advocacy organization. I am writing in response to the recent article about the city of Le Sueur’s newest investments in wind technology. It is heartening to see Minnesotans taking the initiative in switching to clean and renewable sources of energy.

Minnesota already has a strong, science-based, renewable energy standard. This is just the first step. It is time to take the leadership we have shown as a state to the national level.

The climate bill currently being heard by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will be a boon for our economy and our natural spaces. A new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy confirms these advantages, explaining that not only will the new policies lower energy costs and create jobs, but the stronger we make the bill, the bigger those benefits get.

Unfortunately, the bill faces potentially overwhelming opposition from powerful special interests in Washington. Now is the time for decisive action to ensure a sustainable future for our economy and our environment.

Representative Tim Walz helped pass landmark clean energy legislation through the House this summer. I urge both of our senators to fight for a stronger clean energy bill that calls for dramatic increases in wind and solar power and greater investments in energy efficiency that will create millions of good-paying green jobs and save Minnesotans money on their energy bills.

Minnesota and the nation cannot afford to wait to pass this bill.

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