Votes

Carbon-Free Utility Standards | A37 (SF 4091)

Senate voted No

| April 26, 2022

About this Legislation

Offered the Amendment

Establishes carbon-free standards for utilities, starting at 65% by 2025 and reaching 100% by 2040.

Under Minnesota Statutes, our state has greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. But, these goals are not enforceable in our current regulatory structure. This amendment requires carbon-free standards to make Minnesota's retail electric sales 100% carbon-free by 2040. This amendment also emphasizes removing the pollution burdens in environmental justice areas and requires workers participating in the clean energy transformation be paid family-sustaining wages.

Status

The amendment failed and carbon-free standards for utilities were not included in the Senate Jobs, Energy, and Commerce Omnibus bill.

What a no means

A "no" vote means that Minnesota’s statutory guidelines were not put in place to generate carbon free energy by 2040. No guidelines were put in place to address pollution in areas of environmental justice or wages of workers in the energy sector.

What a yes would have meant

A "yes" vote sets Minnesota on a path to carbon-free electricity by 2040, aims to reduce pollution in areas of environmental justice, and requires family-sustaining wages in the energy sector.