Votes

Establish Carbon-Free Utility Standards | Amendment 36 to SF 972

Senate voted No

| April 14, 2021

About this Legislation

Chief Author

Establishes carbon-free standards for utilities, starting at 65% by 2025 and reaching 100% by 2040 in SF 972.

Under Minnesota Statutes, our state has greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, but to date, these goals are not enforceable in our current regulatory structure. This amendment requires carbon-free standards so that Minnesota's retail electric sales become 100% carbon-free by 2040. This amendment also includes greater emphasis on removing the pollution burdens in environmental justice areas, and require 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 Energy & Commerce Omnibus bill. The bill now proceeds to Conference Committee to be combined with the House’s version of the bill which did include this goal.

What a no means

A "no" vote means statutory guidelines were not put in place for Minnesota 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 the clean energy transformation underway to pay family sustaining wages.