A blog to keep current on MPIRG'S fight for social and environmental justice.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Solar Works for Minnesota, NOW is the Time to Invest

As a student directed statewide nonprofit, we are conscious of the future impact our actions will have on the environment we will inherit. It is well known that our sources of energy are currently not sustainable, and have drastic negative impacts on both the environment and our public health.


Renewable Minnesota, an Institute for Energy and Environmental Research report released earlier this year, is groundbreaking in its results that illustrate Minnesota's potential to have all of its electricity needs satisfied through solar and wind energy alternatives. These results are incredibly inspirational for the future of green energy and our state’s ability to reach 100% renewable energy standards.


MPIRG is enthusiastic to see these results put in to action and we are confident that these findings will inspire more serious discussion about sustainable and renewable energy alternatives in Minnesota. As a member of Solar Works, we are working for a solar electricity standard of 10% by 2030. This benchmark would ensure we are prioritizing the expansion of jobs and energy options in Minnesota.


What does 10% get us? Enough power for 700,000+ homes in Minnesota. And there is a practical target to kick off this effort. If Minnesota commits to installing solar on the public buildings we pay taxes on, like K-12 schools and fire departments, we could power 125,000 homes.


In addition, we call on our own colleges and universities to be leaders in bridging the research on solar projects and innovations to praxis on campus where the sun could power the buildings we learn in.


Senator Senjum has said the bonding bill should hit the Senate floor yet this week, and it is critical our legislators know we want them to fund solar!


TAKE ACTION NOW! In the next 90 seconds, YOU can tell your Senator you support solar on public buildings: http://mnaction.org/takeaction.asp?aaid=1153


By Elena Haynes and Dakotah Johnson

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