The document provides an overview of energy policy in Minnesota. It discusses Minnesota's reliance on imported fossil fuels for electricity generation and the costs associated with this. It outlines Minnesota's energy policy foundation, including the Next Generation Energy Act which set renewable and energy efficiency targets. It also discusses progress made towards these goals through wind and energy efficiency. The future of federal policies like the production tax credit for wind are discussed as important for continued development of renewable energy in Minnesota.
Connected and Sustainable Energy WhitepaperShane Mitchell
Cities around the world are realizing that energy consumed by buildings and homes is the leading cause of global-warming emissions. This paper presents an overview of emerging solutions for city leaders to reduce electricity consumption, produce greener energy with lower carbon emissions, and improve the reliability of the electric grid.
Maine Green Power - A Look Into Maine’s Renewable Energy: A GrowSmart Maine B...GrowSmart Maine
Are you a Maine resident or business owner looking to learn more about your electricity options? Do you wonder about how Maine’s electricity system works, and what that means for you? Our February forum was all about how it all works, what it means to residents and businesses, and options to get involved! We heard from experts about existing renewable energy programs Maine has and learn what works, what doesn’t, where they are, and what they cost. We found success stories on how to act locally and affect change in your community.
$5 billion leaves Maine each year in the purchase of fossil fuels. This is a cost to Maine businesses, residents and communities. The health and environmental benefits of reduced fossil fuel uses are significant. With our focus on community-level tools to manage growth and change, GrowSmart Maine draws attention to the costs for Maine communities, and the resources available to those who live and work here to keep more of those dollars here, through energy efficiency and production of renewable energy.
Connected and Sustainable Energy WhitepaperShane Mitchell
Cities around the world are realizing that energy consumed by buildings and homes is the leading cause of global-warming emissions. This paper presents an overview of emerging solutions for city leaders to reduce electricity consumption, produce greener energy with lower carbon emissions, and improve the reliability of the electric grid.
Maine Green Power - A Look Into Maine’s Renewable Energy: A GrowSmart Maine B...GrowSmart Maine
Are you a Maine resident or business owner looking to learn more about your electricity options? Do you wonder about how Maine’s electricity system works, and what that means for you? Our February forum was all about how it all works, what it means to residents and businesses, and options to get involved! We heard from experts about existing renewable energy programs Maine has and learn what works, what doesn’t, where they are, and what they cost. We found success stories on how to act locally and affect change in your community.
$5 billion leaves Maine each year in the purchase of fossil fuels. This is a cost to Maine businesses, residents and communities. The health and environmental benefits of reduced fossil fuel uses are significant. With our focus on community-level tools to manage growth and change, GrowSmart Maine draws attention to the costs for Maine communities, and the resources available to those who live and work here to keep more of those dollars here, through energy efficiency and production of renewable energy.
Leaders from MN’s Division of Energy Resources, the MN Pollution Control Agency, and the energy sector discuss regional solutions to cut emissions from existing power plants.
Cost implications analysis of grid supplied electricity and solar source of e...TELKOMNIKA JOURNAL
Energy is a key component in the overall growth of every nation. Insufficient energy delivery hinders political growth, restricts social growth, limits economic growth, and negatively affects the standard of living of citizens, bothin urban and rural areas. Sufficient energy delivery increases food production, improves the standards of living of citizens, improves healthcare and enhancements in other human services, enhances industrial output, provides effective and efficient transportation not forgetting adequate shelter to the citizens of the nation. Currently, there is a significant level of deficiency in Nigeria’s energy sector. This study seeks to address this issue by analysing cost implications of conventional energy source and solar energy source. This study brings to focus the payback period of a solar powered home and the return on investment that might accrue during this time to the residential home owners. Furthermore, the best cost-effective load sharing option for residential owners considering two energy sources is also obtained.
Renewable Energy Industry Review Allliedschools Jul09Allied Schools
Source: http://www.training4green.com
In This Issue:
Renewable Energy Is Going Global – from the U.S. to China!
Career Profile Certified Photovoltaic (PV) Systems Installation Technician
Fed Budgets $4 Billion for Green Jobs
Despite Tighter Budgets, Companies Spend Money to Meet Green Initiatives
New U.S. Auto Standards: The Fast Track to Oil Independence
Alliance President Kateri Callahan at the World Energy Engineering ConferenceAlliance To Save Energy
On October 1st Alliance President Kateri Callahan had the honor of delivering the keynote address at the World Energy Engineering Conference (WEEC) in Washington, DC. With the theme, “Visions for Sustainability and Climate Change”, the conference was attended by over 500 international energy industry professionals keen to learn more about carbon reduction and sustainable business practices. In my presentation, Callahan highlighted opportunities – many of them falling within the provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 – open to both the building and industrial sectors to lower carbon emissions in a cost-effective manner. Energy efficiency is integral to this process, and she shared with audience the myriad of ways that this – our quickest, cleanest and cheapest source of energy – can fuel the industrial and building sectors as they forge that path toward sustainability.
9/9 FRI 11:00 | Sustainable Economic Development - SebastianAPA Florida
Nilsa Zacarias
Brandon R. Schaad
Rebecca Grohall
Economic development and job creation are perennial issues for almost any community, but even more in this severe economic downturn. Recent economic conditions have affected most everyone in the public and private sector, and the City of Sebastianhas been no exception. This presentation will focus on the City of Sebastian’s efforts to strengthen their economy by maximizing
their available resources and providing a sustainable economic framework which balances land use, housing and transportation. Sebastian’s cutting edge sustainable approach is based on supporting green jobs, promoting the growth of eco-tourism and diversifying housing choices to attract a more dynamic workforce.
Fresh Energy's 2013 Power Breakfast | Sara Bergan: Case StudyFresh Energy
The first event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s annual Power Breakfast outlined new and exciting solar opportunities for business and property owners. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Fresh Energy's 2013 Power Breakfast | Jason Willett: Case StudyFresh Energy
The first event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s annual Power Breakfast outlined new and exciting solar opportunities for business and property owners. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Leaders from MN’s Division of Energy Resources, the MN Pollution Control Agency, and the energy sector discuss regional solutions to cut emissions from existing power plants.
Cost implications analysis of grid supplied electricity and solar source of e...TELKOMNIKA JOURNAL
Energy is a key component in the overall growth of every nation. Insufficient energy delivery hinders political growth, restricts social growth, limits economic growth, and negatively affects the standard of living of citizens, bothin urban and rural areas. Sufficient energy delivery increases food production, improves the standards of living of citizens, improves healthcare and enhancements in other human services, enhances industrial output, provides effective and efficient transportation not forgetting adequate shelter to the citizens of the nation. Currently, there is a significant level of deficiency in Nigeria’s energy sector. This study seeks to address this issue by analysing cost implications of conventional energy source and solar energy source. This study brings to focus the payback period of a solar powered home and the return on investment that might accrue during this time to the residential home owners. Furthermore, the best cost-effective load sharing option for residential owners considering two energy sources is also obtained.
Renewable Energy Industry Review Allliedschools Jul09Allied Schools
Source: http://www.training4green.com
In This Issue:
Renewable Energy Is Going Global – from the U.S. to China!
Career Profile Certified Photovoltaic (PV) Systems Installation Technician
Fed Budgets $4 Billion for Green Jobs
Despite Tighter Budgets, Companies Spend Money to Meet Green Initiatives
New U.S. Auto Standards: The Fast Track to Oil Independence
Alliance President Kateri Callahan at the World Energy Engineering ConferenceAlliance To Save Energy
On October 1st Alliance President Kateri Callahan had the honor of delivering the keynote address at the World Energy Engineering Conference (WEEC) in Washington, DC. With the theme, “Visions for Sustainability and Climate Change”, the conference was attended by over 500 international energy industry professionals keen to learn more about carbon reduction and sustainable business practices. In my presentation, Callahan highlighted opportunities – many of them falling within the provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 – open to both the building and industrial sectors to lower carbon emissions in a cost-effective manner. Energy efficiency is integral to this process, and she shared with audience the myriad of ways that this – our quickest, cleanest and cheapest source of energy – can fuel the industrial and building sectors as they forge that path toward sustainability.
9/9 FRI 11:00 | Sustainable Economic Development - SebastianAPA Florida
Nilsa Zacarias
Brandon R. Schaad
Rebecca Grohall
Economic development and job creation are perennial issues for almost any community, but even more in this severe economic downturn. Recent economic conditions have affected most everyone in the public and private sector, and the City of Sebastianhas been no exception. This presentation will focus on the City of Sebastian’s efforts to strengthen their economy by maximizing
their available resources and providing a sustainable economic framework which balances land use, housing and transportation. Sebastian’s cutting edge sustainable approach is based on supporting green jobs, promoting the growth of eco-tourism and diversifying housing choices to attract a more dynamic workforce.
Fresh Energy's 2013 Power Breakfast | Sara Bergan: Case StudyFresh Energy
The first event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s annual Power Breakfast outlined new and exciting solar opportunities for business and property owners. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Fresh Energy's 2013 Power Breakfast | Jason Willett: Case StudyFresh Energy
The first event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s annual Power Breakfast outlined new and exciting solar opportunities for business and property owners. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
November 21, 2013 | Next Steps: Financing solar for your business | James Ton...Fresh Energy
For many businesses and property owners, the high upfront cost of solar photovoltaic systems remains the single largest barrier to adoption. The solution? Solar financing. Fresh Energy’s solar financing event, the final installment of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, will introduce participants to the range of current and emerging solar-financing options available in Minnesota. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Top 10 policy interview questions with answersrogerskatie644
In this file, you can ref interview materials for policy such as, policy situational interview, policy behavioral interview, policy phone interview, policy interview thank you letter, policy interview tips …
October 24, 2013 | Community Solar: It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood ...Fresh Energy
The second event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s community solar event introduced community leaders and institutions to this promising new solar-development model, providing an objective update on the detailed rules currently being written. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
October 24, 2013 | Community Solar: It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood ...Fresh Energy
The second event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s community solar event introduced community leaders and institutions to this promising new solar-development model, providing an objective update on the detailed rules currently being written. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Linking the energy crisis with climate change, Ritu Mathu, TERI University, I...ESD UNU-IAS
This lecture is part of the 2016 ProSPER.Net Young Researchers’ School on sustainable energy for transforming lives: availability, accessibility, affordability
Today’s renewable energy sources are very important for lots of countries. Therefore, many countries start to change and implement their policies. Especially, in Turkey and Europe the importance of solar and wind energies influence the energy policies.
A presentation on several key drivers impacting the green building construction market. Highlights include regulations, legislation and incentives affecting designers, contractors and building owners. The presentation has been given publicly several times in 2009 and 2010.
Why the PiPP closure means for Houghton, and what our community can do to to protect ourselves against unprecedented rate increases.
Presentation made to Houghton Rotary, 10/9/2014
U.S. Department of State, Office of International Information Programs Confer...Alliance To Save Energy
In his presentation, Castelli addresses The Role of Energy Efficiency in Energy Security and Climate Change. Taking into consideration the global energy concerns and the increasinly volatile geopolitical landscape, there is a great need to improve energy intensity across the world. Energy efficiency - which is at the nexus of economic objectives, energy security & foreign policy objectives, and environmental objectives - offers a great opportunity to achieve this. Castelli discussed the roles that the public and private sectors must play to sieze this potential in Russia and former Soviet Union countries. In this area of the world, he said, energy efficiency can significantly reduce consumer energy consumption, particularly in home heating.
November 21, 2013 | Next Steps: Financing solar for your business | Peter Kle...Fresh Energy
For many businesses and property owners, the high upfront cost of solar photovoltaic systems remains the single largest barrier to adoption. The solution? Solar financing. Fresh Energy’s solar financing event, the final installment of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, will introduce participants to the range of current and emerging solar-financing options available in Minnesota. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
November 21, 2013 | Next Steps: Financing solar for your business | Victor Ro...Fresh Energy
For many businesses and property owners, the high upfront cost of solar photovoltaic systems remains the single largest barrier to adoption. The solution? Solar financing. Fresh Energy’s solar financing event, the final installment of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, will introduce participants to the range of current and emerging solar-financing options available in Minnesota. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
October 24, 2013 | Community Solar: It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood ...Fresh Energy
The second event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s community solar event introduced community leaders and institutions to this promising new solar-development model, providing an objective update on the detailed rules currently being written. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Fresh Energy's 2013 Power Breakfast | Betsy Engelking: Case StudyFresh Energy
The first event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s annual Power Breakfast outlined new and exciting solar opportunities for business and property owners. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Fresh Energy's 2013 Power Breakfast | Shayle Kann: Solar in the U.S.: The Big...Fresh Energy
The first event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s annual Power Breakfast outlined new and exciting solar opportunities for business and property owners. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Fresh Energy's 2013 Power Breakfast | Erin Stojan Ruccolo, Solar Means Busine...Fresh Energy
The first event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s annual Power Breakfast outlined new and exciting solar opportunities for business and property owners. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Why You Should Replace Windows 11 with Nitrux Linux 3.5.0 for enhanced perfor...SOFTTECHHUB
The choice of an operating system plays a pivotal role in shaping our computing experience. For decades, Microsoft's Windows has dominated the market, offering a familiar and widely adopted platform for personal and professional use. However, as technological advancements continue to push the boundaries of innovation, alternative operating systems have emerged, challenging the status quo and offering users a fresh perspective on computing.
One such alternative that has garnered significant attention and acclaim is Nitrux Linux 3.5.0, a sleek, powerful, and user-friendly Linux distribution that promises to redefine the way we interact with our devices. With its focus on performance, security, and customization, Nitrux Linux presents a compelling case for those seeking to break free from the constraints of proprietary software and embrace the freedom and flexibility of open-source computing.
Threats to mobile devices are more prevalent and increasing in scope and complexity. Users of mobile devices desire to take full advantage of the features
available on those devices, but many of the features provide convenience and capability but sacrifice security. This best practices guide outlines steps the users can take to better protect personal devices and information.
How to Get CNIC Information System with Paksim Ga.pptxdanishmna97
Pakdata Cf is a groundbreaking system designed to streamline and facilitate access to CNIC information. This innovative platform leverages advanced technology to provide users with efficient and secure access to their CNIC details.
Observability Concepts EVERY Developer Should Know -- DeveloperWeek Europe.pdfPaige Cruz
Monitoring and observability aren’t traditionally found in software curriculums and many of us cobble this knowledge together from whatever vendor or ecosystem we were first introduced to and whatever is a part of your current company’s observability stack.
While the dev and ops silo continues to crumble….many organizations still relegate monitoring & observability as the purview of ops, infra and SRE teams. This is a mistake - achieving a highly observable system requires collaboration up and down the stack.
I, a former op, would like to extend an invitation to all application developers to join the observability party will share these foundational concepts to build on:
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 6DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 6. In this session, we will cover Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI webinar offers an in-depth exploration of leveraging cutting-edge technologies for test automation within the UiPath platform. Attendees will delve into the integration of generative AI, a test automation solution, with Open AI advanced natural language processing capabilities.
Throughout the session, participants will discover how this synergy empowers testers to automate repetitive tasks, enhance testing accuracy, and expedite the software testing life cycle. Topics covered include the seamless integration process, practical use cases, and the benefits of harnessing AI-driven automation for UiPath testing initiatives. By attending this webinar, testers, and automation professionals can gain valuable insights into harnessing the power of AI to optimize their test automation workflows within the UiPath ecosystem, ultimately driving efficiency and quality in software development processes.
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into integrating generative AI.
2. Understanding how this integration enhances test automation within the UiPath platform
3. Practical demonstrations
4. Exploration of real-world use cases illustrating the benefits of AI-driven test automation for UiPath
Topics covered:
What is generative AI
Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath integration with generative AI
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 5DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 5. In this session, we will cover CI/CD with devops.
Topics covered:
CI/CD with in UiPath
End-to-end overview of CI/CD pipeline with Azure devops
Speaker:
Lyndsey Byblow, Test Suite Sales Engineer @ UiPath, Inc.
Climate Impact of Software Testing at Nordic Testing DaysKari Kakkonen
My slides at Nordic Testing Days 6.6.2024
Climate impact / sustainability of software testing discussed on the talk. ICT and testing must carry their part of global responsibility to help with the climat warming. We can minimize the carbon footprint but we can also have a carbon handprint, a positive impact on the climate. Quality characteristics can be added with sustainability, and then measured continuously. Test environments can be used less, and in smaller scale and on demand. Test techniques can be used in optimizing or minimizing number of tests. Test automation can be used to speed up testing.
Sudheer Mechineni, Head of Application Frameworks, Standard Chartered Bank
Discover how Standard Chartered Bank harnessed the power of Neo4j to transform complex data access challenges into a dynamic, scalable graph database solution. This keynote will cover their journey from initial adoption to deploying a fully automated, enterprise-grade causal cluster, highlighting key strategies for modelling organisational changes and ensuring robust disaster recovery. Learn how these innovations have not only enhanced Standard Chartered Bank’s data infrastructure but also positioned them as pioneers in the banking sector’s adoption of graph technology.
In his public lecture, Christian Timmerer provides insights into the fascinating history of video streaming, starting from its humble beginnings before YouTube to the groundbreaking technologies that now dominate platforms like Netflix and ORF ON. Timmerer also presents provocative contributions of his own that have significantly influenced the industry. He concludes by looking at future challenges and invites the audience to join in a discussion.
Removing Uninteresting Bytes in Software FuzzingAftab Hussain
Imagine a world where software fuzzing, the process of mutating bytes in test seeds to uncover hidden and erroneous program behaviors, becomes faster and more effective. A lot depends on the initial seeds, which can significantly dictate the trajectory of a fuzzing campaign, particularly in terms of how long it takes to uncover interesting behaviour in your code. We introduce DIAR, a technique designed to speedup fuzzing campaigns by pinpointing and eliminating those uninteresting bytes in the seeds. Picture this: instead of wasting valuable resources on meaningless mutations in large, bloated seeds, DIAR removes the unnecessary bytes, streamlining the entire process.
In this work, we equipped AFL, a popular fuzzer, with DIAR and examined two critical Linux libraries -- Libxml's xmllint, a tool for parsing xml documents, and Binutil's readelf, an essential debugging and security analysis command-line tool used to display detailed information about ELF (Executable and Linkable Format). Our preliminary results show that AFL+DIAR does not only discover new paths more quickly but also achieves higher coverage overall. This work thus showcases how starting with lean and optimized seeds can lead to faster, more comprehensive fuzzing campaigns -- and DIAR helps you find such seeds.
- These are slides of the talk given at IEEE International Conference on Software Testing Verification and Validation Workshop, ICSTW 2022.
Communications Mining Series - Zero to Hero - Session 1DianaGray10
This session provides introduction to UiPath Communication Mining, importance and platform overview. You will acquire a good understand of the phases in Communication Mining as we go over the platform with you. Topics covered:
• Communication Mining Overview
• Why is it important?
• How can it help today’s business and the benefits
• Phases in Communication Mining
• Demo on Platform overview
• Q/A
Securing your Kubernetes cluster_ a step-by-step guide to success !KatiaHIMEUR1
Today, after several years of existence, an extremely active community and an ultra-dynamic ecosystem, Kubernetes has established itself as the de facto standard in container orchestration. Thanks to a wide range of managed services, it has never been so easy to set up a ready-to-use Kubernetes cluster.
However, this ease of use means that the subject of security in Kubernetes is often left for later, or even neglected. This exposes companies to significant risks.
In this talk, I'll show you step-by-step how to secure your Kubernetes cluster for greater peace of mind and reliability.
GridMate - End to end testing is a critical piece to ensure quality and avoid...ThomasParaiso2
End to end testing is a critical piece to ensure quality and avoid regressions. In this session, we share our journey building an E2E testing pipeline for GridMate components (LWC and Aura) using Cypress, JSForce, FakerJS…
2. About Fresh Energy
Fresh Energy works daily for a future where energy
production stimulates local economies, efficiently
harnessing clean, homegrown electricity sources like wind
and solar power.
One where pollution is a thing of the past, where the energy
we need doesn’t harm the people we love.
And one that reflects Midwesterners’ love and respect for
our lakes, prairies, and forests—for our sake and beyond.
3. About Fresh Energy
Fresh Energy provides research, advocacy, and innovative
policy models while engaging citizens to take action on
energy issues.
Fresh Energy is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not
participate or intervene in elections for public office in any
way.
Our candidate education activities are completely
nonpartisan.
4. Our policy staff
Ross Abbey J. Drake Hamilton
transportation, solar global warming solutions
Ethan Fawley Alison Lindburg
transportation clean energy, efficiency
Kate Ellis Michael Noble
clean energy, efficiency executive director
Erin Stojan Ruccolo
clean energy, efficiency
5. Agenda
AGENDA
Energy in Minnesota
Minnesota’s energy policy foundation
The future of energy policy in Minnesota
Public opinion research
Q&A
7. Where does Minnesota’s energy come from?
Primary energy consumption across all sectors
[trillion BTUs]
Oil
Natural Gas
Coal
Electricity
imports
Uranium
Biomass
Wind
Biofuels
Source: Energy Information Administration data 2010
8. Sources of MN Electricity by fuel type
Minnesota electricity generation
Source: Energy Information Administration data 1990-2010
9. Minnesota imports a lot of fuels for electricity
Minnesota has no oil wells, natural
gas, uranium, or coal mines.
The cost of coal delivered to Minnesota has
increased on average 11.8 percent every year
since 2004.
12. Residential Building Energy Code adoption in the Midwest
As of June 2012:
*
Code Level / Equivalence
No Mandatory
Statewide Code
2006 IECC
2009 IECC
2012 IECC
2009 Adopted by Major
Municipality
*
Upgrading to 2012
13. Energy codes raise the standards for all buildings
Minnesota’s code is currently roughly equivalent to
IECC 2006 and the state is in the process of
upgrading to the IECC 2012 with amendments.
These proposed changes will save newly
constructed Minnesota residences at least 20
percent in energy consumption and 30 percent for
commercial buildings.
14. CapX2020 is a joint
initiative of 11 utilities in
Minnesota and the
surrounding region to
expand the transmission
grid to ensure continued
reliable and affordable
service.
15. How much does Minnesota spend on oil?
In recent years, Minnesota has ―exported‖ about $2,000 per person per year for
oil.
18
16
14
12
Billions of Dollars
10
8
6
4
2
0
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Source: US Energy Information Administration’s State Energy Data System
17. Uncertain future for gas prices; volatility and increases likely
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (the agency tasked with forecasting energy
trends)
19. Minnesota's energy policy foundation
• 2007 Next Generation Energy Act
• Requirements that electric and
natural gas utilities double to
triple energy efficiency savings
• 25 percent by 2025 Renewable
Electricity Standard
20. Next Generation Energy Act
State goal to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions economy-wide to at least:
15 percent below 2005 levels by 2015
30 percent below by 2025
80 percent below by 2050
21. Progress toward state goals
Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)
• Utilities are on track or exceeding RES goals.
• Minnesota has 2,500 megawatts of installed wind
energy—enough to power 700,000 Minnesotan homes.
• According to statewide utility reporting in 2012, there
has been almost no rate impact due to compliance with
RES. Many utilities stated that they would have added
wind in any scenario because it is the least-cost
resource.
22. Progress toward state goals
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS)
• Utilities are on track or exceeding the efficiency goals.
• Increased energy efficiency reduces rates for
consumers.
• Xcel alone has saved the equivalent of constructing
nine new coal plants, reducing rates for consumers.
• Energy efficiency is the cheapest form of energy.
• Based on utility reporting, for every $1 utilities spent
on conservation, their customers save $4. It’s hard to
get that level of return with almost any other
investment.
23. Minnesota has a great wind resource
Percent of electricity from wind power, 2011
24. Wind power improves Minnesota’s economy
In 2010 alone, wind power
projects
• contributed $7 million in land
lease payments,
• contributed over $6 million in
property tax payments,
• provided diversified income for
Minnesota’s farm families, and
• supported at least 2,000 direct
and indirect jobs.
25. The Clean Air Act
1970
• became law to protect human health and
welfare
1990
• bipartisan update signed by President Bush to
tackle new air pollution problems
2011 and 2012
• scientific findings call for modernizing standards
to include mercury, soot, ozone, and carbon
26. The Clean Air Act
Nationwide, coal-fired power are responsible for at
least 21,000 premature deaths each year. Burning
coal emits large amounts of
mercury
ozone pollution
carbon dioxide
soot
Source: National Research Council
27. The Clean Air Act and human health and welfare
There are no nationwide
limits on carbon and soot
emissions from power
plants.
The Clean Air Act of 1990
required the
Environmental Protection
Agency to limit pollutants
that harm human health
and welfare.
28. The Clean Air Act
―The Clean Air Act has prevented
more than 1.8 million child
respiratory illnesses and more than
300,000 premature deaths.‖
Senator Dave Durenberger, April 2011
29. OMB review of Clean Air Act impacts from 1990-2020
The benefits of Clean Air Act
regulations exceed the costs by
30 to 1.
Pollution controls are 0.3
percent of the country’s overall
GDP, but save millions of
Americans from debilitating and
expensive illnesses that result
from unlimited pollution.
30. Minnesota has demonstrated feasibility
2006 Minnesota Mercury Emissions Reduction
Act:
• six big units at Minnesota’s largest coal plants
required to achieve 90 percent reduction in
mercury
• Clean Air Act now applies similar standards
nationwide
31. Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
Rate regulators for electric and natural gas
utilities.
• least-cost planning and integrated resource
planning
• Minnesota Emissions Reductions Projects
(MERP)
• baseload diversification studies under way to
compare costs for oldest, least-efficient power
plants
32. Agenda
The future of energy
policy in Minnesota
33. Federal wind production tax credit
The federal Production Tax
Credit, which promotes wind
development in Minnesota, require
reauthorization by Congress
before it expires at the end of
2012.
Wind development supports at
least 2,000 construction and
manufacturing jobs, as well as
millions of dollars annually in tax
payments to local governments
and payments to landowners.
34. Minnesota has a great solar resource
Germany, despite its
inferior solar resource,
recently set a world record
for solar photovoltaic (PV)
production, producing 22
gigawatts of energy
(equivalent to the output of
20 nuclear plants).
On that day, they were
able to produce 50
percent of their
electricity from solar
PV.
35. Capitalizing on Minnesota’s solar resource
• Minnesota has better solar economics
than 31 other states, including the rest of
the Midwest (before incentives).
• Solar supports 6,000 Minnesota jobs,
including 2,200 jobs at 33 component and
panel manufacturers in over 30 towns.
• Yet compared to other states, Minnesota
has done relatively little to attract solar
investment.
• Minnesota ranks near the bottom in per-
capita investment, while states with worse
solar economics (like New Jersey and
Oregon) are attracting 10 to 30 times the
investment.
36. Solar PV costs are dropping fast
$/W
MW of panels manufactured
Source: PV module cost curve 1976-2011. BNEF Bazilian et al (2012),
Fig. 1
37. Reducing our reliance on oil
We need to
• improve the efficiency of cars,
• transition to next generation of ―fuels,‖
• support transportation options and
development patterns that reduce the need
to drive
40. Minnesota driving trends
Minnesota Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
Trend and Projections
100
90
VMT
80 20 year linear trendline
In the Minnesota, 10 year logarithmic trendline
about 29 miles are 70
VMT (in billions)
driven per capita per 60
day. 50
40
Peak was 30.4 miles
in 2004. 30
20
Per driver, that’s
10
about 39 miles per
day. 0
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
00
02
04
06
08
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
Year
Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation TDA and OIM
41. How we pay for our roads
Source: Fresh Energy, based on MnDOT data
42. Minnesota’s senior population-growth spurt
Census Bureau forecast December 2009, assuming constant immigration.
Source: Retired State Demographer Tom Gillaspy
43. 2030 Forecasted Population
65 Years of Age or Older
Aging
population most
pronounced in
more rural
2030 Pop 65 or older
1,000
counties
5,000
10,000
25,000
50,000
75,000
100,000
2030 Percent 65 or older
11% - 15%
16% - 20%
21% - 25%
26% - 30%
31% - 35%
21%
36% - 40%
Economic Regions
Source: Minnesota State Demographic Center, April 2007
48. Agenda
Public support for
Minnesota’s energy future
49. Polling data
From a statewide telephone poll of 400 registered
Minnesota voters, conducted January 9-15, 2012 by
the bipartisan research team of Fairbank, Maslin,
Maullin, Metz & Associates and Public Opinion
Strategies.
The margin of sampling error for the full statewide
samples is +/- 4.9 percent; margins of error for
subgroups within the sample will be larger.
51. Voters in all regions support more
public transit.
Support for Transit by Region
Total Support Total Oppose Undecided
91%
100%
81%
78%
77%
80%
60%
40%
21%
20%
19%
9%
20%
3%
1%
0%
0%
0%
Northeast Northwest South Twin Cities
(% of
Sample) (9%) (17%) (21%) (54%)
Q14f. I would like to read you some ideas related to energy that might be proposed by people in
Minnesota. Please tell me whether it sounds like something you would support or oppose:
Building more public transit, like rail and buses. Split Sample.
52. Democrats, independents, and Republicans
back building public transit.
Support for Transit by Party Identification
Total Support Total Oppose Undecided
91%
100%
78%
65%
80%
60%
28%
40%
22%
9%
20%
7%
0%
0%
0%
Democrat Independent Republican
(% of
Sample) (33%) (47%) (20%)
Q14f.I would like to read you some ideas related to energy that might be proposed by people in
Minnesota. Please tell me whether it sounds like something you would support or oppose:
Building more public transit, like rail and buses. Split Sample.
53. Strong statewide support for Southwest Light Rail funding
Region Support Oppose
Hennepin/Ramsey 69% 26%
Outer Suburbs 59% 34%
Southern Minnesota 57% 37%
Western Minnesota 52% 39%
Northeastern
59% 37%
Minnesota
Source: Public Opinion Strategies and Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates poll
conducted January 14-17, 2012; commissioned by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of
Commerce, the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Twin West Chamber of
Commerce
54. There are no regional differences in
support for increased use of solar…
Support for Solar Energy by Region
Total Support Total Oppose Undecided
90%
87%
85%
85%
100%
80%
60%
40%
11%
11%
10%
10%
20%
4%
4%
3%
0%
0%
Northeast Northwest South Twin Cities
(% of
Sample) (9%) (20%) (21%) (50%)
5i. Here is a list of specific sources of energy. Please tell me whether you would support or
oppose increasing use of that source of energy to meet your state’s future needs: Solar
55. …and partisan differences are
relatively modest.
Support for Solar Energy by Party Identification
Total Support Total Oppose Undecided
99%
100%
83%
76%
80%
60%
40%
20%
14%
20%
3%
3%
1%
0%
0%
Democrat Independent Republican
(% of
Sample) (33%) (42%) (24%)
5i. Here is a list of specific sources of energy. Please tell me whether you would support or
oppose increasing use of that source of energy to meet your state’s future needs: Solar
56. Similarly, support for increased wind
energy use cuts across regions…
Support for Wind Energy by Region
Total Support Total Oppose Undecided
89%
88%
100%
83%
82%
80%
60%
40%
17%
13%
12%
11%
20%
5%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Northeast Northwest South Twin Cities
(% of
Sample) (9%) (20%) (21%) (50%)
5f. Here is a list of specific sources of energy. Please tell me whether you would support or
oppose increasing use of that source of energy to meet your state’s future needs: Wind
57. …and also across party lines.
Support for Wind Energy by Party Identification
Total Support Total Oppose Undecided
97%
84%
100%
68%
80%
60%
30%
40%
13%
20%
3%
2%
2%
2%
0%
Democrat Independent Republican
(% of
Sample) (33%) (42%) (24%)
5f. Here is a list of specific sources of energy. Please tell me whether you would support or
oppose increasing use of that source of energy to meet your state’s future needs: Wind
58. Voters would rather reduce
the need for fossil fuels by expanding
the use of renewables.
Which of the following do you think should be the highest priority
for meeting America’s energy needs:
Reducing our need for oil and coal by
increasing energy efficiency and expanding
67%
our use of clean, renewable energy that can
be generated in the US
Drilling and digging for more oil and coal
26%
wherever we can find it in the US
Both/Neither/DK/NA
10%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
7. Which of the following do you think should be the highest priority for meeting America’s energy
needs…
59. Voters of all parties see jobs
benefits from clean energy.
Job Impact of Clean Energy by Party Identification
Creat Jobs No Effect Cost Jobs All/None/DK
100%
81%
76%
80%
54%
60%
33%
40%
14%
14%
9%
20%
6%
5%
5%
3%
3%
0%
Democrat Independent Republican
(% of
Sample) (31%) (47%) (22%)
9. Which of the following comes closer to your point of view: Increasing the use of
clean, renewable energy sources like wind and solar power…
60. Voters across the state prefer a
clean energy candidate.
Candidate Preference by Region
Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Both/Neither/DK/NA
72%
72%
68%
67%
80%
60%
33%
40% 24%
23%
20%
20%
9%
7%
5%
0%
0%
Northeast Northwest South Twin Cities
(% of
Sample) (8%) (20%) (22%) (50%)
12. In thinking about the election for State Legislature in your area later this year, for which of
the following candidates would you be most likely to vote?
61. More than seven in ten voters prefer a candidate
who would promote renewable energy over
fossil fuels.
A candidate who wants to promote more use of
clean, renewable energy – like wind and solar
power
A candidate who wants to continue to rely on
traditional domestic sources of energy – like coal,
natural gas or nuclear – to meet energy needs
Both/Neither/DK/NA
12. In thinking about the election for State Legislature in your area later this year, for which
of the following candidates would you be most likely to vote?
New CAFÉ standards for 2025 = 54.5 mpg. Savings of more oil than U.S. imports from Saudia Arabia and Iraq every year.
Implications re services needed – especially transitAs well as impact on fiscal capacity
38% of all freight in MN travels on rail—privately financed systemTotal investment needs: $6.2 to $9.5 billion of which 1/3 to ½ from private freight companies
Tell story of what’s to come, need for additional funding, and essential need for strong and vocal business leadership.This map shows progress toward the planned 2030 system of transit lines, which we think should be built within 10 years (low interest rates, reap benefits sooner at lower costs). Building the full transit network the Twin Cities needs to thrive will require additional funding as current funding will not be able to complete this map. The Counties Transit Improvement Board and the Metropolitan Council are currently exploring options for funding the full system—more details and options will be available soon.Importance of business leadership—thank Minneapolis Chamber (Todd Klingel), St. Paul (Matt Kramer), and Twin West (Bruce Nustad). We know from this session’s work on Southwest, that it essential that individual business leaders join in the chorus from the Chamber leaders.
Tell story of what’s to come, need for additional funding, and essential need for strong and vocal business leadership.This map shows progress toward the planned 2030 system of transit lines, which we think should be built within 10 years (low interest rates, reap benefits sooner at lower costs). Building the full transit network the Twin Cities needs to thrive will require additional funding as current funding will not be able to complete this map. The Counties Transit Improvement Board and the Metropolitan Council are currently exploring options for funding the full system—more details and options will be available soon.Importance of business leadership—thank Minneapolis Chamber (Todd Klingel), St. Paul (Matt Kramer), and Twin West (Bruce Nustad). We know from this session’s work on Southwest, that it essential that individual business leaders join in the chorus from the Chamber leaders.
Source: Public Opinion Strategies and Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates poll conducted January 14-17, 2012; commissioned by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Twin West Chamber of CommerceThe poll question: “Now, a proposal is being considered that would dedicate 25 million dollars in already planned state spending to move forward with the Southwest Light Rail line that would extend from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie and connect to the other three existing rail lines. These funds would help the state secure an additional 625 million dollars in federal matching funds that combined with planned state and local spending could build the new rail line.“Knowing this, would you support or oppose dedicating 25 million dollars in state funds to move forward with the Southwest Light Rail line?”