Dive Brief:
- The Minnesota legislature is considering a series of energy bills tackling efficiency, renewables and emissions regulation compliance, but Midwest Energy News reports it is difficult to handicap the proposals' chances because the House and Senate are split.
- One proposal would boost the state's renewable portfolio standard to 40% by 2030, up from a 2025 goal of 25%, while another is aimed at boosting supply-side efficiencies.
- Lawmakers are also considering a measure requiring legislative approval of plans to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency's carbon regulations under the Clean Power Plan.
Dive Insight:
Minnesota lawmakers are considering a wide-ranging set of energy bills, but as Midwest Energy News points out it's tough to predict how far they will go because of the Democrat-controlled Senate and Republican House.
A House committee passed a measure aimed at giving lawmakers final say over U.S. Environmental Protection Agency compliance strategies. Minnesota is not the first state to attempt this — West Virginia's governor signed a similar bill earlier this month. But according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, similar measures have been met with resistance recently.
Minnesota is also considering boosting its renewable portfolio to 40% by 2030. The current goal of 25% is on track to be met by the state's utilities; the revised standard targets that same level five years earlier, and then reaches 32% in 2025.
Another bill aims to boost the state's efficiency goals. The proposal would maintain a 1.5% annual reduction on the demand side, but would add a 0.5% goal to the supply side of the equation, possibly targeting advancements in the state's grid.
