Minnesota Embraces Renewable Energy

The new Renewable Energy Standard that passed the Minnesota House on February 20, will require 25% of Minnesota's electricity to come from renewable sources -- such as wind and solar -- by the year 2025. Currently, Minnesota imports more electricity from outside sources than any other state.

Minnesota's numerical goal trails targets in place for Maine and New York, but those states had been getting a significant amount of electricity from large-scale hydropower facilities before their standards were adopted, according to data from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

"As a percentage of where all their electricity will come from, Minnesota is now in the lead with this policy in terms of supporting new renewable energy development," said Jeff Deyette, an analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

More than 20 states have some type of renewable requirement or good-faith objective. Colorado is moving toward a standard of 20% by 2020, and Governor John Lynch of New Hampshire challenged lawmakers last week to adopt a 25% requirement by 2025.

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