Clean, renewable energy development has been and is driven by policy decisions at the federal, state, and local levels. Capturing renewable energy from wind, water, and biofuels is a long-standing practice, but currently, its reach is limited while fossil fuels are widespread. According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce State Energy Report, Minnesotans spend $3.5 billion on electricity each year, but only 5 percent of the fuel comes from indigenous wind, biomass, and hydropower. In order to change our energy sources, we need to change energy policy. Policies need to be constructed in a way that provides a stable market and consistent market conditions. The most successful policies to date have been the renewable fuel and electricity standards.
Five partner organizations, cooperate on the Sustainable Energy for Economic Development project. Within SEED, The Minnesota Project takes the lead in organizing and staffing the coalition of 26 groups. The Minnesota Project shares the central goals of the SEED coalition:
- To promote the full development of Minnesota’s renewable energy resources
- To ensure that local communities benefit from renewable energy development
The SEED coalition includes The Minnesota Project, Minnesotans for an Energy Efficient Economy (ME3), Clean Water Action, Sustainable Resources Center, and the Izaak Walton League of America.
In addition to their work at the state level, The Minnesota Project is also committed to affecting policy change at the federal level. ??? In the Farm Bill and in a national RES.
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