MINNESOTA LOVES WIND

New Poll Finds Minnesota Power Customers Overwhelmingly Support Clean Energy And Energy Efficiency, Shift Away From Fossil Fuels In Minnesota; As Minnesota Power Sets Its Long-Term Energy Plan, More than 8-in-10 Customers Say “We Need to Fundamentally Change the Way We Get Our Energy”

May 1, 2013 (Sierra Club)

“…[A new poll] shows that voters in the Minnesota Power service area overwhelmingly favor using clean, renewable energy sources…as Minnesota’s long-term energy plan – otherwise known as its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) – is under review by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. As the utility plans the next 15 years ofits energy mix, more than 8-in-10 voters…[favor a fundamental change is needed in the way Minnesota gets energy] by modernizing the electric grid to maximize energy efficiency and wind and solar energy use…

“In February, Minnesota Power announced that it will stop burning coal in one unit at its Taconite Harbor plant, and convert units at its Syl Laskin coal plant to burn natural gas in the next few years. Rather than phasing out coal at unit 4 at its Boswell plant, the utility announced plans to invest more than $350 million to retrofit a unit at the plant to comply with modern pollution standards.”

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“According to the poll, three-in-four voters agree that ‘Minnesota utilities should reduce our need for coal and other fossil fuels by increasing energy efficiency and using more clean, renewable energy.’ Almost eight in ten voters (79 percent) support phasing out Minnesota’s oldest coal-burning power plants and replacing them with greater use of clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency…More than two-thirds of voters polled reported that they are concerned about the health risks…from Minnesota Power’s coal-fired power plants…[and 61 percent] are concerned about climate change…

“Aside from popular support for phasing out coal-fired power plants, the poll also found that voters in the Minnesota Power service area were in favor of setting clean energy goals and undertaking large-scale efficiency efforts to conserve energy and…[76 percent] support ensuring that electric utilities in Minnesota get at least 10 percent of their electricity from solar power by the year 2030…Eight in ten voters (83 percent) polled also support incentives for Minnesota’s largest energy users to become [20 percent] more energy efficient…”

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