Have we discussed Climate Change today?

Posted on: August 6, 2024 at 13:47:43 CT

For years, coal was the top source of electricity produced in Minnesota, but it has declined over the last two decades, Nadja Popovich reported in an interactive guide to how states generate electricity. Now, emissions-free energy sources — including wind, solar and nuclear power — provide more than 50 percent of the power produced in Minnesota.

Walz is trying to accelerate that transition even more. As Davenport reported, his efforts put Minnesota on track to transition to clean energy even faster than California, which for decades has been at the vanguard of efforts to tackle climate change.

In 2023, Walz signed a law requiring Minnesota to generate or procure all of its electricity from wind, solar and other carbon-free sources by 2040, eliminating the climate-warming pollution from coal and gas-fired power plants. Working with Democrats in the State Legislature, Walz managed to push through nearly 40 other climate initiatives.

This year he signed into law a bill to speed up permits for renewable energy projects, something his colleagues in Washington are still struggling to do.

Interestingly, Davenport reported, Walz became a newly vocal champion of climate policies after his state was hit by extreme weather. “Over the past five years, extreme drought forced Minnesota cattle farmers to liquidate some of their herds far earlier than planned,” Davenport wrote. “Wildfire smoke from Canada choked the skies over the Twin Cities. A dearth of snow and ice — an increasing problem in the Great Lakes Region — meant a lack of ice-fishing and cross-country skiing that triggered economic losses.”