Wescott Library Hosts Renewable Energy Info Session

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from Clean Water Action.

Clean Water Action is hosting "The Facts about Our Energy Future" at 7 p.m. at in Eagan on Wednesday night.

Residents are encouraged to attend this event in their city to learn more about what the Renewable Energy standard means for Minnesota and how cities across the state are rising to the challenge. We will hear from environmental champions about exciting renewable energy possibilities and the importance of a clean energy future for Minnesota.

Over the past decade, Minnesota enacted several policies to place us on a path towards a clean and independent energy future. Included is the 2007 Renewable Energy Standard which requires electric utilities to get at least 25 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2025. Clean Water Action celebrated several victories in 2011 to keep Minnesota on this path and defeat attempts by special interests to keep our state addicted to fossil fuels. These victories include defeated attempts to repeal restrictions on emissions from new coal-fired power plants and to lift the statewide ban on the construction of new nuclear reactors.

Clean Water Action will continue to work for clean and local solutions to our future energy needs. Our continued work includes:

• Educating thousands of Minnesotans each year on the economic, environmental and health benefits of renewable energy.
• Reducing Minnesota’s future dependence on fossil fuel energy sources including coal, oil and nuclear.
• Supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to enforce the Clean Air Act and protect our health from air pollution.

We need your help. Minnesota’s Renewable Energy Standard must not suffer any rollbacks. As a leader in wind energy production, Minnesota needs to stay ahead of the curve. To do this, our state representatives need to hear from their constituents. They need to know that returning to dirty energy will spell disaster for our water and our health. Hearing from you is the most effective way to ensure forward progress in the renewable energy sector.