Minnesota Embraces Solar, Senate Warns Obama on Keystone XL
Minnesota has become the latest state to embrace solar energy, with Governor Tim Pawlenty signing a 1.5 percent solar energy standard into law. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans caution President Obama against linking Keystone XL approval with unrelated climate policies.
The new Minnesota law sets a target for utilities to generate 1.5 percent of their electricity from solar sources by 2020. However, some industry experts believe provisions like streamlined permitting and increased net metering could have an even greater impact on solar development.
In Washington, Senate Republicans urge President Obama not to combine Keystone XL approval with 'wholly unrelated' climate policies. They argue that such a move would undermine the pipeline's merits and create unnecessary controversy.
Despite recent gasoline price spikes in the Midwest due to refinery outages and transportation issues, industry analysts do not see these as signs of a long-term trend.
In Michigan, Wayne County has issued $1.5 million in bonds to finance major energy upgrades of public buildings. The project aims to reduce energy costs and improve efficiency.
Nationwide, participants in the Better Buildings Challenge are saving $58 million a year on energy costs. The initiative, involving more than 300 organizations, aims to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings.
Activists opposing the Keystone XL pipeline are shifting their tactics, focusing more on grassroots efforts. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, meanwhile, suggests that climate advocates should shift the burden of proof onto skeptics.
Towns along a scenic stretch of Mississippi River bluffs are exploring the creation of a ten-mile zone where frac sand mining is prohibited. The move aims to protect the area's natural beauty and tourism.
Midwest Energy News will be taking a break for Memorial Day and will resume on May 28. An Ohio group has also created a statewide energy efficiency fund, allowing participants to pay for improvements with savings on their energy bills.
These developments highlight a range of energy-related initiatives across the United States, from solar energy targets and energy efficiency projects to grassroots activism and policy debates. As the energy landscape continues to evolve, stakeholders are exploring various strategies to drive progress and address key challenges.
