Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

Fight for Environmental Justice

Access to clean air, water, soil, and food is a fundamental human right. I will oppose proposed sulfide mining.

A Clean Energy Future

I support the shift of public subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear power into renewables - specifically solar, wind, and small-scale hydroelectric power. Shifting to renewable energy encourages local self-reliance, supports Minnesota jobs, protects our health, and reduces our contribution to catastrophic climate change. I support the expansion of Minnesota's renewable energy standards. Over the next 10 to 30 years, thousands of megawatts of nuclear and fossil fuel energy will be coming offline in Minnesota, as our nuclear plants and many of our coal plants reach the end of their effective life. This dramatic change gives Minnesota an opportunity to be a leader in renewable energy.

In the wake of the most recent IPCC report, the urgent need to address global climate change has never been clearer. Another step Minnesota can take to reduce carbon pollution is to invest government funds in clean energy. All across the country, universities, religious organizations, and local governments are shrinking the presence of fossil fuels in their investment portfolios -- and thus shrinking their contribution to global climate change. If elected, I will work to reduce the extent to which Minnesota's state pension funds are invested in the fossil fuel industry. I will work with the state auditor and my colleagues to determine how best to move our State's pension fund's energy investments to clean, renewable energy.

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