The House and Senate joint environmental and energy group has worked to address budget issues in the deficit reduction bill. Included in the bill are several provisions I authored focusing on quickly energizing our Green Economy in Minnesota. We want to infuse venture capital and long term investment in Minnesota’s burgeoning clean energy economy.
You probably already know that Minnesota is the Silicon Valley of Windows – with Andersen Windows, Marvin Windows, Cardinal Glass in Northfield and Eden Prairie, Sage Electrochromics in Faribault, and 3M who makes a variety of films and tinting for windows. The challenge is to move from a deep leadership position in one area to a broad leadership position across related clean energy industries. A review of the draft version of House File (HF3999) will give you an idea of these Green Job provisions.
Several of us are attending the opening of Great River Energy’s new headquarters in Maple Grove, to
commemorate the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-rated building in Minnesota. The building is a model of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, and I hope that many communities can learn from this facility. I should note that Chisago City’s new public works building is currently on track to receive a LEED Gold rating, only one step below the Great River Energy’s Platinum rating.
I hope your Earth Day was memorable.