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Klobuchar Highlights Just Passed MN Energy Law, Calls on Federal Government to Take National Action

March 1, 2007

(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today told a Senate Environmental and Public Works panel that Minnesota has set the most aggressive energy standard in the nation. At a hearing featuring New Jersey Governor (and former Senator) Jon Corzine, Klobuchar praised Minnesota's new law and similar efforts in other states - including New Jersey, California, and Arizona - and called for immediate and bold federal government action on renewable energy and renewable electricity.

Just last week, Minnesota passed into law a "25 by 25" standard: By the year 2025, the state's energy companies are required to generate 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind, water, solar and biomass. The standard is even higher for Minnesota's largest utility, Xcel Energy, which must reach 30 percent by 2020. It was adopted with overwhelming bipartisan support. The vote was 123 to 10 in the State House, and 61 to 4 in the State Senate. The bill was quickly signed into law by the Governor.

Klobuchar stressed the bipartisan approach Minnesota's leaders took:

"Our leaders displayed courage by working together in a bipartisan fashion to give Minnesota a new approach to energy and electricity," said Klobuchar. "They showed the rest of the country how this can be done. Now it's the federal government's turn, and we need to be as bold, courageous, and bipartisan as Minnesota has been."

At the hearing, Klobuchar engaged in a dialogue on this issue with Corzine, talking with him about America's need to stay on the cutting edge of energy technology and asking him about his experiences as a governor, a senator, and a leader in the world of investment and finance.