Green Jobs for the Future / Global Warming Resolution

You can read the resolution here, and print a copy for consideration at your precinct caucus.

Talking points (below)
Resolution text (full length)
Resolution text (short version)
Printable version (both texts and talking points) (Microsoft Word file, 35 KB)

Not sure where your caucus is held? You can find out at these sites:

• the District 66 DFL caucus map (for Senator Anderson’s DFL constituents);
• the Ramsey County caucus finder (for Ramsey County residents);
• the DFL Party caucus finder (for DFL party caucuses throughout Minnesota); or
• the Secretary of State caucus finder (for all caucuses, statewide).

Talking points for the Green Jobs for the Future Resolution

The Problem

Global warming threatens our future and the security of future generations. Minnesota’s fish and wildlife, forests, and farms could be endangered by global climate change unless Minnesota and the rest of the world cut our greenhouse gases.

Minnesota imports more electricity than any other state and our nation is dependent on unstable hostile regimes for much of our oil. Energy independence means producing energy from clean, renewable sources like wind, solar, and biofuels which can all be made in Minnesota. Keeping our energy dollars local supports good-paying Minnesota jobs.

Our economic growth and personal income in Minnesota were in the top ten in the nineties; now we’re lagging behind. Minnesota has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs since 2000; some Minnesota communities have lost 30% of their manufacturing jobs.

The Opportunities

In 2007 Minnesota led the nation with the passage of the 25% by 2020 Renewable Energy Standard, and requirements for utilities to increase energy efficiency by 1.5% per year. Passage of a national Renewable Energy Standard is estimated to create tens of thousands of “green collar” jobs in Minnesota in wind, solar, geothermal, energy efficiency and biomass, according to studies by the Blue Green Alliance and Renewable Energy Policy Project in the areas of construction, manufacturing, management, maintenance, financing, legal, and other job categories.

Energy efficiency is far more labor intensive than energy generation, creating 21.5 jobs for every $1 million invested, compared to 11.5 jobs for new natural gas generation. Renewable energy creates 4 times as many jobs per megawatt of installed capacity as natural gas and 40% more jobs per dollar invested than coal.

Jobs like installing new insulation and windows in homes cannot be outsourced!

In 2007 the Minnesota Legislature also adopted goals of reducing greenhouse gases 15% by 2015, 30% by 2025, and 80% by 2050. Now the specific policies need to be adopted that will enable our state to meet those goals.

Minnesota stands on the brink of a new industrial revolution in new green technologies that will power our economy while reducing global warming emissions pollution. We need strong state policies to take advantage of our natural strengths in wind and solar potential, agricultural products, a well-educated and well-trained workforce, and excellent higher education research capacity, the nation’s largest installer of wind turbines, and a manufacturing base creating a supply chain.