Minnesota requires renewables

Because utilities in the Midwest have enjoyed relatively low energy rates, it begs the question: Why did Missouri River Energy Services choose to build wind turbines?

Was it customer demand? A need for more capacity? A need to meet environmental regulations? Or was it a cost-effective business decision?

The State of Minnesota passed energy legislation in 2001 asking utilities in the state to have 10 percent of their energy portfolio in renewables by 2015. The law calls upon municipal power agencies, generation and transmission cooperatives, and investor owned utilities to make a "good faith effort" to achieve this goal.

Energy Services Representative Greg Vaselaar said, "Although this requirement is merely a suggestion at this point, the state has said if utilities don't respond, it will put teeth into future legislation. Minnesota is also requiring utilities to offer green pricing programs to their customers."

Print friendly version