Legislators are still taking their curtain call for adopting last month what many are calling the country’s most “aggressive� energy policy, one which aims to increase the state’s usage of electricity from renewable sources from the current 5 percent to 25 percent by 2025. Many of the 5000 and 6000 new megawatts are predicted to come from wind turbines on wind-rich rural land.

Tom Webb, over at the Pioneer Press, reported earlier this week that there has been a steadily increasing demand for renewable energy in Minnesota. It’s in such high demand, in fact, that the suppliers aren’t even able to keep up. One of Webb’s sources states that energy produced by the major wind-turbine makers is already sold out for the next two years. That’s a problem, yes, but it’s also a “powerful signal, telling investors and green-energy firms that there's a lot of business to be had in Minnesota.� Another source told Webb that “this as a rare moment when consumer demand, business interest, government support, environmental concern and technological possibility are all flowing together.�

Now, our lawmakers are being asked to consider another bill that would decrease rid Minnesota of much of its greenhouse gas emissions. The Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Act, sponsored by Maria Ruud (DFL-Minnetonka), passed the Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday and is being heard in the Energy Finance and Policy Committee this coming Monday. As is, the Act would reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.

It’s all music to worldchanging ears!