By Michael Walker, Lynnhurst resident
As the southeastern United States cleans up from the devastating effects of two hurricanes, made worse by human-caused climate change, it is clear that a transition to clean energy that cuts carbon emissions is essential.
I attended the Sept. 23 Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership meeting, which included the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy, and CenterPoint. At the meeting, the City shared that only two of the seven metrics for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are on track to be met. The goals were were put in place when the partnership was formed between the two utility companies and the City ten years ago.
We also learned that while Xcel Energy has made some progress in reducing the use of greenhouse gas emissions for electricity by 63%, CenterPoint is far behind. In fact, the use of natural gas in Minneapolis is only 1% less than it was in 2006.
The Mayor’s Office is currently negotiating the utility franchise agreements with both Xcel Energy and CenterPoint.
The 2023 Minneapolis Climate and Equity Plan, passed unanimously by the City Council, calls for a 75% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030. It was frustrating to hear a City staff member call that goal, “aspirational,” at the Sept. 23 meeting.
If we are going to have an impact on mitigating the effects of climate change on our planet, we need bold action. Planting trees, and weatherization will not be enough. We must remove fossil fuel combustion from the equation and we need to hold the utility companies we have partnered with accountable for meeting the goals we set forth.
Please let our elected leaders know that they must work harder to:
- Push utility companies and the City to commit to full decarbonization, block by block, including networked geothermal heating and cooling.
- Hold the largest polluters accountable by including carbon dioxide emissions the Pollution Control Annual Registration.
- Insist that both Xcel Energy and CenterPoint commit to meeting the goals in the Minneapolis Climate and Equity Plan, so that the decarbonization transition is equitable.
- Insist that CenterPoint pilot networked geothermal in both municipal and residential buildings in 2025.
- Educate the public about the health, wealth and wellbeing benefits of geothermal energy networks in Minneapolis
Please join me in calling Mayor Jacob Frey, 612 673-2100, and let him know that CenterPoint must fully commit to meeting Minneapolis carbon reduction goals and the City's Climate Equity goals in the new franchise agreement.
