20 FOR MN A PROPOSAL TO REDUCE MINNESOTA’S ENERGY USE IN THE M.U.S.H. SECTOR BY 20 PERCENT

Energy efficiency is a jobs driver in Minnesota's growing clean economy. Our new analysis showed 15,000 direct jobs could be created or sustained by 2030 by reducing energy used in the state’s hospitals, universities, schools, and health care (M.U.S.H.) sector by 20 percent.The study—20 for MN: A Proposal To Reduce Minnesota's Energy Use In The M.U.S.H. Sector By 20 Percent—also found that increased efficiency in that sector would save over 36,000 gigawatt hours of energy and save consumers $3.1 billion in that same time span.

An estimated 15,000 jobs could be created in Minnesota by 2030 if we reduced energy use in the M.U.S.H. sector by 20 percent.

A study by Clean Jobs Midwest found that there are more than 54,000 workers in Minnesota’s clean economy and that 87 percent of those jobs were in the energy efficiency sector. The American Society of Civil Engineers found that Minnesota’s schools alone had $3.7 billion in infrastructure needs. Both existing programs and other financing options could be utilized to fund the repairs. Policies that could be used include “green banks,” utilizing on-bill financing similar to Minnesota’s current Property Assessed Clean Energy law, and leveraging federal funding.

“Making our public buildings more energy efficient is just a common sense idea. And it’s one that will grow good jobs and reduce pollution. This is work that needs to be done anyway, so let’s find ways to do it now, and to do it the right way with skilled, trained workers.”– SHEET METAL WORKERS’ LOCAL 10 POLITICAL DIRECTOR PETE PARRIS.

“If we can avoid wasting energy, while creating quality jobs, that’s an idea that should have bipartisan appeal,” said Sierra Club North Star Chapter State Director Margaret Levin. “This is a practical and pragmatic approach to address our state’s greenhouse gas emissions that will also, in the end, save us money.”

“The bottom line is that reducing waste in our M.U.S.H. sector by 20 percent is both achievable policy and good policy,” said BlueGreen Alliance Minnesota Regional Program Manager Bree Halverson. “This is another example of an area where Minnesotans could rally around an ideal that benefits not just our economy and workers, but our environment as well."

Created By
BlueGreen Alliance
Appreciate

Made with Adobe Slate

Make your words and images move.

Get Slate

Report Abuse

If you feel that this video content violates the Adobe Terms of Use, you may report this content by filling out this quick form.

To report a Copyright Violation, please follow Section 17 in the Terms of Use.