American Experiment testifies on bill to increase renewable energy mandate

On Tuesday, I was in St. Paul to testify on House File 700, which would increase Minnesota’s renewable energy mandate to 55 percent renewable by 2030, and 80 percent renewable by 2035. I was one of three testifiers who told the committee that this bill is a bad idea. You can watch my brief, two minute testimony below.

American Experiment will soon release a report on the economic and environmental impacts of doubling Minnesota’s current renewable energy mandate to 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. I share some of the top-line findings of the study with the committee, and although it wasn’t my most eloquent presentation, I believe I am the testifier who adheres most closely to the 2 minute time limit.

Later in the informational hearing was a powerful testimony by Kenric Scheevel of Dairyland Power Co-Op, I’ve pasted it below my testimony because I can’t stress the importance of watching it enough.

The testimony directly after is by Brian Draxten of Ottertail Power Company. This testimony is also extremely telling. Ottertail Power had to shut down their wind turbines in North Dakota due to the minus 30 degree temperatures. In fact, wind turbines had a negative load of 2MW, which means they were net-electricity users because the turbines needed to be heated to keep the oil in the gearboxes warm.

Lastly, I think it’s time for a haircut.

The testimonies of Kenric Scheevel and Brian Draxten are in this clip.