Stunning Lack of Intellectual Diversity on Energy Board Explains Poor Decisions in Minneapolis
Yesterday I wrote about how Minneapolis’ renewable energy targets are just expensive virtue signalling. A closer look at the City advisory board helps explain why the state’s largest city could implement such bad policy.
The table below shows the members of the Energy Vision Advisory Committy, which is charged by the Board with reviewing and providing feedback on the Clean Energy Partnership’s biennial work plan. As you can see, there is not a single voice on the committee who thinks it may be a good idea to pump the brakes on spending $473,600 on renewable energy credits that will provide no material benefit to the City. Many of the members have a vested financial interest in promoting renewable energy.
Conflict of interest much?
I emailed the City and asked to be considered for the panel when they update their membership this fall. I sincerely doubt I’ll hear from them.
Member | Ward | Organization |
Louis Alemayehu | 3 | Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs ( HECUA) |
Timothy DenHerder-Thomas | 9 | Cooperative Energy Futures |
Trevor Drake | 7 | Great Plains Institute |
John Farrell | 11 | Institute for Local Self-Reliance |
Abby Finis | 9 | CR Planning / Great Plains Institute |
Matt Kazinka | 9 | Lake Street Council |
Kevin Lewis | N/A | Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater Minneapolis |
Patty O’Keefe | 10 | Sierra Club |
Rebecca Olson | 3 | Neighborhood Energy Connection |
Julia Silvis | 7 | Representing Minneapolis residents/property owners |
Siri Simons | 1 | Minnesota Department of Transportation |
Jamez Staples | 5 | Renewable Energy Partners |
Shane Stennes | N/A | University of Minnesota |
William Weber | 9 | Center for Sustainable Building Research |