From staff reports

Minnesotans, like many people, are used to flipping the light switch without much thought — and without a hint of worry that the electricity to power the lights won’t be available.

Thursday, January 04, 2001

Minnesotans, like many people, are used to flipping the light switch without much thought — and without a hint of worry that the electricity to power the lights won’t be available.

That may change in the next decade. With a growing population and economy – and with new electronic gadgets being plugged into walls across the state – energy forecasters are predicting shortages. Minnesota may need half a dozen or more new power plants just to meet the expected demand.

It’s no wonder energy policy is expected to be an important issue at the Capitol this year. Power plants are a thorny issue; they take a long time to build, many can be harmful to the environment, and nobody wants them in their neighborhood.

But Minnesota can turn this potential crisis into an opportunity. With a commitment to alternative energy sources and a push for conservation by consumers, the state and its residents can help ease the expected shortage.

Minnesota could lead the charge into more renewable forms of energy generation, like wind and biomass plants. Plans have already been laid for power plants that burn turkey litter or alfalfa stems – renewable energy sources that don’t pollute as much as coal and aren’t as potentially harmful as nuclear power. In addition, those kinds of plants could provide more value-added agriculture opportunities for farmers who need a boost.

Legislators this year should seriously consider promoting such alternatives to traditional power sources. They could help provide electricity, assist farmers and keep the environment clean – what better choice is there?

But efforts must not end on the supply side of the equation. Consumers must do their part by conserving electricity.

Every bit of effort will help, and there are countless ways to conserve, from using long-lasting and energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs in lamps, to remembering to shut down the computer when it’s not in use, to opening cans the old fashioned way instead of using an electric can opener.

One need only look at power shortages on the West coast in recent months to see the effects of failed energy policy and a lack of conservation. If Minnesota wants uninterrupted access to the electricity we rely on, action must start now.