Walz Boosts Clean Energy in Minnesota, Setting Stage for Climate Change Impact if Harris Wins

In May, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz welcomed clean energy advocates to Minneapolis, proudly stating that the state now derives more than half of its electricity from renewable sources. Nevertheless, he quickly cautioned that achieving a 100% renewable energy goal, which he helped initiate, hinges on reforming what he deemed outdated permitting laws.

“We have processes that are too cumbersome, that add unnecessary costs, and make it challenging to reach our goals,” Walz noted while addressing the American Clean Power organization.

Shortly after his remarks, Walz signed a new law aimed at streamlining the permitting process for clean energy projects, specifically for solar and wind, as well as storage and transmission initiatives. Developers are now exempt from proving that their projects are essential to Minnesota’s energy framework, and they are no longer required to evaluate alternative sites or transmission routes, which had previously complicated the approval process.

Walz’s initiative to eliminate a significant roadblock in the clean energy transition is gaining traction as he is mentioned as a possible running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris. Should Harris win in November, Walz’s experience in implementing these changes in Minnesota may enable him to play a prominent role in shaping national climate policy.

“If Gov. Walz becomes Vice President, I hope he can bring this perspective to a federal level,” remarked Amelia Vohs, climate program director at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, which contributed to the permitting reforms. “It would greatly enhance our progress on climate issues nationwide.”

Although Minnesota’s reforms could be hard to duplicate on a federal level due to a divided Congress, experts emphasize that many renewable energy projects are developed on private land, which allows state or local permitting authorities to take control. Consequently, other states may implement similar changes. However, offshore wind projects remain under federal jurisdiction.

In recent years, New York, California, Illinois, and Michigan have each initiated their own permitting reforms to promote clean energy, albeit using different methods based on whether state or local authorities oversee the siting processes.

“The speed of the energy transition is crucial; it matters significantly,” stated Matthew Eisenson, a senior fellow at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. “The quicker we reduce emissions, the better chance we have to stabilize our climate and mitigate severe climate change effects. Speed is essential at both macro and micro levels; if projects are delayed, they may fail to materialize.”

Research from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory indicates that most wind and solar projects take between four to six years from announcement to operational status, with around two-thirds of that time consumed by the permitting process. About 20% of projects exceed six years in development time.

Last year, the Berkeley Lab surveyed large-scale wind and solar developers across the country regarding their permitting experiences. Developers identified local zoning laws and community opposition as the primary reasons for significant delays and cancellations. Robi Nilson, a research scientist at the lab, pointed out that community opposition often exacerbates permitting delays, particularly in cases where previous projects faced intense scrutiny.

About one-third of wind and solar siting applications submitted in the past five years were cancelled, and nearly half experienced delays of six months or more, reported developers surveyed from companies responsible for about half of the wind and solar installations in recent years.

“Permitting reforms that simplify the process of establishing clean energy infrastructure are vital to achieving our climate goals,” asserted Ben Pendergrass, vice president of government affairs at Citizens Climate Lobby, a nonprofit climate advocacy group.

Before the passage of the new law, Minnesota’s permitting process had become increasingly sluggish, taking an average of 18 months for solar project approvals as of 2019, compared to just 10 months in 2015, according to a report from North Star Policy Action.

House Majority Leader Jamie Long, a Minneapolis Democrat, collaborated with Walz on the 2023 law that established the state’s clean energy target. Following this success, the focus shifted to simplifying the permitting process. Walz’s appointees convened broad working groups to ensure progress during the current legislative session.

The law faced some opposition, with environmental advocates raising concerns that speeding up the process might compromise thorough environmental assessments. They sought assurances that public participation would remain integral to the permitting process and that the reforms would apply exclusively to wind, solar, and transmission projects, excluding nuclear and fossil fuel initiatives.

Despite opposition, the bill progressed thanks to support from utilities, renewable energy developers, labor unions, and environmental groups, whose suggestions became central to the legislation. Walz was actively involved throughout the process, and the bill was signed at a wind farm in the district he once represented in Congress.

“The passage of this legislation struck a necessary balance between efficiency and maintaining procedural integrity,” said Vohs from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. “It ensured that we didn’t undermine important assessments for projects unrelated to clean energy.”

Apex Clean Energy, based in Virginia, reported that obtaining permits for two major wind and solar projects in southwest Minnesota had taken nearly two years each. Chris Kunkle, Apex’s senior director of government affairs, expressed optimism that the new law could reduce permitting time by roughly 50%, which he described as an “excellent outcome.”

Xcel Energy, Minnesota’s largest utility company, anticipates saving several months on the permitting of a single transmission line or large electric facility. Given the number of companies working to provide carbon-free electricity, the time saved collectively could result in significant decades of efficiency.

Doug Loon, president and CEO of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the recognition that the old system was ineffective and advocated for extending these reforms across all sectors, not just renewable energy.

Long hopes that Minnesota’s approach will inspire other states to adopt similar reforms. “If a state like ours—neither extremely liberal nor coastal—can unite business, labor, and environmental interests, it sends a powerful message that such progress is achievable,” he concluded.

Source: Associated Press