MN Senate passes 2040 carbon-free electricity bill, sends to governor
100-percent of Minnesota's electricity will have to be carbon-free by 2040, under legislation the Minnesota Senate passed just before midnight and sent to Governor Tim Walz, who has said he'll sign it. Pine City Republican Jason Rarick says Minnesota utilities will have no negotiating leverage, if they have to buy "renewable energy credits" from other states to meet the goal: "We know that's what is going to end up happening, and it is gonna drive prices through the roof." Electric utilities will have to stop using coal and natural gas a decade earlier than Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power planned -- [...]