2
Jump Starting Minnesota’s Green Economy
Executive Summary
InTroduCTIon
Minnesota is a national leader in green technology Leadership by the state legislaturehas put Minnesota on the path to produce 25 percent of its electricity by wind andother renewable sources Minnesota is also a leader in producing and using ethanol fortransportation Minnesota has the largest network of E85 ethanol-blend fuel pumps in the
United States. Our leadership in the green technology sector has greatly beneted us; windand ethanol revenues put millions of dollars directly into Minnesotans’ pockets. By geinginto green technologies early, Minnesota has goen a head start into the new economy. But
the rest of the world is catching upClimate and economic concerns are pushing national and local governments worldwide to
aract and develop green businesses. The Chinese leadership in particular is turning their
focus toward the green technologies The world’s fastest growing economy is starting toproduce and consume green technologies such as solar panels, electric cars and fast trainsThe Scandinavian countries have already demonstrated that it is possible to simultaneouslyreduce CO2 emissions and grow the economy In the last three decades with goodleadership, Norway and Denmark have consistently reduced their energy consumptionand delivered strong economic growth These countries are well positioned for economicrevolutionMinnesota needs to stay in the race Minnesota is a highlyeducated state with a very strong university system We have allthe right resources to form a green technology industrial cluster
Minnesota’s track record of forming clusters for cuing edge
technologies like supercomputers in the past to medical devicestoday With strong leadership, we are well positioned to takeadvantage of the changing economic climateThe objective of this report is to inject business and technical discipline into Minnesota’sgreen economy policy framework Minnesota already has had success in improving ourstate’s economy and environment by developing well thought out policy such as the windmandate This was due to a consensus between government and industry based on soundscience and good business practices This report develops a methodology to identify
ways to develop the green economy and back it up with specic and detailed ideas where
Minnesota can and should act
With strongleadership, we are well positioned totake advantageof the changingeconomic climate.