The Minnesota Legislature has passed the countries strongest renewable energy standard.

After almost three hours of debate, the House voted 123-10 to join the Senate in requiring utilities to meet ambitious new requirements. The bill now goes to Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is expected to sign it. Earlier this month, the Senate voted 63-3 to adopt it.

“It will be the strongest, most aggressive renewable-energy standard in the country,” said Rep. Aaron Peterson, DFL-Appleton, the bill’s chief sponsor.

The mandate, which would replace a less demanding good-faith effort, would require most utilities to generate a quarter of their power from renewable sources by 2025. Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy, the state’s largest utility, would have to get 30 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020, with 25 percent coming from wind and 5 percent from other renewables.(via)

This bill will spur growth in jobs and help the Minnesota economy buy creating new industry. The need for energy is only expected to go up, and its nice to see the government of at least one state has decided on renewables to meet that need. The measure will be scaled in slowly, 7 percent by 2010, 12 percent by 2012, 17 percent by 2016 and 20 percent by 2020. Xcel would have to hit 15 percent by 2010, 18 percent by 2012 and 25 percent by 2016.

I have heard the upper mid west called the Saudi Arabia of wind, its nice to see at least one of these states embracing its windy nature and showing the way for other states in the region and the country.

From Maria