By Sarah Doty
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

ST. PAUL -- Feb. 22, 2007, was a landmark day for Minnesota's energy policy.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law that day an ambitious renewable energy standard, requiring that 25 percent of the electricity produced by state's utilities come from renewable energy sources by 2025.

Those energy sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, hydrogen or biomass.

The renewable energy standard received strong support from both sides of the aisle, passing the Senate with a lopsided 61-4 vote, and the House with a large margin, 123-to-10.

Early start

Proposed in 2006 in Pawlenty's State of the State address, the "25 by '25" was a goal which the governor believed would bring Minnesota to the forefront of the renewable energy movement once again. Several attempts at similar legislation, requiring 20 percent by 2020, prior to 2006 were unsuccessful.

"In many ways, Minnesota has been the birthplace of the renewable energy movement," Pawlenty said in a statement issued by his office. "Today, we are leading the nation on the path to a better, cleaner, more independent energy future. I want to thank all of the legislators and stakeholders who worked together to achieve this milestone in a positive, productive way."

Now, more than two years after the standard was signed into law, the effects are hard to miss in southeastern Minnesota.

Hundreds of turbines have found homes in fields across the area, with the promise of hundreds more in the next few years in order to meet the requirements laid out in the law.

The reason for the increase, according to Dan Hayes of the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, is the renewable energy standard and its graduated requirements: with 12 percent required by 2012, 17 percent by 2016, 20 percent by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025.

Prior to the renewable energy standard, SMMPA had been installing turbines, said Hayes, the legislation just required them to continue, and fast.

Currently, SMMPA is ahead of the curve, with 11 percent of the energy it produces coming from renewable energy sources. A large part of that comes from the 67-turbine Wapsipinicon Wind Project, where SMMPA purchases the 100.5 megawatts generated.

30 percent by 2020

Xcel Energy was required to take the renewable energy standard a step further because of its operation of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant: 30 percent by 2020.

"Xcel Energy fully supports Minnesota's ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Dave Sparby, acting president and CEO, Northern States Power Co. Minnesota, an Xcel Energy company, in a release. "We will accomplish this goal cost-effectively by relying more on wind power and other resources, increasing energy conservation and increasing our reliance on non-greenhouse gas emitting nuclear power."

The renewable energy standard required that the majority of electricity generated should come from wind.

"Of the 30 percent in 2020, at least 25 percent must be generated by wind energy conversion systems and the remaining 5 percent by other eligible energy technology," the bill says.

To do that, Xcel has said it needs 1,300 megawatts of wind energy by the end of 2008 and an additional 2,600 megawatts of new wind resources by 2020.

It took a big step in that direction in January of this year, when it purchased the Grand Meadow Wind Farm, consisting of 67 turbines that generate 100.5 megawatts of energy. This is the first farm owned by Xcel in Minnesota.

As of now, 28 states have renewable energy standards with various timelines and targets. Minnesota's ranks as one of the most ambitious.

In February, a renewable energy standard was proposed to Congress, seeking to have a national standard of 25 percent renewable electricity by 2025. The bills are being reviewed.

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