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| Date: | February 1, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Chris Van Guilder | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-1388 | | Contact Email: | christopher.vanguilder@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| REPUBLICAN RURAL CAUCUS MEETS WITH FORMER OFFICE OF ENERGY SECURITY DIRECTOR BILL GLAHN |
(ST. PAUL) – The Republican Rural Caucus, composed of Republican members of the Minnesota House and Senate, meets regularly to discuss public policy issues important to rural Minnesota. Co-chairs Senator Doug Magnus (R-Slayton), Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and House counterpart Representative Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) lead the meetings.
Bill Glahn, former Director of the Minnesota Office of Energy Security and Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Commerce under the Pawlenty Administration, spoke to the group Tuesday morning. Mr. Glahn is a leading energy policy, production and management expert. His presentation included an overview of state energy policies and initiatives, industrial energy consumption and price trends, alternative energy markets, and related policy initiatives.
“All communities and regions are different when it comes to energy consumption, needs and resources. Rural Minnesota is no exception,” said Mr. Glahn. “When we look at rural Minnesota, it’s important to note the capabilities of one community compared to the next. Some energy projects or policy initiatives may be good for one city or town, but not for another. An understanding of these variations and why they exist allows policy makers to implement sound energy policy. Going forward, we cannot afford to implement bad policy that ignores certain realities of living life in a rural area.”
Representative Mary Franson (R-Alexandria), who serves on the caucus executive committee, stated, “We have a great potential to expand our renewable energy production here in Minnesota. The critical task going forward is to avoid bad policies that force unrealistic and inefficient demands on the market and our providers. Hearing from experts such as Mr. Glahn is very helpful in guiding our decision making as we go forward.”
Representative Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar) added, “It is a great loss for our state to no longer have the service of Bill Glahn. He is a valuable intellectual on energy policy. I found especially interesting the conflict in some communities and groups between a desire for more renewable, clean energy and an opposition to the accompanying increased transmission infrastructure. It’s an issue that we need to resolve as we continue.”
Senator John Howe (R-Red Wing) remarked, “To have a strong, vibrant rural economy, we need a plan to meet our energy demands in an efficient and cost-effective manner. We all want clean, reliable sources of energy, but we have to make sure the steps we take to get there are realistic and achievable.”
The Republican Rural Caucus meets weekly and regularly invites policy experts, state leaders and others to participate in their discussions.
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