MEO Campaign Organizing Meeting!

Wednesday January 23, 2012 from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Come learn about our efforts to keep our city’s energy options open and how you can help build the movement to help us move from energy consumers to energy deciders! This event will focus on the rollout of the new MEO campaign and allow you to sign up to work on the campaign.

The event will include:

• Introductions to each other and the campaign
• Explanation of campaign strategy and timeline
• Identifying where you can volunteer with the SIX MEO committees
• Organizing our MEO committee next action steps

Cookies, refreshments, and enthusiasm provided!

He’s been on the job less than 72 hours, but already Dylan Kesti is making his mark as the campaign coordinator for Minneapolis Energy Options, a campaign to keep our city’s energy options open so we can secure an affordable, reliable, clean, efficient, and locally-controlled energy future.

Dylan Kesti joins Minneapolis Energy Options(MEO) with a rich history in organizing and progressive politics.  Dylan holds a dual degree in global politics and communication from The College of St. Scholastica, and a M.A. in global environmental policy from American University based in Washington D.C. As an undergraduate Dylan studied sustainable development in Ghana, and co-led a January-term service-learning trip in Guatemala.

As a graduate student Dylan spent a semester at the U.N. University for Peace in Costa Rica, and afterwards worked as an intern with the Environmental Working Group in Washington, D.C. lobbying for a fair and sustainable farm bill for domestic farmers.

Most recently Dylan was teaching with the Higher Education Consortium of Urban Affairs (HECUA) as the Instructor to a semester long program on Environmental Sustainability.

Dylan’s résumé also includes a stint with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) working on U.S food justice issues with LaDonna Redmond. Dylan has also worked with the Land Stewardship Project researching beginning farmer tax credits. Even in his free time Dylan continues to work for social, racial, and environmental justice in policy and practice as a policy advocate and activist. He is a co-founder of The Great Minnesota Outing, volunteers with Youth Farm and Market Project, and is a member of Sustainable Progress through Engaging Active Citizens (SPEAC).

Dylan Kesti can also be found on Twitter @DylanKesti or at[email protected].

Skip the cartoons and hear Minneapolis Energy Options rabble rouser John Farrell explain the campaign for Minneapolis to take 

control of its energy future!  He’s presenting at the DFL Education Foundation Stone Arch Discussion group this Saturday morning at 8:00 AM. Grab a cup of coffee and a tasty Greek pastry while you listen!

Saturday, January 12
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Gardens of Salonica 19 5th St NE, Minneapolis (map)

Energy costs are rising and energy pollution is causing significant global problems. We often feel powerless to change things.

But we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put cleaner, more affordable, and more local energy on the agenda right here in Minneapolis. Very soon, the city of Minneapolis will be renegotiating a contract with its electric and gas utilities. It’s a conversation that will chart a new energy future for the city and its residents and businesses.

Learn more in this made-for-web presentation:

By Ken Bradley

Mayor Rybak was one of the first mayors to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement approved by the Minneapolis City Council, which established a goal to curb greenhouse gas emissions and increase renewable energy. Taking the agreement one step further, the city of Minneapolis also established its own, more ambitious goal of a 30 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 (based on 2006 levels).

Xcel Energy and Centerpoint Energy are responsible for roughly two-thirds of our city’s greenhouse gas emissions. They have made some progress, yet last year the carbon intensity of Xcel Energy’s electricity increased and the city has no guarantee from either utility to meet the city’s greenhouse gas targets. Neither utility has shown strong support for local renewable energy programs and Xcel proposed eliminating the popular Solar Rewards Program.

In the next few years both Xcel Energy’s and Centerpoint Energy’s franchise agreements with the city of Minneapolis are coming up for renewal. These 20-year contracts give each utility a monopoly over electricity and gas service, respectively, and are common to most cities.

This pending expiration of contracts makes this the perfect opportunity to align Minneapolis’ goals to reduce emissions; increase local, renewable energy; and reduce energy usage with these long-term agreements. Minneapolis has three options:

1. We can negotiate new 20 year franchise agreements with Xcel and Centerpoint Energy that provide guarantees the utilities will meet their part of the greenhouse gas emission reductions, increase local renewables and energy-efficiency.

2. Sign a short-term three- to five-year franchise agreement with Xcel and Centerpoint Energy while the city explores other options like creating a municipal utility.

3. Sign another 20-year franchise agreement with no guarantees Xcel and Centerpoint Energy will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, investments in local, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Read the rest at Downtown Journal ->