Facts:
- Minneapolis is dependent mostly on coal, nuclear, and gas for its energy.
- It’s energy use is inefficient because our suppliers have a financial interest in selling more energy.
- Our energy is provided by two corporate energy monopolies, Xcel Energy (electric) and Centerpoint Energy (gas), whose first priority is their shareholders.
- Our 20-year contracts with these two utilities will expire in the next three years.
- 20 years is a long time.
Goals:
- To use our energy dollars to pay for clean, local, and renewable energy instead of importing polluting energy.
- To make great strides to reduce energy use through conservation and efficiency.
- To reduce energy costs while increasing local economic development.
We support:
- The City of Minneapolis in keeping its options open rather than signing a long-term agreement with the same energy providers.
- City Council in creating a ballot initiative that would allow voters (in 2013) to enable our city council members and mayor to research, explore, and pursue the option of municipalizing our energy utilities to create a more reliable, affordable and clean local energy system.
- Advancing energy efficiency, clean energy, community ownership, and local economic development through a more democratic energy system.
