Retrofitting buildings involves upgrading insulation, lighting, windows, and energy management systems to reduce energy use. Making buildings more energy efficient is the least costly way to reduce CO2, results in energy cost saving over time, and creates jobs. While everyone agrees that energy conservation is a good deal, municipalities and corporations confront obstacles to getting financing to retrofit their buildings to save energy. Senator Al Franken is working with companies and civic leaders to eliminate the financial bottlenecks that stand in the way of energy saving retrofits. If needed, he will work on federal legislation that will unlock the potential of building retrofits. Read Senator Franken's article "In energy use less is more, much more."
Senator Franken recently held a Minnesota Renewable Energy Summit at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. Arun Majumdar, head of the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, stated that the United States is approaching a “Sputnik moment” in renewable energy, and Minnesota is one place that could help it meet that challenge. We have to work toward . . . getting the cost of producing solar energy down to 5 cents per kilowatt hour, so that it can be sold without subsidies.” Senator Franken used the summit to launch his "Back to Work Minnesota" initiative to increase jobs in the building trades making buildings energy efficient. See DOE Official Emphasizes Need to Cut Cost of Solar Energy.
The Community Wind Act sponsored by Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Jon Tester (D-MT) will make it easier for community wind developers to finance local wind turbines. The Production Tax Credit required passive income to use the credit, which small wind investers often couldn't use. The Community Wind Act offers a tax credit that is not required to be passive for small wind projects up to 20 megawatts. The bill is supported by over 120 organizations. Download an explanation of the Community Wind Act from Senator Franken's office.
