What Will Your Next Governor Do About Global Warming?

In a debate broadcast on MPR on Sept 26th, all three major Minnesota governor candidates were directly asked their views on Global Warming.
(Listen to the debate)

I was pleased to hear all three candidates said that global warming is real, is serious, is caused by human activity and we need to do something about it.
So, I wanted to dig in deeper and see specifically what, if anything, the candidates plan to do.

Here's my assessment of how the candidates stand:
* Mike Hatch - proposes aggressive, comprehensive action
* Peter Hutchinson - ambitious goals and an easily understood plan emphasizing conservation and new technology
* Tim Pawlenty - illusive. When asked directly in the debate, he acknowledged global warming as a serious problem. But, his website never states anything about climate change. His only applicable information is stating that he signed the Community-Based Energy Development law in 2005. A good law promoting wind development, but it is hardly a comprehensive plan.

Here are more details about the candidates’ plans & positions.

Mike Hatch-
Mike Hatch has a very strong position on global warming laid out on his campaign website. He clearly spells out the urgency of the threat and has a long, detailed plan of how Minnesota can become a leader in renewable energy production and conservation. He explains in depth how the Bush Administration's plans are completely inadequate to face the threat posed. He goes on to explain that taking aggressive action on energy independence will actually be good for Minnesota's economy.

An excerpt from his website about job creation:
Not only would such a mandate benefit the environment, it would strengthen our economy and create jobs. In 2003, for example, the wind industry in Minnesota created approximately 3,100 jobs, $4 million in royalty payments to farmers, and $3.6 million in tax revenue to local governments. Over the last decade, the wind industry has invested an estimated $600 million in southwestern Minnesota alone. According to The Minnesota Project, wind power creates 22 direct and indirect construction and manufacturing jobs for each megawatt of installed capacity.


Peter Hutchinson -
Peter Hutchinson also has an in-depth position on global warming and a detailed strategy on how to deal with it.

Among the main objectives of his plan are:
* Make Energy Conservation A Top Priority. Minnesota should join the
16 states and 56 American cities that have adopted the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building construction and operation standards.
* Substitute Current Energy Sources with Renewable Sources and New Technologies. Cap greenhouse gas emissions with a target of achieving 1990 levels by 2020, matching the nation-leading standards just passed in California.
* Increase Use of Minnesota-Grown and Produced Fuels & Increase Fuel Efficiency. Have Minnesota’s first cellulose-based ethanol plant up and running within 8 years.

Tim Pawlenty
His website doesn't lay out any new proposals for the next four years. But it does list some accomplishments from the last four years. Although Global Warming is never mentioned on his site, there are a few items relevant to solutions for global warming.
* Increased the state’s commitment to renewable energy for the future through Prairie Island legislation.
* Advanced the Community Based Energy Development Tariff to encourage the development and use of locally owned wind and clean energy sources and established a goal of obtaining 800 megawatts of community based wind to be added to our electric system by 2010.
* Led efforts to fund Northstar Commuter Rail Line

Think about your vote -
As former Minnesota Republican Governor Arne Carlson recently said on a Midday program on MPR, Global Warming is one of the biggest threats facing the world today.
Your next governor should treat it as such.