Fresh Energy's 2011 platform focuses on supporting transit funding and development, electric vehicles, renewable energy standards and energy efficiency. Specifically, it will work to: 1) Ensure adequate transit funding and support future transit lines to prevent service cuts and fare increases. 2) Support development near transit stations through tax increment financing. 3) Pass laws to encourage electric vehicle deployment and connect them to renewable energy. 4) Defend Minnesota's renewable energy and energy efficiency standards.

1. At the Capitol: Fresh Energy’s 2011 platform January 11, 2011 Michael Noble Executive Director

2. Protecting transit funding and supporting future transitway lines Fresh Energy is working to make sure transit receives the funding necessary to avoid drastic cuts in service or fare increases. Transit funding Photo: Metro Transit

3. Supporting development near transit stations Fresh Energy supports tax-increment financing to help support development in areas near transit stations, such as along the Hiawatha Light Rail line, the Central Corridor, or even potential future streetcar lines. Transit-oriented development Photo: Metro Transit

4. Supporting electric vehicles Fresh Energy will work with Xcel Energy and others to pass basic improvements to laws related to electric vehicles to encourage faster and more successful deployment and to better connect the vehicles to renewable energy. Electric vehicles

5. Reforming net metering policy Minnesota's net metering laws—the rules for selling excess electricity produced by renewable energy generators back to a utility—are the oldest in the nation and are out of step with current technology. Net metering

6. Ten percent solar energy standard Fresh Energy supports requiring utilities to generate 10 percent of their electricity from solar by 2030. Solar energy

7. Offsetting coal pollution Fresh Energy will protect current law requiring utilities building or importing 50 megawatts or more of new coal power to offset the global warming emissions from the plant that generates the power. Coal plants

8. Growing renewable energy Utilities in Minnesota must generate 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025. Fresh Energy will work to prevent efforts to weaken the standard or efforts to expand excuses for utility non-compliance. Renewable energy standard

9. Saving more energy Fresh Energy will defend Minnesota's existing requirement that electric and gas utilities save 1.5 percent of energy sales annually. Energy efficiency

10. Preserving the nuclear moratorium Minnesota’s moratorium on nuclear power should not be lifted without addressing long-term issues of waste, cost, security, and safety. Nuclear

11. Fresh Energy : Leading the transition to clean energy Questions ? Michael Noble, Executive Director [email_address] Jenna Hartwig Wade, Communications Specialist [email_address]