Democrat Minnesota Governor Tim Walz just used an executive order to create a Climate Change Subcabinet, and a group called the Governor’s Advisory Council on Climate Change.
The new committees will develop and administer policies surrounding Walz’s Clean Cars initiative—which will push up the prices of gas vehicles to subsidize electric cars—and Walz’s goal of getting all of Minnesota’s energy from “clean” sources by 2050.
Right now, about 25 percent of Minnesota’s power comes from renewable sources, chief of which is wind farms. Another quarter comes from nuclear power, and 40 percent comes from coal-fired power plants.
It is likely that going forward, Walz’s committee will ignore nuclear power, and harass farmers and other groups.
In response to Walz’s launch of the climate change committees, Senator David Osmek (R-Mound), who heads up the Senate Energy and Utilities Committee, wrote the following:
“Today, Governor Walz announced another initiative that goes against his promise to residents to lead Minnesota collaboratively under the banner of “One Minnesota.” The Governor’s new Climate Change Subcabinet does not represent a diverse group of Minnesotans as he would have you believe. Instead of diversity, it made up of a combination of metro Democrats and representatives from his administration. Rather than create a group think situation, Walz’s should include Republicans, industry experts, and residents from across the state to cultivate ideas and solutions. GOP need not apply is not the solution.
“This same mentality is what led the Governor to propose a 20-cent gas tax that is resoundingly unpopular. What happens to the Governor’s Subcabinet and resulting proposals when residents find out that his radical environmental agenda will result in their energy rates increasing two or three-fold?”
Willis Krumholz
Willis L. Krumholz is a fellow at Defense Priorities. He holds a JD and MBA degree from the University of St. Thomas, and works in the financial services industry. The views expressed are those of the author only. You can follow Willis on Twitter @WillKrumholz.
