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This week I attended the 20th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Expo in Washington, D.C. The yearly event is co-convened by the bipartisan House Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus, the Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus, and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), and we’re grateful they host it! It’s a valuable opportunity for clean energy businesses, advocates, and agencies to network and interact with congressional staff on the hill.

I’m Lily Osborne, CEEM’s new Manager for Business Development and Programs. I am thrilled to be joining CEEM and to have the opportunity to support clean energy business development in Minnesota. In my role I will work closely with our partners in the energy efficiency and clean energy business sector, as well as serve as an advocate for smart energy policy.

The 2017 legislative session began on January 3rd and ended on May 23rd. This session marked CEEM’s first full budget session at the Capitol. We were successful in establishing a positive reputation with legislators on both sides of the aisle. Our efforts focused on educating lawmakers on business-friendly policies that support the creation and expansion of jobs and investments needed to strengthen Minnesota’s burgeoning clean energy economy.

Ten years ago Minnesotans from both sides the aisle created the Next Generation Energy Act, a nation-leading Renewable Energy Standard. It has helped to create 54,000 new jobs while keeping our air and water clean and our energy affordable. And now, it’s time to update our commitment: 50% Renewable Energy by 2030 would create thousands of new jobs and stimulate billions in investment while keeping our communities healthy and prosperous.

During our first full session since launching in March of 2016, CEEM worked hard to establish a well-known presence around the Capitol.  CEEM has become a valued organization among our partners because we have shown that we can lead legislative initiatives and garner broad bi-partisan support due to our strong business and economic focus.

The 2017 edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook – produced for the Business Council for Sustainable Energy by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, provides up-to-date, accurate market information about the broad range of industries — energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy— that are contributing to the country’s move towards cleaner energy production and more efficient energy usage.

Yesterday, the Minnesota House of Representatives heard a bill (H.F. 234) that eliminates basic consumer protections protecting consumers’ freedom to generate their own electricity. It would also stop a neutral, expert analysis (led by the Public Utilities Commission) of why Minnesota has the nation’s highest fees on solar customers – as high as $83/month.

We're excited to see you at our Power Sector event - please read about the great speakers who will be part of our panel.

I’m Logan O’Grady and I’m the Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM). I’ve spent the last three years working for the state Senate, in the office of Minnesota’s senior-most senator LeRoy Stumpf. My work in the Senate perhaps made me a little more pragmatic, but overall it strengthened my belief in our government and political process.

The 2016 session is (mostly) over – with the looming potential of a special session hanging over our heads, it can be said with a high degree of certainty that all the Energy work is complete until 2017. This year it can be said mainly that “no news is good news” as we went into session with the intent of keeping legislators focused on growing our clean energy economy or absent a desire to do that, helping to educate them on policies that would hurt clean energy jobs and investment.

To accelerate the advancement of our state’s robust clean energy industry, our team is focused on tackling the issues that matter most to you, our business members and partners. These initiatives include: improving access to capital, unlocking opportunities at the nexus of energy and the Internet of Things (IoT), cultivating a connected network of strategic partners, and providing a business voice to inform forward-thinking public policy to name just a few.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where to go – where to get connected – to what’s happening in the clean energy industry in Minnesota, you’ve found the place! Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM) brings together those who are interested in the business of clean energy.