Counterpoint
I want to correct several inaccuracies that were published in a Dec. 30 commentary, "It's important that the bounties of renewable energy stay at home."
Authored by three Republican legislators, the commentary erred in its description of Minnesota's Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) tariff and mischaracterized the AWA Goodhue Wind project.
In 2005, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislators enacted the C-BED tariff to optimize state and local benefits from renewable energy development and to facilitate development of community-based renewable energy projects throughout Minnesota.
The authors of the Dec. 30 article -- state Reps. Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing, and Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, and state Sen. John Howe, R-Red Wing -- allege that the Goodhue project has changed dramatically since it began in 2008, that it fails to meet C-BED criteria and that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has not provided appropriate oversight.
None of this is true.
Among the criteria that a C-BED project must meet:
• No single qualifying beneficiary, which includes Minnesota residents and businesses, can own more than 15 percent. The law does not require a Minnesota resident or business to have an ownership interest in the project.