Green Ideas & Ham Forum To Cover Solar Works for Minnesota

Environment Minnesota

Environment Minnesota started hosting a monthly breakfast forum, Green Ideas and Ham, last year. Since then, our quest for truth, eggs, and creating a healthier planet has led us to lively conversation on Minnesota’s most pressing environmental issues. We’re rolling into 2011 with a discussion of our Solar Works for Minnesota campaign.

On Wednesday, Jan. 19, Environment Minnesota will host our first breakfast of the new year at the Red Stag Supper Club. The forum starts at 8:00 a.m. sharp. We encourage audience participation, and will divide the time equally between invited speakers and a question-and-answer period.

Where: Red Stag Supper Club, 509 1st Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis, MN 55413

When: Wednesday, Jan. 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (Starts at 8:00 sharp! Please arrive 10 to 15 minutes early)

In 2009, solar industry revenues grew by 36 percent. In 2010, solar industry job growth is projected to be 26 percent — in spite of the economic downturn in the rest of the state and national economy. Additionally, venture capitalists invested more in solar energy technology than any in any other technology in 2009. A 10 percent by 2030 Solar Electricity Standard will help make Minnesota an attractive place for those investment dollars.

Minnesota has vast, untapped solar energy potential that, if we take advantage of it, will increase our energy independence and security, create high-quality solar industry jobs, and help spur development of our economy statewide. A Solar Electricity Standard will help us achieve these goals by establishing the right climate for investment in Minnesota’s solar energy future.

However, our state still imports the majority of our energy from dirty and dangerous sources like coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power. Our continued reliance on these fuels contributes to global warming, undermines our energy independence, and costs families and businesses more and more money every year.

On Jan. 19, we’ll be getting together and discussing the Solar Works for Minnesota Campaign with Lynn Hinkle from the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association, Environment Minnesota Director Ken Bradley, and other leaders from business, labor and the wider community.

Environment Minnesota will not asking for any contributions at the breakfast. However, attendees are responsible for the cost of their breakfast. $15 includes: house-made breakfast pastries; sausage or bacon; organic eggs with hash-browns, or fruit and house-made granola and yogurt; as well as juice and coffee.

Who:
Ken Bradley has over 15 years of community and policy affairs experience working in Minnesota on energy and environmental issues. Formerly, he was Director at Clean Water Fund, and also worked for six years with Fresh Energy in a variety of capacities on renewable energy, transportation and various other issues. Since 2009, he has served as Director at Environment Minnesota, where he helped to build the Minnesota Solar Works Coalition.

Lynn Hinkle is currently Policy Director for the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA). Lynn has helped lead Minnesota’s Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Task Force, the Mayors’ Green Manufacturing Initiative and proposals for Clean Energy Manufacturing Conversion of the St Paul Ford Plant as a union rep for UAW Local 879.

Click to read Environment Minnesota’s Solar Future report, which outlines our vision for producing 10 percent of our energy from solar power by 2030.