Melissa Hortman champions solar energy legislation in Minnesota
- Melissa Hortman chaired the Minnesota House energy policy committee and authored crucial legislation in 2013 that boosted solar energy standards.
- The law set benchmarks requiring utilities to include solar energy, with the state's solar capacity seeing significant growth since its passage.
- Hortman's leadership paved the way for subsequent legislation aimed at making Minnesota's electricity 100% carbon-free by 2040.
In Minnesota, advocacy for solar energy has made significant advances largely credited to Melissa Hortman, who chaired the energy policy committee before her role as Speaker of the Minnesota House. Her commitment culminated in the introduction of landmark legislation in 2013, which mandated that utilities include specific benchmarks of solar energy within their supply, reflecting her priorities on climate change and renewable energy development. In the wake of this law, Minnesota has seen rapid growth in its solar capacity, notably since 2015, and community solar gardens now account for nearly 60% of the state's solar output, showcasing the effectiveness of this legislative effort. With Democratic control of the House, Senate, and governor's office reinstated in 2023, lawmakers continued in the spirit of Hortman's efforts by approving a new goal that ensures the state's electricity will be carbon-free by 2040. This new law reflects a growing recognition of climate issues and builds upon the foundation laid by previous legislation. Advocates in the solar industry have credited Hortman as a critical figure in their success, affectionately dubbing her their