Volunteering with several climate advocacy organizations across our state has shown me just how critical energy affordability is to Minnesotans.
We shouldn’t have to worry about being stuck with soaring energy costs. We urgently need reliable and affordable options.
Currently, Congress has an opportunity to fix one of the biggest obstacles holding us back: a slow, outdated permitting process that hinders getting cheaper clean energy onto the grid.
To lower living costs for everyday Americans, we need the most cost-effective energy sources. Renewable energy is often the cheapest form of energy available, but it can take nearly a decade to permit and build. That delay means communities like ours are stuck with outdated energy sources while cheaper and cleaner options sit on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the climate crisis is accelerating and the window to act is closing fast. Every year, air pollution from fossil fuels causes hundreds of thousands of premature deaths and disproportionately impacts disadvantaged communities.
Outdated permitting rules are not only driving up prices but putting public health at risk. Congress could cut emissions and pollution by unlocking the thousands of clean energy projects already waiting for approval and connection to the grid.
To date, a flurry of bipartisan bills addressing needed permitting reform have been introduced in Congress, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers has released a framework of policy recommendations. This is all encouraging, but we need to move from discussions to action.
The stark reality is that families in Minnesota face rising electricity costs as our energy demand grows.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the average household price of electricity in the US rose by nearly 10% from 2023 to 2024. Nearly 90% of likely voters are concerned about rising energy bills, and two-thirds want more transmission lines to improve clean energy and grid reliability. The cost of living is a very real issue for everyday Americans.
Yet, sources of cheap and clean energy and its associated infrastructure are being held back.
Ultimately, permitting reform is not about politics. It’s about ensuring that hardworking families in Minnesota can afford to keep the heat on this winter. A smarter, modernized permitting process can help approve good projects sooner and reject bad ones faster.
We can improve public health, create good jobs and unlock economic benefits for rural and urban communities alike.
Democrats and Republicans agree that America must build more energy infrastructure to meet our growing demand.
The 2024 Energy Permitting Reform Act was a good starting point, and now our Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Representative Betty McCollum must work across the aisle and seize this chance to act.
No family in Minnesota should have to fear the next blackout or crushing energy bill—especially when clean, affordable solutions are within our reach.
Holly Swiglo is a junior at Oberlin College studying environmental policy. She is from St. Paul and volunteers with the Minnesota chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization that empowers everyday people to work together on climate policy. Find out more at cclusa.org.