Minnesota
Minnesota governor signs new law to reform state's energy permitting process: 'We knocked off 18 months or more from the construction timeline'
In a move to energize Minnesota’s clean energy future, Gov. Tim Walz has cut the red tape to let renewable projects get through faster.
According to KTTC, Walz signed a new law aimed at streamlining the state’s energy permitting process, reducing bureaucratic delays to increase the speed of development of renewable energy infrastructure.
The legislation aims to modernize the energy permitting system without compromising environmental or safety standards. The new law is expected to significantly cut red tape for businesses initiating clean energy projects, potentially shortening the construction timeline by 18 months or more.
“Ten years is too long to be able to build our infrastructure. With the bill that we passed this year, we knocked off 18 months or more from the construction timeline, which is a really big deal,” House Majority Leader Rep. Jamie Long said.
This legislative move is part of Minnesota’s broader strategy to achieve 100% clean energy by 2040. With faster project initiation, the state anticipates numerous benefits, including job creation, enhanced energy independence, and a reduction in pollution.
Minnesota is already a leader in renewable energy, generating 6 gigawatts of solar, wind, and storage capacity. That makes it the 10th-largest generator of renewable electricity in the U.S, according to KTTC.
The American Clean Power Association says wind, solar, and energy storage projects in Minnesota have received $13 billion in capital investments as of early 2024, as reported by KTTC.
Gov. Walz also underscored the law’s environmental significance, particularly in light of recent extreme weather events that have impacted several Minnesota communities.
“This is a measure that will help protect our environment and get the clean energy projects that are going to help fight climate change in motion,” he said.
Meanwhile, individuals can take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act tax breaks and credits when looking to make eco-friendly upgrades to their home.
The governor’s proactive approach, coupled with robust investments in renewable infrastructure, positions Minnesota as a beacon of progress and innovation in the fight for a greener planet.
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Hit by headwinds including inflationary pressures, competition from e-commerce sites, big box retailers, pop-up stores and even a helium shortage, Party City is going out of business.
The closing of the nation’s largest party supply store, reported by CNN on Friday, is expected to shutter more than 700 retail stores in North America by the end of February, including 10 stores in Minnesota.
According to the company’s website, Party City has outlets in Apple Valley, Bloomington, Chanhassen, Coon Rapids, Maple Grove, Maplewood, Roseville, St. Cloud, St. Louis Park and Woodbury. Employees contacted at stores in Roseville, St. Cloud and Apple Valley said they had heard of the closing but could not comment.
Party City, which sells everything from balloons, costumes and birthday banners to gender reveal props and New Year’s Eve tiaras, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2023. That resulted in the cancellation of nearly $1 billion in debt.
The 38-year-old New Jersey-based company exited bankruptcy after naming a new CEO, Barry Litwin, in August. But the company was still contending with more than $800 million in debt, according to CNN. The New York Times reported the company employed more than 16,000 people.
The Atlanta Falcons are likely to cut Kirk Cousins before mid-March, less than a year after he left the Minnesota Vikings to head to Georgia.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that “executives across the leave” believe Cousins’ exit from Atlanta will happen before a $10 million roster bonus is due on Mar. 17, with Schefter citing “multiple sources” who say a split is now inevitable.
It comes in the week that Falcons made the decision to bench Cousins in favor of rookie QB Michael Penix, Jr., whom the Falcons drafted at No. 8 in March shortly after signing Cousins to a four-year, $160 million deal.
Given Cousins has a no-trade clause in his Falcons contract, Schefter notes that it’s unlikely Atlanta will be able to find a suitable deal to trade Cousins, meaning he’s likely to hit the free agent market for the second year running.
Cousins entered the season still recovering from the Achilles injury that ended his final year with the Vikings, and has struggled under center, with the tipping point for Atlanta coming after a 41-21 loss in Minnesota to the Vikings and a 15-9 win over the struggling Las Vegas Raiders, where Cousins threw for only 112 yards, one TD and one INT.
He still showed flashes of his old brilliance however, namely in the 31-26 win over the Tampa Bay Bucaneers in late October, when he threw for 276 yards and four TDs.
After moving on from Cousins, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold for a one-year, $10 million deal and drafted JJ McCarthy with the 10th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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