The opportunities below are listed in order as determined by the 18 participants. The bullet points include additional information highlighting why the participants felt the opportunity was important and significant.
- Local development of clean energy can reduce the state’s dependence on imported energy, which costs about $16 billion/year.
- Support is available. Tax credits for clean energy and solar were recently extended. Local organizations, like CERTs, can provide community members with resources because technology changes quickly.
- The clean energy economy is growing. Clean energy jobs increased by 78% in MN in that last 15 years, compared to overall job growth of 11%. The average wage for a sustainable energy job is 42% higher than the average state wage.
- ‘Balance Watersheds’: Drained lands and impervious urban areas must be offset by best management practices (BMPs) and ecosystem restorations aimed at slowing runoff and storing water (infiltration, wetlands, floodplain connectivity, etc.)
- Flood protection infrastructure must be designed for extremes. Unprotected areas need infrastructure designed to withstand flooding.
- Investing in quality water systems now will allow SE Minnesota to respond quickly and effectively in the event of extreme weather.
- Adopting agricultural best management practices and planting perennials can reduce nutrient, soil, and water loss while maintaining production and profitability.
- Encouraging balanced planting in urban and rural environments, promoting crop diversity, and using forages instead of or in addition to corn and soybeans reduces runoff.
- Buffer strips could significantly improve water quality and remove sediment from Minnesota water.
- These practices could help reduce the spread of diseases, mold, and other pollutants through runoff, floods, and other extreme weather events.
- Southeastern Minnesota should strive for healthy, responsible land use practices – especially with agriculture and mining. Healthy shorelines and streams are more resilient to flood events.
- Because a generation of farmers may be retiring soon, there is the opportunity toengage with younger farmers who have longer careers in front of them in order to make agricultural changes.
- Flood protection infrastructure must be designed for extremes. Unprotected areas need infrastructure designed to withstand flooding.
- Clean energy development can provide good-paying jobs for Minnesota workers.
- Investing in quality water systems now will allow SE Minnesota to respond quickly and effectively in the event of extreme weather.
- Local organizations, like CERTs, can provide community members with resources to help successfully implement energy project ideas.
- Allowing and creating a higher-risk pool shared by all insurance companies for policyholders with multiple weather-related claims within a short period of time.
- Grid transformation from centralized to distributed energy generation with clean energy microgrid clusters will accelerate local economies.
- Address higher premiums by raising the deductibles, changing policies, and allowing homeowners to take on more risk.
- Reduce fraud, potential insurance abuses, and excessive damage repair costs in insurance claims by developing relationships with local, trusted contractors.
- Improved home safety, construction materials, construction practices, and building codes may reduce insurance premiums and likelihood of weather-related damage.
- Reduction in air pollution can save more people from hospitalization and save health expenditures.
- Upcoming crops and agricultural production systems may provide both strong economic and environmental benefits.
Other Opportunities
Energy
Insurance
Public Health
Agriculture
Back to learning about the Winona County Climate Dialogue!