August 2022 Newletter
In this edition of MCEA’s Environmental Monitor:
- CenterPoint rate case a win for ratepayers
- Event: join us for Legally Green on the River
- MCEA honored with (another!) best workplace award
- Recording: Mining the Climate Crisis CLE webinar
- MCEA is hiring - Director of Operations
- Send a tweet to help stop new fossil gas power plant
- The IRA and what it means for Minnesota
- Recording: Introduction to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
CenterPoint rate case a win for ratepayers and for our climate
You probably know that MCEA works at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to retire coal plants and push electric utilities to transition to clean, renewable energy. But you may not know that we also work on cases involving gas utilities, including rate cases. So why do we do it, and what are we trying to accomplish?
Last week, the PUC approved a final settlement of the CenterPoint Energy rate case that holds down the cost to consumers, prevents CenterPoint from billing customers for the cost of marketing gas, and continues the push to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Click here to read more about this MCEA win.
Join us for Legally Green on the River
You’re invited! MCEA’s annual fall metro-area event is happening October 9th at Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens. RSVP today for Legally Green on the River.
Join us for our big annual fall gathering – this year, outdoors along the banks of the Mississippi River. We’ll be serving light appetizers, drinks, and snacks. Guests will have the opportunity to interact with our staff, and take in a stage program featuring powerful speakers, including MCEA’s leader Kathryn Hoffman.
It’s going to be a great afternoon, and we hope you’ll join us. Special early bird ticket pricing is live now.
P.S. If you want to support our event in a bigger way, contact Steph Emerich to learn about co-host and sponsorship opportunities.
MCEA honored as a Best Place to Work by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
MCEA is honored to announce its inclusion as a 2022 Best Places to Work honoree by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal.
The 24th annual Best Places to Work awards is the longest-running awards program recognizing great workplaces in the Twin Cities area — as determined by survey responses from thousands of Minnesota employees. MCEA was honored in the small category, which includes organizations with 25 to 49 employees.
“Our team at MCEA is crucial to the fight for clean air, water, climate, and the health of Minnesotans. It is critical that we maintain a supportive environment to attract and retain top talent. We want all of our team members to feel valued and supported in both their personal and professional lives.” - Kathryn Hoffman, CEO, MCEA.
To determine its honorees, the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal sought nominations from companies in the Twin Cities region. Their research partner, Nebraska-based Quantum Workplace, distributed surveys to all Minnesota-based employees of the nominated companies, asking participants to rate employers on a variety of questions related to management, communication and more. Quantum tabulated the scores from those confidential surveys to identify 70 honorees.
Click here to view the full list of honorees.
MCEA was also included for the second year running on The NonProfit Times Best Nonprofits to Work For list.
Recording: Mining the Climate Crisis webinar - Green Beagle CLE
Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for our webinar: Mining the Climate Crisis: prioritizing recovery, recycling, and reuse. We had over 160 attendees!
Click here to watch a recording of this webinar
This webinar is part of MCEA’s ongoing Green Beagle CLE series. Click here to watch recordings of past webinars and RSVP to our Nov. 5th, in-person, half day mini-symposium: Clean Water Act at 50.
MCEA is hiring!
Director of Operations
We are seeking an energetic and experienced employee to optimize our internal operations.
The Director of Operations will work with the Office Manager, financial consultants, and leadership team to manage the day-to-day operations of MCEA and ensure that staff have what they need to meet our budget goals and accomplish our strategic plan and program goals.
This is a new position, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape it. This is a great opportunity to join a nimble team that is committed to working and laughing hard together, and to have a big impact on the state’s future.
The Inflation Reduction Act and what it means for Minnesotans
Major federal climate legislation was signed into law this month. Wondering what it means for Minnesota?
While details of the legislation and the impacts they will have are still being uncovered, including language that strengthens the EPA’s authority to regulate carbon emissions, our CEO penned a first-blush review of the IRA on August 13th. Click here to read.
The IRA's $369 billion investment in climate action is a critical down payment on the transition to a clean energy economy, and is worthy of celebration. However, this bill is not a golden goose, and there is a lot of work to be done. Aspects of the IRA, and a purported side deal with West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, are concerning to environmental and justice activists. MCEA is working with our allies to understand their potential impact, prevent legal changes that undermine bedrock environmental protections, and ensure that these needed resources benefit every Minnesota community equitably.
Read this post from our CEO Kathryn Hoffman to learn about the IRA’s biggest successes
Tweet the head of the Biden Administration’s USDA to help stop NTEC
The federal government is considering giving a loan for a new fossil gas plant that would serve Minnesota customers. Send a tweet to the head of the USDA to tell him to reject NTEC.
NTEC is unneeded, polluting, and expensive.
We have a new online action that allows you to send a pre-filled (but customizable) tweet to the head of the USDA demanding his agency to not help fund NTEC’s construction. If you use Twitter, in just a couple clicks, you can raise your voice for a fossil-free future.
Watch: Introduction to the Public Utilities Commission webinar
On August 2nd, MCEA’s Regulatory Attorney Amelia Vohs and Climate Policy Analyst Melissa Partin gave the 101 on one of Minnesota’s most important regulatory agencies: the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
The PUC plays a central role in shaping Minnesota’s energy future. The agency is obligated to make decisions consistent with public interest – which is why having a diverse group of community members participating at the PUC is so critical.
Watch our one-hour webinar to learn:
- Who serves on the PUC and what types of cases they handle
- How to track and observe PUC cases, decisions and hearings
- How to have your position heard at the PUC
- And more!
Click here to watch the recording. And, please share the webinar with anyone you think might benefit from the content.