An opportunity for West Bank businesses to participate in a forum on the future of energy in Minneapolis as it effects local businesses.
In 2014, the City of Minneapolis’s long-term franchise agreements with Xcel Energy and Centerpoint Energy expire. The city will face the choice of whether to renew these agreements, renegotiate them, or seek an alternative way of delivering electricity and natural gas to Minneapolis businesses and residents. These decisions could impact the cost and reliability of Minneapolis energy service, financing to help businesses and residents save energy and produce clean energy, job creation in the local economy, and local and global pollution.
Minneapolis faces significant threats through our current energy system. Xcel Energy and Centerpoint Energy produce two-thirds of our city’s greenhouse gas emissions, and cost Minneapolis energy users $450 million annually – over $9 billion over the 20-year life of these agreements. Minneapolis businesses face increasing blackouts and natural gas accidents from aging energy infrastructure that is not being adequately maintained and modernized. Energy prices, especially for electricity, are rising rapidly, including a 2013 8.6% Xcel rate increase.
I’d like to invite your association and your member businesses to join us for a discussion with other local businesses on this important issue:
What: Minneapolis Energy Options Lunch Forum: Our City & Our Choice
When: Thursday June 27th, 11-2pm
Where: Mill City Museum, Classroom, 704 South 2nd St. Mpls, MN 55401
Please register to save your spot now: http://meolunchforum.
A letter with more information can be found here: (pdf) http://www.wbba.thewestbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Minneapolis-Energy-Options-Business-Event-invite.pdf)
