Almanac: At the Capitol

A coalition of lawmakers, the University of Minnesota and arctic explorer Will Steger announced an effort to get the world's largest wind turbine manufacturer to open a new research and development center in Minnesota. Steger said "this is a great opportunity for Minnesota, like when the iron mines opened." Everyone touted the high-end jobs this could bring.

Lawmakers are putting together an incentive plan that could include bonding money and tax incentives. The company Vestas says the center would employ 80 people and be ready by 2009. Rep. Aaron Peterson (DFL-Appleton) sent the Danish company a letter and heard back quickly that they're looking for a place with a major research university, good quality of life and legislative incentive package. Other states that could be vying for this facility include Iowa, Texas, Washington and Oregon.

The Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher said this venture could only grow more "green collar jobs." Sen. Ellen Anderson said something like this needs real leaders "we need to close the deal and bring in jobs." With Sen. Anderson standing just feet away, Gov. Tim Pawlenty says the Vestas deal is a "great idea" and he welcomes them along with several other wind and renewable energy companies he is in private conversations with and hopes to "bring good news in the future."

The governor announced four new energy initiatives today, the first concentrates on "microenergy" that's small scale technologies like solar, wind, geothermal that individual homeowners or communities would qualify for low-interest state loans if the legislature agrees. The second, Clean Energy Technology Collaborative was created through executive order and it basically ensures last year's nation-leading standards are implemented. Third, a new Office of Energy Security would be established without any cost or major changes. Finally, the governor is asking the legislature to create the Carbon Market Planning Authority to create a carbon trading marketplace.

One final note, the "Gov. Angry" was now back to being "Gov. Amiable" today joking with reporters and staff including sarcastically calling returning Capitol Reporter Tom Hauser a "putz" when a Ch. 5 reporter asked the governor to comment publicly about Hauser's return. Pawlenty did say he would welcome Hauser's return as we all will.