As Figure 1 shows, implementing the Clean Energy Development Plan in Minnesota means:

1. Energy efficiency measures reduce electricity demand, and therefore the need for generation.
2. Generation from renewable resources and efficient natural gas increases.
3. Generation from older, less efficient and highly polluting coal plants decreases.

1. Dramatic improvements in environmental quality by 2020, compared to business-as-usual practices, by reducing: sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution, which causes acid rain, by 71 percent; nitrogen oxide (NOX) pollution, which causes smog, by 71 percent; and carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution, which causes global warming, by 67 percent.
2. Improved electricity reliability thanks to a diversified power portfolio.
3. Economic development and job growth through wind and biomass power "cash crops" for farmers, increased business for energy efficiency and renewable energy manufacturers, and new skilled jobs in installation and maintenance of this equipment.

Minnesota has an opportunity to use energy in smarter, more efficient ways, thereby reducing pollution, saving money and creating jobs. This will produce the benefits summarized below.

1. Reduces net electricity costs by $321 million by 2020.
2. Saves 21,152 GWh of electricity - equal to about seven large power plants - by 2020.
3. Reduces electricity demand by 17 percent in 2010 and 28 percent by 2020.
4. Costs less - at an average investment of 2.6¢/kWh - than generating, transmitting and distributing electricity from power plants.