Potential Problems with the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group

Rewind to December 2006:   Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced his Next Generation Energy Initiative , which included the “development of a comprehensive plan to reduce Minnesota’s emissions of greenhouse gas emissions (GGE).” He established the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group (MCCAG), a group of  community leaders , to assist him in the development of state-level GGE public policy recommendations. The Governor also hired Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), a consultant to manage MCCAG and the overall process.  CCS’s estimated cost for the year-long project is $410,0000 (see page 12 of the MCCAG Action Plan ). But the state is offered a sweetheart deal. CCS had access to financial grants through its affiliate,  Enterprising Environment Solutions, Inc ., helping to lower the total price of its services to $40,000, less than 10% of the actual cost. A shrewd business person might have asked,...