The emerging clean energy economy supports thousands of good-paying jobs in Minnesota and around the country. And wind, solar, and biofuels are helping to reduce carbon emissions, lower energy bills, and support rural economies. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Smith wrote the legislative framework for the Farm Bill Energy Title, and has introduced legislation to support energy storage innovation. Sen. Smith believes that clean energy is a win-win for Minnesota and is committed to fighting for federal policies that support these innovative technologies.
Minnesota has long been a leader in renewable energy. The state ranks eighth in the nation for clean-energy patents, and in the last decade, clean energy startups have attracted more than $450 million in investments to Minnesota. Today, renewable energy accounts for a quarter of all electricity generated in Minnesota–the state is ranked fifth in the nation for solar installations, and nearly 20 percent of our electricity now comes from wind power. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s biofuel industry generates nearly $5 billion for the state economy every year and supports thousands of jobs, all while producing a fuel that is more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Sen. Smith believes that clean energy isn’t just smart environmental policy, it’s smart economic policy. In Minnesota, clean energy sector jobs are growing twice as fast as jobs in other parts of the economy, which is why Sen. Smith is pushing the federal government to follow Minnesota’s lead and do more to accelerate the clean energy transition. She believes we should do this through national clean energy targets, by funding more clean energy research, by extending tax credits that incentivize clean and renewable energy, and by supporting biofuels. You can count on Sen. Smith to continue fighting for these policies in the Senate.
Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Push USDA to Reinstate Grants Helping Farmers Pay for Expensive Energy Upgrades
The energy upgrades reduce reliance on foreign oil, save farmers money & ease the strain on electric & natural gas supplies SAINT PAUL, MN – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) are pushing the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse major changes made to a grant program helping farmers and producers install energy upgrades at their operations. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) was the target of a new Trump Administration rule on Oct. 1, making it harder for farmers and producers to pay for expensive energy upgrades without going into major debt. Farmers and producers utilize REAP to pay for energy upgrades like an energy-efficient grain dryer or solar panels to power all the buildings on a farmstead. Previously, the program granted money to farmers and producers upfront, helping them put a down payment on the expensive equipment. Now, farmers won’t be able to apply for the program until their projects have been fully built and are operational, all without any guarantee they would actually receive a grant. Sens. Klobuchar and Smith, along with 19 of their colleagues, urged USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to change the REAP payment method in a letter on Oct. 23. The Senators write, “This rule would foreclose many of its intended beneficiaries from utilizing this popular and important program at a time when energy costs are soaring. This goes against the intent of the REAP program—to incentivize and support renewable energy projects that farmers might not otherwise
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Requests Cost Estimate of Big Beautiful Bill’s Data Center Tax Incentives
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), in her capacity as the top Democrat on the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth Subcommittee, is requesting an analysis to shed light on the extent to which OBBBA tax breaks went to data center development. Smith sent the request to the Joint Committee on Taxation after reports that some of the country’s largest corporations taking advantage of the generous corporate tax breaks in Republicans’ signature legislation to subsidize the development of data centers. “We’ve seen reports that tax breaks from the Big Beautiful Bill are being used by some of the biggest tech companies in the world to pad their pockets and boost the buildout of data centers. These companies have billions of dollars of revenues, and I question the fiscal rationale behind rewarding them for investments they would have made regardless of the tax benefits,” says Senator Smith. “How is it that Republicans could find the money for these massive companies to build deeply unpopular data centers, but not the money for health care and nutrition assistance? It’s complete hypocrisy and reeks of corruption, considering these same companies routinely donate millions of dollars to the President’s campaign.” Data centers and the trillion-dollar tech companies building them have reported record profits, which likely were boosted thanks to the OBBBA. OBBBA provisions most commonly utilized include expanded breaks for research and development programs, immediate deductions for the cost of investments, and a new subsidy for manufacturing structures. Senator Smith questions the fiscal rationale of
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Push the Trump Administration to Release Heating Assistance Funds Before Winter
More than 100,000 Minnesota households relied on federal energy assistance last winter WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) and several colleagues are leading a bipartisan push for the federal government to release energy assistance funding as quickly as possible, helping families stay safe and warm as our weather cools and energy costs spike. More than 100,000 Minnesota households relied on the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) last winter. Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year. Demand for assistance is expected to increase
Sen. Tina Smith’s Statement on Agriculture Committee’s Second Partisan Markup of Long-Delayed Farm Bill
The partisan legislation forces Minnesotans to pay $140 million in administrative costs, fails to address SNAP cuts WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill, instead choosing to pass a partisan version drafted by Republicans that will not gain enough support to pass the full Senate: “I said it before and I’ll say it again, patience is a virtue, it’s just not my virtue. I’m disappointed that, once again, Republicans have pursued a partisan path on the Senate Farm Bill; however, we’ll keep working
Smith, Klobuchar Urge HHS to Release LIHEAP Funding
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) are urging the Department of Health and Human Services to release the remaining FY26 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available to all states, including Minnesota. “We write to urge you to immediately release the remaining FY26 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available to all states, including Minnesota,” the Senators wrote. “LIHEAP is the main federal program that assists low-income households and seniors with their energy bills.” “In Minnesota it has helped over 100,000 households this winter, preventing over 17,000 disruptions,” the Senators continued.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on President Trump’s Political Attack on Minnesota’s Energy Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it was cancelling energy infrastructure awards only in states that either did not support him in the presidential election or whose Senators are pushing to negotiate a bipartisan deal to re-open the federal government amidst the current shutdown, including Minnesota. “This is beyond stupid. At a time when most Minnesotans are just trying to scrape together enough money to pay their bills and live their lives, these politically motivated attacks on our state are just going to make it that much harder for Minnesotans
English