- Article by: DAVID SHAFFER , Star Tribune
- Updated: January 10, 2015 - 2:00 PM
Republican Pat Garofalo supports electric vehicles, nuclear power and renewable energy but is not a fan of big subsidies for solar power.
The new head of the energy policy committee in the Minnesota House, six-term Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo, drives a Tesla plug-in electric sports car.
As chairman of the renamed House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee, he will have a big say in the state’s energy policy agenda during the Legislative session now underway.
Not surprisingly, Garofalo, 43, of Farmington, is a big supporter of electric vehicles. He also supports renewable energy but is concerned about subsidies for solar power. He favors lifting Minnesota’s ban on new nuclear power plants and has high hopes for technology and innovation, such as capturing carbon dioxide from smokestacks, to address climate change.
He sat down recently with the Star Tribune to talk about his energy ideas and the new Tesla, which he said is his biggest personal splurge.
Q: How do you like the Tesla, and what made you buy one?
http://www.startribune.com/business/288082601.html