The Occupy Wall Street and ensuing local protests are capturing the news lately for expressing diverse viewpoints on reform in the United States. One group protesting, the 350.org movement, is a striking balance between economic and environmental change.

With Xcel Energy, a major utility company, issuing its integrated resource plan to the Public Utilities Commission, now is the time for Minnesotans to capitalize on this national movement.

XcelâÄôs energy plan âÄî which decides where their electricity will come from in the next 15 years âÄî is important to every citizen in XcelâÄôs market, whether or not they are customers.

Xcel has expressed its willingness to work toward environmental stability, away from coal and toward wind and solar. Their former CEO Dick Kelly acknowledged that the company has âÄúgot to get off fossil fuels.âÄù This is beneficial for the economy and, more importantly, the environment.

As the Occupy Wall Street protests have shown, for too long the public has been harassed by financial powers. Now is the opportunity for Minnesotans to have a voice in energy concerns.

Research has shown that air pollution and the expenses from coal-fired electricity generation are around four times greater than those of any other forms of energy. It is the time to move past coal and its dangers.

XcelâÄôs request includes a goal of reducing coal power by 6 percent and increasing wind power by 10 percent.

You can further strengthen these goals and help write XcelâÄôs future energy policies by sending your comments to the review body of the Public Utilities Commission by Feb. 1.

LetâÄôs make sure that Xcel Energy and new CEO Ben Fowke hear what we want for MinnesotaâÄôs clean energy future.

Michael Kratochvil

University student