Minnesota Task Force to Create 20,000 Jobs by 2020

A Minnesota state task force charged with finding ways to create jobs that benefit the environment has announced its legislative agenda.

One of the group’s main goals is to create a Green Enterprise Authority for the state that can help businesses looking to hire workers for so-called green jobs.

The task force also wants to renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient, establish loan programs for renewable energy projects and create incentives for water recycling by the industrial sector.

State Senator Ellen Anderson, a Democrat from St. Paul who serves as co-chair of the task force, says at least 20,000 new jobs will be created and 50,000 jobs retained by 2020 if the proposals are adopted.

Anderson says some of the programs could be funded by some of the federal stimulus package money slated for Minnesota.