Renewable energy on a crowded agenda a Capitol

Expanding renewable energy has very broad support from the public, but advancing it faces a pushback from groups that would be economically hurt and by a legislative agenda that will be crammed with other important issues, from education to transportation funding and gun legislation. "There's a lot of people up their clamoring for funding and relief," said state Rep. John Considine, DFL- Mankato. "I'm not hearing a lot about renewable energy (at the Capitol). It's not on the front burner." Considine along with DFLers Sen. Nick Frentz, of North Mankato, and newly elected Rep. Jeff Brand, of St. Peter, talked about energy issues in the upcoming session during a forum Friday hosted by the Southcentral Minnesota Clean Energy Council.