Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was a part of a winter readiness roundtable with the U.S. Energy Secretary and the White House coordinator of American Rescue Plan funds today.
The roundtable discussed the $7.8 billion plan to assist low-income Americans with heating bills through LIHEAP funds across the country.
Walz discussed what the program means to the state, which is known around the country for its harsh winters.
"We've had an increase of 85% in signups for the LIHEAP program in the last year," Walz said. "Minnesotans are familiar with this program. They know it. It's critical."
Walz shared that the Minnesota Department of Commerce is tracking the funds and that overall, $500 million worth of funds have come to the state from December 2020 to March 2021.
The governor went on to express the need for funding and help within the state.
"The need is overwhelming," Walz said. "60,000 people have applied, and through November, our Rent Help Minnesota has made 52,000 payments. We've received requests of $18 million in past-due utility bills alone."
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Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm shared that the help is available, but at the same time, the future of the nation's energy needs to change and most likely will.
"The bottom line is this president, and this administration are looking at every single tool to shield American families from the impact of rising energy prices," Granholm said. "We're working through an energy transition, and we've got to start by adding energy. The reality is we have to take some time to get off oil and gas. We recognize this is a transition."
While Granholm mentioned the Biden administration's efforts to the transition from fossil fuels, she also acknowledged the need as it sits today with most Americans.
"But in the meantime, we have to meet the immediate need for affordable energy and prevent families from paying at the bump," Granholm said.
The funding comes just in time as forecasters throughout the state have predicted that Minnesota will have a colder than average winter, meaning higher energy bills and more heat.
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