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Franken Launches 'Back To Work Minnesota'

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- Sen. Al Franken announced a new initiative Monday that he says will create jobs, reduce energy consumption and save money for businesses and taxpayers.

The plan called, "Back to Work Minnesota," was announced at the Minnesota Energy Summit in St. Paul.

Franken said Minnesota counties are already saving hundreds of thousands of tax dollars by undertaking retrofitting projects -- so why not take a similar approach across the state.

He said his plan would focus on retrofitting private buildings, including businesses, financiers, state and local government officials and Minnesota education leaders.

"It really is a win-win proposition," he said. "It creates jobs in the building trades and the building trades have been hard hit by the housing crisis. It creates jobs for our manufacturers across Minnesota. We're the silicon valley for windows."

Franken said retrofitting has already helped local governments in Minnesota, like Scott County, to make buildings more energy efficient and create jobs, all while basically paying for itself -- and then some.

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