Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
For Immediate Release
May 14, 2025
As a proud Minnesotan, educator, administrator, farmer, and veteran, I stand with the communities of Northern Minnesota as they face the devastating Brimson Complex and Hunger Shaw Fires, which have scorched over 35,000 acres and destroyed 144 homes and buildings as of May 14, 2025, with zero percent containment. This crisis is not only real but has been worsened by misguided zero-carbon agendas that have amplified our state’s vulnerabilities rather than reduced them, leaving our forests, homes, and families at greater risk.
For years, the Walz administration has pushed a one-size-fits-all zero-carbon agenda, prioritizing symbolic environmental goals over practical, on-the-ground solutions to protect Minnesotans. The Minnesota Climate Action Framework, adopted into statute in 2023, set ambitious targets to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050. While well-intentioned, this agenda has diverted critical resources and attention away from the immediate threats we face—like the wildfires burning through our state right now. The DNR’s focus on installing renewable energy systems, such as the 40 systems generating 714,000 kilowatt hours annually, has come at the expense of funding for rural fire departments and proactive forest management. Since 2013, 36% of acres burned in Minnesota were due to vehicle ignitions—hot exhaust igniting dry grass—yet the state has poured money into solar panels and wind turbines instead of addressing these preventable fire risks through public education or stricter regulations on parking in vegetated areas during high-risk periods.
Worse, the zero-carbon push has undermined effective forest management. The DNR’s own data shows that unattended debris fires are a leading cause of wildfires, but policies have restricted controlled burns—a proven method to reduce fuel loads—due to concerns over carbon emissions from such burns. This misguided prioritization has allowed flammable vegetation to accumulate, turning our forests into powder kegs. Historical fires like the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire, which burned 93,000 acres, should have taught us the importance of clearing excess fuel, but the state’s obsession with zero-carbon goals has instead tied the hands of land managers, leaving us more vulnerable than ever.
Additionally, the focus on net-zero has neglected the real needs of communities in the urban-wildland interface. The 144 structures lost in these fires highlight how development in fire-prone areas has been poorly managed. Instead of enforcing Firewise principles—like requiring fire-resistant building materials or maintaining defensible spaces—the state has been distracted by initiatives like the One Minnesota Plan, which emphasizes renewable energy over practical safety measures. This imbalance has left rural Minnesotans exposed, with insufficient resources for fire prevention and response. Volunteer Fire Assistance grants, meant to support small communities, are underfunded, forcing our rural firefighters to face these massive blazes with inadequate tools and training.
As your next Governor, I will refocus our priorities on what truly keeps Minnesotans safe: robust forest management, including regular controlled burns to reduce fuel loads; increased funding for rural fire departments to ensure they have the equipment and training they need; and strict land-use policies to protect communities in high-risk areas. We must reject the misguided zero-carbon agenda that has left our state more vulnerable and instead invest in practical, proven solutions that put Minnesotans first. While Governor Walz fundraises for his national campaign, as seen in his May 14 message, I pledge to be a leader who stands with you, fighting to protect our homes, forests, and way of life from the real crises we face today.
Sincerely,
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
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