President Joe Biden highlights economic agenda in Minnesota visit

President Joe Biden visited a power generation facility in Minnesota on Monday to make the case that federal spending has triggered new clean energy jobs and economic growth.

The Democratic president gathered with state and business leaders at the Cummins manufacturing plant in Fridley as part of his administration's 20-state tour to highlight his economic agenda.

"Federal investment attracts private investment. It creates jobs and industries, and it demonstrates we're all in this together. And that's what today is all about," Biden said Monday. "I'm here to talk about what we're doing to invest in America, invest in Minnesota, and the progress we've made in building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up."

While he has not officially announced his bid for a second term, the Biden team's travel spree may provide a preview of potential re-election messaging.

His "Investing in America" slogan was plastered on signs and across an overhead beam inside the Cummins production building where he addressed a crowd of the company's employees, politicians and members of the public.

The visit came as the company said it would spend $1 billion to upgrade engine manufacturing facilities in Indiana, North Carolina and New York to produce engines that run on low to zero-carbon fuels.

Last year, Cummins announced Fridley would be the site of its first electrolyzer manufacturing facility in the United States, a $10 million investment that's expected to create 100 new jobs. Electrolyzers use an electric current to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen can be used as a clean power source to help decarbonize heavy-duty transportation and industrial processes.

"We have the responsibility, and the opportunity, to lead our industry through the energy transition in a way that keeps our economy running and creates new jobs," Cummins Vice Chairman Tony Satterthwaite said Monday, adding that public-private partnership is critical in that transition.

He credited the federal infrastructure package and Inflation Reduction Act with "driving the clean energy economy forward in the United States."

The infrastructure legislation was a moment of bipartisanship for Biden during his first year in office. Some GOP lawmakers from other parts of the country joined with Democrats to help it become law. But every Minnesota congressional Republican voted against it in 2021, along with Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar. She said she wanted to see a wide-ranging climate and social spending measure pass along with it, although that bill, known as Build Back Better, eventually stalled on Capitol Hill.

However, some of the ambitions in the bill were realized with last year's sweeping Inflation Reduction Act, which contained around $370 billion in spending and tax credits aimed at fighting climate change. Several new solar power developments in Minnesota are expected to deploy the tax credits. Omar told the crowd Monday, "if we're going to truly address the climate crisis, it's going to take bold action, bold investments in clean energy future."

"And that is what we are doing right here in Minnesota," Omar said.

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, who also spoke along with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, heralded the Inflation Reduction Act as the most significant climate legislation in history. Smith said it will lower energy costs, reduce carbon pollution and create opportunities for U.S. companies like Cummins to build clean energy technology.

No congressional Republicans voted for the package, while every Minnesota Democrat supported it. GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer said in a statement about the bill last August that "this is not the path forward hardworking Americans are searching for as they confront punishing prices at the gas pump and the grocery store."

Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress during the first two years of Biden's presidency. The party quickly used that power to pass a massive stimulus package in 2021 responding to the pandemic despite vocal Republican opposition. Republicans won back control of the U.S. House in last fall's midterms.

Biden talked Monday about the role of the United States in clean energy and outlined infrastructure help for Minnesota. He called out some Republicans over the debt ceiling fight festering in Washington, and leaned on his economic record and investment commitments being made by businesses around the country.

"I know many here in Minnesota who are watching at home are like the folks that I grew up with in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware," Biden said. "You feel left out. Left behind in an economy that's rapidly changing. I get it. I get it. But hear me well. We're going to leave no one behind."

Inflation remains a major issue for Biden and the White House as the 2024 election approaches.

One protester walked outside the Cummins facility Monday morning carrying a large Trump flag and homemade sign that read, "Biden owes me gas money."

As the day went on, more people — as many as 100 — gathered there. Dozens crouched under the sides of semi-truck trailers placed to guard the site, using binoculars and cameras to try to see the president.

Laura Laszlo of Fridley said she thinks Biden has "messed up the economy," and is frustrated with how he handled vaccine mandates. Others were supportive of Biden but held signs demanding changes such as more gun control or national abortion protections.

"I have critiques of every politician, but I feel like Biden has people at heart," said Heidi Ferris of Fridley, who said she would support him in the next election.

Minnesota Republicans condemned Biden's latest tour ahead of Monday's visit.

"The President shouldn't be traveling the country celebrating. He should apologize for making it harder for families to save for college or retirement, pay the bills, start a business, or even buy the things they need every day like groceries and gas," Minnesota Republican Party Chairman David Hann said in a statement.

The local economic development group Greater MSP, meanwhile, used the presidential visit to continue pressing legislators and Gov. Tim Walz to quickly approve matching dollars needed to secure federal funds.

"Our region and state are positioned to take the lead in fast-growing 21st century industries," CEO Peter Frosch said in a statement. "The competitive federal funds available this year are the key to unlocking the billions of dollars in private capital needed to build and grow these industries."

Two weeks ago, state leaders agreed to overarching budget targets that included $500 million in state matching dollars to secure federal economic development funds. Walz noted that figure as he spoke at Cummins. He also stressed the impact of federal spending on infrastructure and clean energy.

"These are big manufacturing jobs. These are big transformations. And all of those things are happening with an American workforce and American innovation across this country. This is America building back better than ever and creating jobs," Walz said.

Staff writers Louis Krauss and Mike Hughlett contributed to this report.