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State Representative Tom Hackbarth
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-2439
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NEWS RELEASE
HOUSE PASSES HISTORIC MERCURY EMMISSIONS REDUCTION LEGISLATION
St. Paul – In a unanimous vote, the House of Representatives approved landmark legislation today that will dramatically reduce mercury emissions from Minnesota’s three largest coal-fired power plants by 90 percent, or nearly 1,200 pounds per year. The legislation, authored by Representative Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar), is the result of a compromise between a bi-partisan group of legislators, the Governor’s administration, the environmental and public health organizations of Mercury Free Minnesota, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power.
Accounting for about one-third of current total statewide mercury emissions, the Xcel Energy plants Sherco and King in Becker and Oak Park Heights are to reach the 90 percent reduction goal by 2010 and the Minnesota Power Boswell plants in Cohasset by 2014. The legislation exceeds the federal requirement of a 70 percent mercury reduction well in advance of the 2018 deadline and at a competitive cost for businesses and ratepayers.
“This legislation reflects bipartisan support and increased environmental public awareness,” Hackbarth said. “This is aggressive action to improve the health of Minnesota families.”
Plans proposed by the identified utilities to reduce mercury emissions will be reviewed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for technical feasibility and then by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to ensure the plans do not impose excessive costs on consumers. Measures to reduce mercury emissions include conversion of coal-fired plants to cleaner burning natural gas, installation of air pollution control equipment and individual facility refurbishments.
“I’m proud of our new position as an environmental leader in the nation,” Hackbarth said. “We have established a precedent for compromise when the greater good is at stake and set an example for future legislative negotiators.”
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