MPCA Listening Session Provides Forum for Bemidji Area Community Members on Clean Power Plan

Bemidji, MN (Feb. 17, 2015) – Minnesotans including students, clean energy business, economics professionals and community leaders convened Tuesday evening at Bemidji State University for a local listening session hosted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The forum provided an estimated 75 people, many of them local residents, an opportunity to provide public comment on Minnesota's plan to achieve the targets in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan established responsible emissions limits on coal-burning power plants and will create greater clean energy job growth, cleaner air and a brighter future for Minnesotans.

The national Clean Power Plan was finalized in August 2015. It's a rule that will cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants - the single largest source of carbon pollution in the U.S. - by 32% by 2030, from 2005 levels. The EPA's rule sets state-specific carbon dioxide emission targets and requires each state to submit a detailed plan for meeting its target.

The MPCA is currently reviewing the Clean Power Plan and assessing the lowest cost, most effective pathway for Minnesota compliance. The MPCA is reaching out to Minnesotans through a series of listening sessions being held around the state in February and March to ensure the opportunity for public participation as Minnesota's Clean Power Plan is developed.

"Northwestern Minnesota is already experiencing the costs of climate change. We are loading the dice against ourselves when it comes to the game fish that are so important to our economy," said Dr. Patrick Welle, retired professor of economics at Bemidji State University. "I'm here because I'm hoping Minnesota will move sooner rather than later on developing our Clean Power Plan."

Bemidji State student leader Jordan Morgan drew applause from the full house when he expressed his intention, "When my future kids ask what were we doing on climate change, I want to say: we did everything we could."

Fresh Energy, J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director, notes that "Minnesota has already made enormous strides toward achieving the Clean Power Plan goals. We are building our clean energy economy and cutting carbon at the same time, so we have demonstrated economic success. It is encouraging to see clean energy businesses, economic experts, and students come together to support the best clean power plan possible for Minnesota."

For more information on the Clean Power Plan, visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/clean-power-plan-minnesota.