Minnesota lawmakers reach historic deal on environment, climate and energy

Minnesota is set to spend historic sums on the environment after lawmakers agreed to a package of policy changes and programs to safeguard air and water, plant trees and renovate crumbling outdoor infrastructure such as fish hatcheries and boat ramps.

The $2 billion environment, natural resources, climate and energy bill that lawmakers reached agreement on Tuesday night is expected to head to Gov. Tim Walz's desk after House and Senate floor votes. The far-reaching changes will touch much of the state - its farm fields, grasslands, peatlands, forests, factories and homes.

The deal imposes one of the broadest bans on PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals," and gives the state more power to punish irrigators who deplete groundwater. It provides money to taconite plants to filter out mercury pollution and new incentives for Minnesotans to buy electric vehicles.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-legislature-deal-environment-climate-change-energy-natural-resources-parks-boat/600275661/