The White House and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled final details of the long-awaited Clean Power Plan Monday, a regulatory rule that sets emissions reduction goals for power plants on a state-by-state basis. Finalized targets were in many cases higher than those proposed initially by the EPA last year as a result of national goals moving from the 30% to 32% in the final plan. States are tasked to draft and submit compliance plans to the Environmental Protection Agency to meet emissions reduction goals. According to their website, the EPA has proposed state plans to be due next summer, at which point a final federal plan will also be issued "for meeting Clean Power Plan goals in areas that do not submit plans."

 

Minnesota's initial goal was set at 40.6% by 2030 with the finalized goal set at 40.3%. Under the Clean Power Plan, Minnesota does not get credit for significant emissions reductions that have already taken place under the Next Generation Energy Act, likely making the proposed emissions reductions even more costly and difficult to implement.

 

Rep. Jim Newberger, R-Becker, issued the following statement regarding the Clean Power Plan:

 

"The Clean Power Plan is a recipe for crushing job losses and higher electric bills for Minnesota families across the state. While environmentalist billionaires applauding today's announcement will fare just fine under the President's crushing new regulations, it's everyday Americans who will pay the price.

 

"Just law month we saw the idling of Minnesota Power's Taconite Harbor plant in Schroeder Minnesota which will impact dozens of jobs. The Otter Tail Power Hoot Lake plant in Fergus Falls which employs 40 employees is on pace to close by 2020. Minnesotans whose families depend on jobs at plants in places like Becker, Oak Park Heights, Cohasset, and dozens more across the state will be put out of work as a direct result of this disastrous regulation. As your state representative, I will continue to fight for your jobs, your communities and for affordable, reliable energy."

 

Under legislation passed earlier this year, the legislature will be able to review the plan put together by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency before it is sent to the EPA. Governor Dayton and Democrats opposed efforts by Republicans to subject the state's Clean Power Plan the legislative approval before its submission to the EPA.