SF 2580

as introduced - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to energy; requiring the development of a 
  1.3             state plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 
  1.4             electric generation facilities and other sources. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [FINDINGS AND POLICY.] 
  1.7      (a) The legislature finds that the state's quality of life 
  1.8   depends on the quality of its natural amenities and natural 
  1.9   resources.  It is the policy of this state to preserve these 
  1.10  amenities and resources for future generations.  The legislature 
  1.11  finds that reducing heat-trapping gases is essential to 
  1.12  minimizing impacts of climate change, and that unless action is 
  1.13  taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize climate 
  1.14  change, many of Minnesota's natural amenities and natural 
  1.15  resources will be changed forever.  Therefore, the legislature 
  1.16  determines that it is the policy of the state to protect 
  1.17  Minnesota's economy, natural amenities, and natural resources by 
  1.18  reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 
  1.19     (b) The legislature finds, based on a 2003 report by the 
  1.20  Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, that greenhouse gas 
  1.21  emissions in Minnesota are increasing at a rate faster than the 
  1.22  national rate of increase in greenhouse gas emissions.  The 
  1.23  Ecological Society of America report indicates that, by the end 
  1.24  of this century, the state's temperatures may increase another 
  1.25  seven to 16 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and six to ten 
  2.1   degrees in the winter. 
  2.2      (c) The legislature finds that Minnesota is especially 
  2.3   vulnerable to dramatic climate change, that the projected 
  2.4   dramatic climate changes could significantly affect Minnesota 
  2.5   resources and activities at risk, and that other consequences 
  2.6   include: 
  2.7      (1) harm to forests, forestry, and woodland species, 
  2.8   including potential loss of Minnesota's northern boreal forest; 
  2.9      (2) harm to lake water quality, fisheries, water 
  2.10  recreation, and water supply, including potential loss of 
  2.11  habitat for cold-water species of fish in southern and central 
  2.12  Minnesota; 
  2.13     (3) new problems associated with floodplain management and 
  2.14  flood control as severe storms become more frequent; 
  2.15     (4) diminishment of recreational resources, including 
  2.16  winter season recreation, hunting, and birding; 
  2.17     (5) reduction in tourism; 
  2.18     (6) harm to agriculture, particularly with potential 
  2.19  migration of additional pest species and crop diseases into 
  2.20  Minnesota, and with potential for less water being available 
  2.21  during growing seasons; and 
  2.22     (7) increased pollution, leading to public health problems, 
  2.23  including problems for people with asthma and other respiratory 
  2.24  diseases. 
  2.25     (d) In furtherance of the findings and policies in 
  2.26  paragraphs (a) to (c), the legislature enacts the requirement in 
  2.27  section 2 for development of a climate protection plan.  
  2.28     Sec. 2.  [CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN.] 
  2.29     (a) The commissioner of commerce, with input from other 
  2.30  state agencies, shall propose a plan to reduce greenhouse gas 
  2.31  emissions from electric generation facilities and other sources 
  2.32  in the state.  The plan shall propose appropriate reduction 
  2.33  goals, a list of alternative cost-effective ways to achieve 
  2.34  those goals, and shall recommend specific actions necessary to 
  2.35  meet the goals, for each of the following sectors:  energy, 
  2.36  transportation, industrial, commercial, institutional, and 
  3.1   residential.  The plan must allow for a regional cap and trade 
  3.2   program involving emissions from sources in neighboring states.  
  3.3   The plan must allow sustainably managed forestry, agricultural, 
  3.4   and other natural resource activities to be used to sequester 
  3.5   greenhouse gas emissions.  The commissioner shall submit the 
  3.6   action plan to the Environmental Quality Board and to the chairs 
  3.7   of the senate Committee on Commerce and Utilities, the senate 
  3.8   Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, the house 
  3.9   Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Policy, and the 
  3.10  house Committee on Regulated Industries by December 1, 2004. 
  3.11     (b) Until July 1, 2005, the Public Utilities Commission and 
  3.12  the Pollution Control Agency must promptly report any actions 
  3.13  they take or permit which would reasonably be expected to 
  3.14  increase the emission of greenhouse gases from sources in the 
  3.15  state.  Reports must be made to the chairs of the senate 
  3.16  Committee on Commerce and Utilities, the senate Committee on 
  3.17  Environment and Natural Resources, the house Committee on 
  3.18  Environment and Natural Resources Policy, and the house 
  3.19  Committee on Regulated Industries. 
  3.20     (c) For purposes of this section, "greenhouse gases" means 
  3.21  carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, 
  3.22  perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.