We urge our state representatives, state senators and state governor to stand strong for clean energy in terms of setting Minnesota’s energy policies.

The backward-thinking Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Great River Energy are pushing for the repeal of certain provisions in the forward-thinking Next Generation Act. The provisions require new coal plants that provide electricity in Minnesota to offset carbon emissions as part of the statewide effort to reduce carbon pollution by as much as 80 percent by 2050. Such emissions, by the way, have shown to be unhealthy for the public downwind who breathes the air.

Dumping waste in our air or our water is a form of public subsidy, because air and water are public spaces. Requiring these polluters to do better is just common sense, and polluting less should be second nature in an America where independence from public subsidy is embraced.

Unfortunately, it is not, so regulations are the way to get them to clean up their act.

With the world concerned about climate change as a result of carbon dioxide emissions, lobbying the state to move in the wrong direction is just obstructionism. Plain and simple. Greed is the only reason they lobby for these repeals.

Efforts to weaken pro-environment measures, such as the roundly successful Conservation Improvement Program — which requires energy companies to spend some earnings on encouraging energy savings by customers — are dastardly. A 2005 state report found for every $1 spent on CIP, more than $5 was saved.

We urge our leaders to stand by the environment and thwart efforts to weaken Minnesota’s clean energy policies. Let’s be responsible adults with Minnesota’s precious resources.