Minnesota not on track to meet emission reductions
Published 9:56 am Friday, November 21, 2014
ST. PAUL — Even with Minnesota’s renewable energy standard and new solar law, the state is not on track to meet federal emissions reductions aimed at addressing climate change, Minnesota officials said Thursday.
Under proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules, Minnesota would need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than a third by 2030. But David Thornton, an assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said the state is on track to reduce emissions only by 3 percent by then.
“The policies in place have made some difference up until now, and the major difference they’re going to be making into the future is offsetting the growth that we’re going to be seeing,” Thornton told a group of policymakers and business representatives during a forum held by the Environmental Initiative.
That means Minnesota needs a variety of new or expanded strategies to reduce emissions, he said.
Between now and February, state agencies led by the Environmental Quality Board will work with a consultant, the Center for Climate Strategies, to analyze emissions and determine which policy options would give the state the best return. Environmental Initiative, a nonprofit group that builds partnerships, will organize meetings for industry, agriculture and other sectors of the economy to provide input.
Ideas such as expanding the renewable energy standard, retiring coal plants and planting urban forests will be analyzed based on three criteria: expected emissions reductions, cost and job creation.