Minnesota's Victory on Mercury Emissions Reduction
Take Action to Stop new sources of mercury emissionsMinnesota has passed one of the strongest mercury pollution reduction bills in the country! This victory is due to all the fine work of volunteers like you — people who signed postcards, contacted decision-makers, wrote letters to the editor, came to rallies and hearings, provided research, educated the public through events, and more. Because of the surge in public demand and grassroots activism on this issue, the mercury reduction bill passed the Minnesota legislature unanimously.
Finally — a significant step in making our fish safe to eat, protecting our children from developmental disorders, and cleaning up our lakes and rivers. After years of concerted public pressure, Minnesota has passed a bill that leads the nation in reduction of mercury emissions from the state's largest coal-fired power plants. Coal plants are the single largest source of mercury pollution, so this is a great step.
In summary, this bill will require a 90% reduction in mercury emissions from the state's three largest coal-fired power plants:
- Xcel Energy's Sherco Plant in Becker, MN
- Xcel Energy's Allen S. King plant in Oak Park Heights, MN
- Minnesota Power's Clay Boswell plant in Cohasset, MN
This bill will reduce mercury pollution in Minnesota by nearly 1,200 pounds a year. Minnesota's total mercury emissions are estimated at 3,340 pounds a year, with some 1,650 of these pounds from utility coal plants.
Compliance dates for the plants vary depending on the type of plant unit, but are given a timeline up to the year 2015.
You can read the full text of the bill here: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H3712.3.html&session=ls84.
It's great that Minnesota has taken such an important step to require the clean up of old coal plants. However, one of the best things we can do to protect ourselves from mercury and other harmful pollutants is to promote energy conservation and renewable sources like wind, solar, and responsible biomass.
Mercury in Minnesota — Where do we go from here?
Minnesota took a great first step in 2006 in addressing the mercury problem. However, it does not mean that fish are now safe to eat. There are two major ways we can ensure that Minnesota makes the most of this great step, and really jump into a mercury free future. First, hold decision-makers and utilities accountable to the new requirements, and second, reduce our dependence on mercury emitting coal-fired power by pursuing cleaner, renewable sources of energy like wind and solar power.
Wind, solar, and increasing energy efficiency are not just good ways to reduce mercury pollution — they are also solutions to global warming. A few things you can do in Minnesota to reduce coal-fired power, the largest sources of mercury, include:
- Stop new sources of coal-fired power, like the proposed Big Stone II power plant expansion — take action here
- Promote clean, renewable sources of energy with the public and decision-makers, like with our 2006 "Walk for Wind/March Against Mercury" and the upcoming Energy Film Festival
- Get involved with the Clean Air and Renewable Energy Committee
- Make your community a "Cool City" — one committed to reducing energy consumption, and therefore carbon dioxide
- Become an energy champion! Use less electricity in your home to reduce the need for coal-fired power — Take the Minnesota Energy Challenge