Mercury Emissions Reduction Victory
Minnesota 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 biomass.
Get involved! Check out the Walk for Wind and more information on the Big Stone II Coal Plant Expansion!