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Millions of dollars for environmental efforts around Minnesota, from fighting off invasive carp to operating state parks, remain in limbo despite a broad state budget agreement because of the ongoing impasse over new vehicle emissions rules.
Senate Republicans have blocked the omnibus environment bill, determined to stop Minnesota from following California s lead in tightening tailpipe emissions standards and requiring automakers to send more electric vehicles to the state for sale.
That package of environmental legislation sets the budgets for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the state Board of Water and Soil Resources, as well as other institutions already bleeding heavily from COVID-19 revenue losses, such as the Minnesota Zoo and the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Governors Wind Energy Coalition
Senate Republicans threaten to cut funding for Minnesota state parks, environmental programs over ‘clean cars’ rule Source: By Jennifer Bjorhus, Greg Stanley and Briana Bierschbach, Minneapolis Star Tribune • Posted: Monday, May 10, 2021
GOP bill cuts funding unless rules reducing emissions are stopped.
May 5, 2021
Minnesota’s state parks could shut down in July if the Walz administration does not bow to demands by Senate Republicans to drop plans for new “clean cars” emissions standards.
Along with parks, much of the environmental arm of state government would shut down over the impasse, which flared up during a conference committee meeting Tuesday on the Senate’s proposed omnibus environment budget.
Letter: Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen defunds Minnesota natural resources
The following is a letter to the editor submitted to the newspaper by a reader. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Echo Press. To submit a letter, send it to aedenloff@echopress.com or Echo Press, P.O. Box 549, Alexandria, MN 56308. 11:10 am, May 11, 2021
To the editor:
Sen. Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, is at it again, using his Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee role to do anything except act as a steward of Minnesota’s natural resources. Now it seems, he’s ready to close down our state parks. Brilliant! I’m not sure how he squares this with his recent claim to avoid “…putting too much of a burden on Minnesotan families.” Looks like the gloves are off and he doesn’t care about us, as long as he gets his way.
Minnesota can move ahead with Clean Cars program, judge says
She recommended the proposed rules be adopted.
Author:
The report, available here, highlights three key conclusions:
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) did indeed establish it has the statutory authority to adopt the Clean Car rules.
The MPCA complied with all procedural requirements of law and rule.
The proposed rules are both needed and reasonable. Therefore, the Administrative Law Judge APPROVES the proposed rules and recommends they be adopted, the order says.
The inception of Clean Cars Minnesota dates back to 2019, when Gov. Tim Walz directed the MPCA to begin a rulemaking process to adopt new standards for vehicle emissions.
Senate Republicans threaten to cut state parks funding over clean cars rule GOP bill cuts funding unless rules reducing emissions are stopped.
By Jennifer Bjorhus, Greg Stanley and Briana Bierschbach, Star Tribune May 4, 2021 5:39pm Text size Copy shortlink:
Minnesota s state parks could shut down in July if the Walz administration does not bow to demands by Senate Republicans to drop plans for new clean cars emissions standards.
Along with parks, much of the environmental arm of state government would shut down over the impasse, which flared up during a conference committee meeting Tuesday on the Senate s proposed omnibus environment budget.