You may have read that last week the Minnesota State Senate decided to roll back our clean energy laws by removing restrictions on new coal burning power plants. They did this even though no one is currently proposing building new coal plants in Minnesota. There were several attempts to make the rollback less damaging. They all failed.

Here are a few things our legislators weren't interested in:

Your Health
An amendment was offered to make a review health impacts part of the permitting process. It would require answers to the question of how many more people will get things like asthma, bronchitis and lung cancer if the plant is built. Failed 37-23.

Air Pollution
Another amendment would require the clean energy law to go back into effect if Minnesota fails the tests required by the Clean Air Act. Failed 44-16

Clean Water
This amendment would require toxic mercury levels in our lakes to be reduced so that only 10% of our lakes have fish consumption advisories before allowing new coal burning facilities to put more mercury in our air and water. Failed 42-18

Creating Jobs
There is no coal in Minnesota. So this amendment would require the Department of Employment & Economic Development to determine how many jobs could be created right here in Minnesota's energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors with the $550 million we currently export every year to purchase coal. Failed 36-24

The entire terrible measure passed the Senate 42-18. Why not let your Senator know what you think….and then tell your Representative how they should vote when the same bill comes up in the House next week.