Despite appeals from youth, health and environmental groups, House and Senate panels voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to lift restrictions on new coal-fired power in Minnesota.

The Republican-led push sent the legislation to the floors of the respective bodies, where the Senate could take action as early as next week.

The matching bills would strike a portion of the Next Generation Energy Act of 2007, a heralded piece of legislation approved with bipartisan support and signed by then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Republicans and some Democrats, however, object to a portion dealing with carbon-dioxide emission limits that imposes conditions on new coal-fired plants or on importing electricity from such plants outside the state.

"This piece is not working,'' said Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, sponsor of the Senate bill. "It obviously has problems.''
She and Rep. Michael Beard, R-Shakopee, said the state needs more flexibility to ensure reliable permanent electricity for future residents and to encourage job production. Emerging energy sources such as wind, solar and natural gas won't be enough, they said.

Utilities say they won't need any additional baseload power here until 2024.
Others said the proposal carries too high a price tag.
Critics said new coal plants are too expensive, too dirty and would be a retreat from the clean-energy policies the state has put in place in recent years. Moreover, they cited health-related effects of coal-related pollution and the climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions of those plants.

Even a scientist who has earned international attention for his views on climate change appeared to have little influence.John Abraham, a University of St. Thomas thermal sciences professor, told the Senate Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee that coal-based electricity has a clear impact on climate.

"It is significant, and it is well-known,'' he said.
Abraham said 97 percent of climate scientists believe human activities, such as driving vehicles or generating electrical power, are causing the climate to change. Moreover, he said 40 percent of the carbon in the earth's atmosphere has come from those activities.

Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.
Several youth and young Christian organizations implored legislators to help their generation live better and healthier lives and vote against the measure.

Dennis Lien can be reached at 651-228-5588.

See the online article from the Pioneer Press website - Mar. 08, 2011

Watch YEA MN youth testify at the Minnesota Senate