MN Senate unanimously sends mercury bill to Pawlenty

05/04/2006

Pioneer Press
May 4, 2005

The Minnesota Senate today unanimously approved a bill requiring the state’s three largest coal-fired power plants to cut mercury emissions by 90 percent by 2015.

The Senate action, following the House’s unanimous approval earlier this week, sends the bill to Gov. Tim Pawlenty for his signature. Pawlenty’s staff, a bipartisan group of lawmakers and other interest groups had reached agreement on the requirement last week.

The bill requires Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power to phase in mercury controls at three plants from 2009 to 2014, reducing annual mercury emissions by nearly 1,200 pounds. Minnesota’s total mercury emissions are an estimated 3,340 pounds a year, with 1,650 coming from utility coal plants.

Mercury is a neurotoxin that ends up in lakes and rivers, where it accumulates in fish and can affect the health of people and wildlife that eat the fish. Coal-burning power plants are the largest source of uncontrolled mercury emissions in Minnesota and nationwide.