Power Companies Say Greenhouse Gas Bill Will Limit Supply

Death to greenhouse gases.

That could be the name given to proposed legislation that amounts to the most aggressive assault on greenhouse gas emissions in the state's history.

The proposal would gradually but ambitiously cut such gases, viewed by the majority of scientists as the primary factor behind global warming. The ultimate goal: Cut such emissions by 80 percent by 2050 from 2005 levels.

And in a provision that has utilities worried, the legislation would ban the construction of any new power plants unless the new carbon dioxide emissions released by the plant can be offset in some other way.

Flo Sandok, a Rochester resident and environmental advocate, says such "important steps" are necessary as any last doubts about the reality of global warming fade.

"We see it happening in front of our eyes. (Global warming) is no longer a mystery or some kind of myth. We've had a whole winter's weather in two weeks," Sandok said, referring to this year's schizophrenic winter.

Representatives for power producers, however, warn that if the proposal becomes law it would undermine their ability to meet the state's growing energy appetite. And they say one unintended consequence is to make it more difficult to increase the role of renewable energy sources, such as wind, biomass and solar, in the production of electricity

"As much as I'm committed to climate change issues, in this particular case, I think that (some of the provisions) are just flat-out bad public policy," said Larry Johnston, chief legislative and regulatory officer of the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, a cooperative power agency.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty made greater reliance on renewable energy a major goal when he signed legislation that requires 25 percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.

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