Rep. Acomb Authors Bill to Conduct Climate Change Report

A local state representative is behind a bill that would help quantify whether Minnesota is doing its part in addressing climate change.

Rep. Patty Acomb, DFL-Minnetonka, whose district includes southern Plymouth, is chief author of the bill, HF3431. The legislation would provide $300,000 to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA). That money would be used to prepare a report on potential statewide strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The state has a 2030 goal of reducing emissions by 30 percent using 2005 as a baseline. By 2050, the goal is to reduce emissions by 80 percent. Recent reports show the state is off track to meet those goals.

“I was happy to hear that so many of my colleagues recognize the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Acomb during a March 1 committee hearing. “A bill like this will be very beneficial. And really the point I want to get across is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

The legislation has no Senate companion.

The House bill would require the PCA report to quantify the emission reductions and estimate the cost to achieve them in eight different sectors, including agriculture, forestry, transportation, and residential and commercial buildings.

“This is intended to give us the information we need to be proactive,” said Acomb.

You can view the climate change discussion with the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee here at 39:20 into the meeting.

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