Fwd: Midwest Energy News: Minnesota agencies advise using federal carbon cost extimate
From: Scott Jackson (sjackzen46gmail.com)
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 23:49:28 -0700 (PDT)
This updates my earlier email about the Midwest Energy News article with a
response by Paul Blackburn, MN350's attorney on the Alberta Clipper
contested case. I suggest we discuss how we may respond at the July MUUSJA
meeting.

Scott Jackson
sjackzen46 [at] gmail.com


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Scott Jackson <sjackzen46 [at] gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 20, 2014 at 1:44 AM
Subject: Re: Midwest Energy News: Minnesota agencies advise using federal
carbon cost extimate
To: Paul Blackburn <paul [at] paulblackburn.net>


Thanks, Paul. I deeply appreciate your response.

Scott Jackson
sjackzen46 [at] gmail.com


On Fri, Jun 20, 2014 at 12:39 AM, Paul Blackburn <paul [at] paulblackburn.net>
wrote:

> All –
>
> While at MCEA, I was assigned to do the initial legal and policy research
> that led to this case – the filing of the petition to update Minnesota’s
> externality values.  “Externality values” are an estimate of the negative
> costs to society resulting from pollution.   Most decision makers ignore
> the costs of pollution when deciding what is best for society.
>
> Minnesota’s externality law requires that the Minnesota Public Utilities
> Commission (PUC) consider the costs of pollution in its decisions.
>
> Unfortunately, the PUC has not updated its estimated pollution costs since
> 1997 (except for inflation).  As a consequence, its estimate of the damage
> caused by greenhouse gases is based on very old data and is very low.
>
> A legal intern at MCEA investigated whether other states have similar
> laws.  She determined that Minnesota is the *only state in the entire
> country* that requires its PUC to estimate the costs to society of fossil
> fuel pollution and then factor these costs into *all* of its decisions
> about power plants.  A few states allow consideration of the costs of
> pollution but do not require it.  Most states ignore the costs of
> pollution.
>
> Therefore, this case presents MN350 with a unique opportunity to advocate
> for a full accounting of the true costs of fossil fuel pollution and
> climate change.  Moreover, support for this case would honor the visionary
> efforts of Minnesota’s early climate change activists and demonstrate
> MN350’s support for its allies.
>
> I support Scott’s call to action on this matter.
>
> Paul Blackburn
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* mn350-tar-sands-team [at] googlegroups.com [mailto:
> mn350-tar-sands-team [at] googlegroups.com] *On Behalf Of *Scott Jackson
> *Sent:* Thursday, June 19, 2014 10:00 PM
> *To:* mn350-tar-sands-team [at] googlegroups.com
> *Subject:* Midwest Energy News: Minnesota agencies advise using federal
> carbon cost extimate
>
>
>
> Here's the link to the *Midwest Energy News* article:
> http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2014/06/18/minnesota-agencies-advise-using-federal-carbon-cost-estimate/
> The article states, "The PUC issued a request for comments on the agency
> recommendations yesterday and, given that the matter will be contested, the
> commission will likely assign the case to an administrative law judge." I
> encourage MN350 as an organization and MN350 members to weigh in on this
> matter.
>
> Scott Jackson
>
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