Fwd: Midwest Energy News: Minnesota agencies advise using federal carbon cost extimate | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
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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