Minnesota Independent

Klobuchar, Peterson break with Dems to vote against EPA

By Andy Birkey | 04.11.11 | 8:32 am

Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Collin Peterson are two Minnesota Democrats who broke with their party on restrictions to the Environmental Protection Agency in its monitoring and enforcement of greenhouse gases. Klobuchar’s votes were criticized by environmental groups while at least one conservative took her to task for not supporting strong enough restrictions. During the budget showdown, Peterson played an important role in a controversial measure to prevent the EPA from monitoring greenhouse gases.

Minnesota Reps. taking heat for moves to block EPA

By Andy Birkey | 03.04.11 | 2:15 pm

Environmental groups are going after Minnesota members of Congress who have voted to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas pollution. A recent poll shows that votes by Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann and Chip Cravaack aren’t popular in their districts, and Rep. Collin Peterson, a Democrat, is getting attacked from both sides — the GOP says his stance against EPA regulation is “wishy washy,” while interest groups say he’s siding with foreign oil producers.

Dayton signs GOP’s environmental petition reform into law

By Andy Birkey | 03.04.11 | 8:17 am

Gov. Mark Dayton signed a controversial bill into law on Thursday that would reform the environmental permitting process in Minnesota. Environmental groups had slammed the bill; but despite that, Dayton signed an executive order implementing most of the reforms. Republicans offered Dayton faint praise Thursday evening after Dayton made their bill the law of the land.

GOP’s Beard wants more coal plants because God will fix global warming

By Andy Birkey | 02.16.11 | 4:00 pm

Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee) is pushing for more new coal-fired power plants in Minnesota, but the Shakopee Republican is undeterred by reports about the effects of carbon-emitting energy production on global warming. His reason: He believes God will prevent the planet from running out of fossil fuels while also eliminating the harms associated with climate change. While Beard speaks from his religious tradition, many others in Minnesota’s faith communities believe it’s dangerous to wait for divine intervention to solve our environmental problems — and they say it’s the duty of people of faith to preserve the planet for future generations.

Gov. Mark Dayton. Photo: Kathy Easthagen, Minnesota Independent

Dayton signs executive order expediting permitting process

By Andy Birkey | 01.24.11 | 12:31 pm

Gov. Mark Dayton signed an executive order on Monday that would speed up the environmental permitting process of the Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The order is similar to a bill proposed by Republicans and was one of their top “job creation” priorities.

Legislators seek repeal of Mississippi River Critical Area program

By Andy Birkey | 01.21.11 | 11:24 am

Legislators in the Minnesota House and Senate are proposing a repeal of a decades-old program to protect the Mississippi River. HF95/SF39 would eliminate the Mississippi River Critical Area (MRCA), a program that since the 1970s has provided planning and management for the 72-mile stretch of the Mississippi from Ramsey in northern Anoka County to Hastings in southern Dakota County. River advocates say the repeal of the program could have significant impacts on the environmental and aesthetic benefits of the river.

Franken backs nuclear power as Legislature mulls more plants

By Andy Birkey | 01.20.11 | 9:34 am

Sen. Al Franken told the Rochester Post-Bulletin that he has changed his mind on nuclear power due to a conversation with former Vice President Al Gore. Nuclear power has become a hot topic in Minnesota politics as legislators, mainly Republicans, look to lift the ban on new nuclear power plant construction. That plan has already passed one committee in the Minnesota House.

In wake of Gulf disaster, Oberstar introduces oil spill bill

By Andy Birkey | 06.30.10 | 11:13 am

Rep. James Oberstar introduced the Oil Spill Accountability and Environmental Protection Act of 2010 today. The bill would remove liability caps for oil spills, add new safety regulations for oil operations, and beef up the federal government’s response to…

Klobuchar to assess impact of BP disaster on Minnesota’s birds

By Andy Birkey | 06.25.10 | 11:58 am

Sen. Amy Klobuchar will meet with Minnesota wildlife officials on Friday to look at what impact the BP oil spill will have on Minnesota’s migratory bird populations. Many of the state’s birds, including ducks, geese and Minnesota’s…

Franken v. (another) Coleman: Senate grills oil execs on BP spill

By Andy Birkey | 06.09.10 | 1:50 pm

Sen. Al Franken grilled oil industry executives on Tuesday at a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the BP oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. The Minnesota Democrat asked Jack Coleman, a managing partner for EnergyNorthAmerica, LLC, if he…