On Wednesday, November 26, 2014, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission submitted comments to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the EPA’s proposed rule on carbon dioxide emission from existing electric generating plants, often referred to as the Clean Power Plan or Section 111d rules. In its comments, the Commission describes the State of Minnesota’s policies with respect to reducing carbon emissions, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas reduction goals and outlines the actions Minnesota has already taken and has in process for carrying out those policies, including the Commission’s resource planning process. 

The Commission requests that the EPA amend or clarify its proposed rule in several respects, including making sure states get credit for actions taken starting from 2013 onward, especially for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and early coal plant retirements and allowing states more flexibility in the timing of compliance strategies prior to the 2030 deadline. 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, along with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, have filed the state's primary comments to the EPA on December 1, 2014 on behalf of the State of Minnesota. 

You can view the full case record of EPA’s rules docket.

• /puc/assets/puc_comments_epa_12-2-14_tcm14-11612.pdfMinnesota Public Utilities Commission Comments
• /puc/assets/commerce_comments_epa_12-2-14_tcm14-11613.pdfMinnesota's Pollution Control Agency and Department of Commerce Comments
• EPA Clean Power Plan Docket