September 15, 2015

The Honorable Governor Mark Dayton

116 Veterans Service Building
20 W 12th Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
Dear Governor Dayton:
We, the undersigned elected officials, formally submit this letter to express our support for the
Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) first-ever limits on dangerous carbon pollution from existing
power plants using authority granted under section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. Moreover, we submit
this letter to encourage you to continue our states leadership on environmental and energy policy by
developing a strong and just compliance plan for Minnesotas implementation of the Clean Power Plan
with a strong emphasis on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency has both the clear authority and
the responsibility to limit these emissions because carbon pollution contributes to climate change, a
serious public health and welfare threat. The 2014 National Climate Assessment found that climate
change is related to a broad range of adverse human health consequences, including illnesses and
deaths from extreme heat; increases in heart and lung disease due to worsened air quality from more
ground-level ozone, allergenic pollen; and increases in food and waterborne illnesses due to flooding,
sewage overflows, and warmer temperatures. Climate change will, absent other changes, amplify some
of the existing health threats the nation now faces. Certain people and communities are especially
vulnerable, including children, the elderly, the sick, the poor, and some communities of color.
Our nation uses the Clean Air Act to limit other dangerous pollutant emissions such as mercury, lead,
arsenic, smog and soot pollution from power plants; it is time to do the same for carbon pollution.
Fortunately, Minnesota is well-positioned to meet the challenge of reducing carbon pollution. As you
are well aware, Minnesota is a regional and national leader in clean energy policy. In fact, this leadership
has resulted in good-paying jobs for over 15,000 Minnesotans. The wind, solar, and energy efficiency
industries have invested billions of dollars in our state, pay out millions to host communities and
landowners, providing an economic boost in Minnesota counties. With your administrations leadership
on the Clean Power Plan, these numbers will only grow.
Best of all, these benefits can be realized without an adverse impact on customers. For example, a
recent report from the Minnesota Department of Commerce shows that Minnesotas commitment to
energy efficiency has resulted in nearly $1.5 billion in direct savings for customers between 2010 and
2014 and many utilities are already turning to zero-emission renewable energy as a low-cost hedge
against increasing fossil fuel prices.
We are confident that meeting the requirements set forth in the Clean Power Plan will significantly
improve the public health of our state while simultaneously benefitting Minnesotas economy. We
pledge to work with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to ensure we have a strong plan that works
for Minnesota and achieves significant carbon reductions.

If done right, we are confident the Clean Power Plan will be a positive investment for the economy,
environment, and future generations. We urge you to submit a strong and timely Minnesota state plan
to meet the Clean Power Plan standard, with an emphasis on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Thank you for considering our perspective.
Representative Jon Applebaum
District 44B

Representative Raymond Dehn

District 59B

Councilwoman Lisa Bender

City of Minneapolis Ward 10

Councilwoman Vanessa Demuth

City of Rosemount

Representative David Bly

District 20B

Senator Scott Dibble

District 61

County Commissioner Patrick Boyle

St. Louis County District 2

Representative Pete Fischer

District 43A

Councilman Jeff Brand

City of St. Peter Ward 1

Representative Mike Freiberg

District 45B

Councilwoman Alondra Cano

City of Minneapolis Ward 9

Councilman Jacob Frey

City of Minneapolis Ward 3

Senator Jim Carlson

District 51

Councilwoman Sharla Gardner

City of Duluth District 3

Representative Lyndon Carlson

District 45A

Council Vice President Elizabeth Glidden

City of Minneapolis Ward 8

Councilwoman Jennifer Cheesman

City of St. Paul Park

Councilwoman Lisa Goodman

City of Minneapolis Ward 7

Senator Greg Clausen

District 57

Councilman Cam Gordon

City of Minneapolis Ward 2

Senator Dick Cohen

District 64

Representative Laurie Halverson

District 51B

Representative Jack Considine

District 19B

Representative Alice Hausman

District 66A

Senator Kevin Dahle

District 20

Senator Foung Hawj

District 67

Representative Jim Davnie

District 63A

Senator Jeff Hayden

District 62

County Commissioner Linda Higgins

Hennepin County District 2

Senator John Marty

District 66

Mayor Betsy Hodges

City of Minneapolis

County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin

Hennepin County District 4

Representative Frank Hornstein

District 61A

County Commissioner Frank Moe

Cook County District 1

Representative Melissa Hortman

District 36B

Councilman Michael Meehlhause

City of Bemidji Ward 1

Representative Jason Isaacson

District 42B

Councilwoman Suzie Nakasian

City of Northfield Ward 1

County Commissioner Frank Jewell

St. Louis County District 1

Representative Michael Nelson

District 40A

Representative Sheldon Johnson

District 67B

Representative Jerry Newton

District 37A

Representative Clark Johnson

District 19A

Representative Kim Norton

District 25B

Council President Barb Johnson

City of Minneapolis Ward 4

Councilwoman Linea Palmisano

City of Minneapolis Ward 13

Councilman Andrew Johnson

City of Minneapolis Ward 12

Senator Sandy Pappas

District 65

Council Vice President Jennifer Julsrud

City of Duluth District 1

Representative John Persell

District 5A

Representative Phyllis Kahn

District 60B

Councilwoman Jessica Peterson-White

City of Northfield Ward 4

Representative Carolyn Laine

District 41B

Representative Dave Pinto

District 64B

Senator Ron Latz

District 46

Councilman Kevin Reich

City of Minneapolis Ward 1

Mayor Andrea Lauer

City of Royalton

Senator Roger Reinert

District 7

Representative Tina Liebling

District 26A

County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt

Ramsey County District 7

Senator Ann Rest

District 45

Councilman Russ Stark

City of St. Paul Ward 4

Councilwoman Barb Russ

City of Duluth At Large

Senator Patricia Torres-Ray

District 63

Senator Bev Scalze

District 42

Representative Jean Wagenius

District 63B

Representative Jennifer Schultz

District 7A

Representative JoAnn Ward

District 53A

Representative Yvonne Selcer

District 48A

Councilman Abdi Warsame

City of Minneapolis Ward 6

Senator Katie Sieben

District 54

Councilman Blong Yang

City of Minneapolis Ward 5

Representative Erik Simonson

District 7B

Representative Barb Yarusso

District 42A

Councilman Joel Sipress

City of Duluth District 2

Councilwoman Erica Zweifel

City of Northfield Ward 3

Representative Linda Slocum

District 50A