Index of SPPS Budget Discussion
http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html
_________________________________________
Forwarded message from the Union of Concerned
Scientists (UCS) dated March 5, 2004
*** THE ISSUE ***
On Monday March 9, 2004, the Minnesota Senate's Jobs,
Energy and Community Development Committee will vote
on S. F. 2580. If enacted into law, this bill would establish
a state plan for reducing heat-trapping gas emissions that
contribute to global warming. Specifically, it would require
that the commissioner of commerce, with input from other
state agencies, propose a plan to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from electric generation facilities and other
sources in the state. The climate action plan would be
required, among other things, to:
* propose appropriate reduction goals, a list of alternative
cost-effective ways to achieve those goals, and recommend
specific actions necessary to meet the goals, for each of
the energy, transportation, industrial, commercial,
institutional, and residential sectors;
* allow for a regional cap and trade program involving
emissions from sources in neighboring states; and
* allow sustainably managed forestry, agricultural, and
other natural resource activities to be used to sequester
greenhouse gas emissions.
The plan would need to be submit the Environmental Quality
Board and to the chairs of the several MN senate and house
committees by December 1, 2004.
With the specific mention in the plan of a regional "cap and
trade program," this bill could potentially initiate a much
needed conversation among states in the Great Lakes region
on climate change. Any regional effort formed by these states,
along with the regional efforts currently underway in the
Northeast and along the West Coast, would stand in stark
contrast to the lack of a mandatory federal policy to reduce
emissions of heat-trapping gases.
*** THE ACTION ***
To find out who is your State Senator is go to:
< http://www.ucsaction.org/legdirectory/>
All Minnesota State Senators can be reached by calling
the Senate Information Center at (651) 296-0504. See the KEY
TARGETS section for a complete list of Senators on the Jobs,
Energy and Community Development Committee.
If your State Senator serves on the Senate Jobs, Energy
and Community Development Committee, please ask her/him to
support this important climate change bill (S.F. 2580). (See
below for the list of Senators on the Jobs, Energy and
Community Development Committee.)
If your Senator is not on the Jobs, Energy and Community
Development Committee, please inform her/him that you are
interested in the progress of this bill (S.F. 2580).
TIMING:
Please act by noon on Monday March 9th.
*** KEY TARGETS ***
Below are the names and direct numbers of Senators on the
Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee.
Sen. Ellen Anderson (District 66)
Representing Falcon Heights and Como Park area of St.Paul
(651) 296-5537
Senator Michele Bachmann (District 52)
Representing Stillwater area
(651) 296-4351
Senator Thomas Bakk (District 6)
Representing St. Louis and Cook Counties
(651) 296-8881
Senator D. Scott Dibble (District 60)
Representing Minneapolis' Wedge and Kenwood neighborhoods
(651) 296-4191
Senator David Gaither (District 43)
Representing the Plymouth and Minnetonka areas
(651) 296-4314
Senator John Hottinger (District 23)
Representing Mankato area
(651) 296-6153
Senator Steve Kelley (District 44)
Representing St. Louis Park and Hopkins areas
(651) 297-8065
Senator Mark Ourada (District 19)
Representing Delano and Buffalo areas
(651) 296-5981
Senator Sandy Pappas (District 65)
Representing St. Paul's Thomas-Dale and North End
neighborhoods
(651) 296-1802
Senator Julie Rosen (District 24)
Representing Blue Earth and Waseca areas
(651) 296-5713
Senator Carrie Ruud (District 4)
Representing Walker and Pine River areas
(651) 296-4913
Senator Tom Saxhaug (District 3)
Representing Cohasset and International Falls areas
(651) 296-4136
Senator David Senjem (District 29)
Representing Dodge Center and portions of Rochester
(651) 296-3903
Senator Dan Sparks (District 27)
Representing Albert Lea and Austin areas
(651) 296-9248
*** SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ***
*About the Bill
The bill, which finds that heat-trapping gas emissions
are a significant risk to Minnesota's natural resources and
natural resource-based industries, would require that the
commissioner of commerce et al. develop a climate
protection plan for Minnesota. It can be found on the Web at
<
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us
/cgi-bin/getbill.pl?version=latest&session=ls83&number=S2580
>
>
To learn more about how climate change is likely to impact
the communities and ecosystems of Minnesota, see:
< http://www.ucsusa.org/greatlakes/ >
For a graphic display on how Minnesota's climate is
projected to change, see:
< http://www.ucsusa.org/greatlakes/glimpactmigrating.html >
By the end of the 21st century, temperatures in Minnesota
are projected to rise 6-10oF in winter and 7-16oF in summer.
By 2080-2100, Minnesota may experience 10-25 extreme
heat days (exceeding 97�F) annually. Minneapolis/St. Paul
will be particularly vulnerable because extremely high
temperatures are now rare.
Minnesota residents, business leaders, and policymakers
can help reduce the potential impacts from climate change by
pursuing three necessary and complementary strategies:
Reducing heat-trapping gas emissions, Minimizing pressures
on the environment, and Preparing for those impacts from
global warming that cannot be avoided.
NOTE: Please send us an email message that tells us what
action you took. If you actually send a letter, please send
us a "blind copy." (A blind copy simply means that you do
not indicate anywhere on your letter that you are sending a
copy to us.) Send to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or UCS, 2 Brattle
Square, Cambridge, MA 02238-9105 (attn. Jason Mathers).
Graph of CO2:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paleontology_and_Climate/
Graph of global temperatures (air,land):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClimateArchive/
Air temperatures at rural climate stations in the U.S.
www.mnforsustain.org/mn_dewpoints_neuman_p_special_report.htm
Timing of seasonal snowmelt runoff:
www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/2003/1210landfreeze.html
www.mnforsustain.org/climate_snowmelt_dewpoints_minnesota_neuman.htm
www.usgs.gov/public/press/public_affairs/press_releases/pr1819m.html
Glaciers and ice sheets:
http://nsidc.org/glaciers/questions/climate.html
http://www.geo.unizh.ch/wgms/
Arctic and Antarctic:
http://nsidc.org/news/press/20031219_speed_up.html
http://www.arcus.org/SEARCH/OSM/main_downloads.html
Thickness levels of the Atmosphere:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/02/040203234243.htm
Extinctions:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3375447.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,988380,00.html
Causes of global warming:
http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/intro/shindell_03/
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/pubs/crowley.html
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/GOIN/NASA/JLean.htm
Financial incentives for low energy use:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClimateArchive/message/229
Other links on global warming and CO2:
http://www.cmdl.noaa.gov/ccgg/faq.html
www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2003/ann/global.html#Gtemp
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClimateArchive/
Pat N. ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Chanhassen, Minnesota
(formerly St. Paul)
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SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27
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