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Global warming battle turns to MN cars
Global warming is getting more attention than ever at the State Capitol. And those determined to fight it say we can't leave cars and trucks out of the game plan. They're setting ambitious goals when it comes to slicing auto emissions in the next two decades. Until now most legislation aimed at curbing greenhouse gases has targeted power plants, and the debate often focuses on curbing America?s appetite for electricity. "We're all talking about one third of the pie. We need to talk about the other 2/3rds or we won't get it done," Rep Melissa Hortman said Wednesday. But the Brooklyn Park Democrat argues generating plants are responsible for only one-third of the carbon emissions in Minnesota. She says automobile exhaust accounts for the same portion, and therefore can't be overlooked as the state moves forward on global warming. Rep Hortman on Thursday will introduce a bill calling for a 30 percent cut in transportation-related carbon emissions by the year 2030. It would direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop a statewide plan to meet that target. While only Congress can set fuel economy standards for cars, she says individual states can set emissions standards. "And so California has set the standard, requiring lower emissions from the cars," Hortman remarked. "And when you drive down the emissions, you drive up the fuel efficiency." But setting emissions standards for cars isn?t enough to meet her target. Changing habits and attitudes will also be important, as more Minnesotans drive more miles. "So not only are there more people on the roads, but they're driving more each day. Instead of taking two trips a day we're taking 4 or 5 trips a day." Hortman says even if every car on the road was burning ethanol, it wouldn?t cut emissions by 30 percent by 2030. "We need to do some other things. And the biggest thing we need to do is take cars off the road." Her legislation would call for a more sustained statewide commitment to mass transit. And she argues Minnesotans won?t have to be dragged kicking and screaming into transit. "We have new state representatives from places like Apple Valley and Burnsville, where the voters who sent them said ?I want to get out of my car.' Not 'Don?t build transit!' But 'Please build transit! I don?t want to sit in my car. I want more choices in how to get to work?." Hortman will throw her bill into the mix just two days after polar explorer Will Steger addressed a rare joint session of the Legislature on the issue of global warming. During a half-hour multi-media presentation in the House chamber Steger gave lawmakers of firsthand accounts of climate change. "I've seen the reality of global warming as predicted up north, and global warming is coming our way here." Steger showed slides from his expeditions, including dog sled treks across huge ice shelves that no longer exist. Steger also read letters transcribed from statements made by Inuit Eskimo tribal elders who've felt the impact of disappearing sea ice. "If you remember the story of Noah and his ark," one of the accounts read, "We should be reminded that these people laughed at him until the day that the doors were closed and God let loose the floodwaters." But Steger described the situation as an opportunity for a win-win, a chance for Minnesota to lead the way in green industries such as building wind turbines. The very fact that Steger was delivering a lecture on climate change at the Capitol signals that the legislature is warming to the idea that it can?t be ignored. "Well it?s pretty exciting when the speaker of the house invites Will Steger to speak on the House floor," Rep Hortman said. More remarkable, she says, if you consider renewable energy bills couldn?t even get passed out of committee two years ago in the House. "In 2005 we couldn't even vote on renewable energy standards. We couldn't even debate it on the floor. The bill was not allowed to come up." Hortman knows not everyone's buying into the notion of global warming, or that it?s something with a manmade cause. Senator Mike Jungbauer distributed a news release to the Capitol press corps the night before Steger?s address protesting the fact that equal time would not be afforded those who want to present opposing views on global warming during that joint session. Following Steger's address, two of Jungbaer?s Senate colleagues were overheard joking as they left the Capitol, "We?ve been up there in Will Steger?s fantasy land." Hortman is undaunted by such criticism. "It reminds me about the people in the late 1960?s and 1970?s who thought cigarette smoke wasn?t harmful. Well the data?s just there. It?s very clear, very clear."
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