Daily Digest: State likely to meet clean energy goals

Good morning, and happy Wednesday. Here's the Digest.

1. Minnesota is set to meet its carbon emissions targets under the Clean Power Plan even if the rule goes away under executive action signed Tuesday by President Trump, state officials said. The federal regulations curbing carbon emissions from existing power plants directed Minnesota to reduce those emissions by about 40 percent by 2030. Wind and solar energy are getting cheaper, and there's excitement over the possibility of batteries to store renewable energy. And corporations, local governments and some state governments are embracing clean energy both for economic reasons and because it's better for the environment. (MPR News)

2. Gov. Mark Dayton is pushing back against Republican lawmakers who are unwilling to fund his proposed $175 million expansion of voluntary pre-kindergarten. There are currently 3,300 four-year-olds participating in 74 school districts. Dayton's proposal would increase participation to more than 17,000 students in 260 school districts. Dayton wants a balanced approach that also includes early learning scholarships, quality child care and school-readiness programs. Rep. Jenifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie, who chairs the House education committee, said she prefers a more targeted approach that directs funding to the children who need it most. She favors early learning scholarships and school-readiness programs, which, unlike pre-K, do not require licensed teachers. (MPR News)

3. A batch of bills at the Minnesota Legislature geared toward cracking down on protesters have boiled down to one — a proposed rule to heighten criminal penalties against those that block “transit.” The new language would make it illegal to interfere with “transit” (not just an operator), and criminalizes “restricting access to a transit vehicle.” The penalty for doing so in a nonviolent way — such as linking arms together in a peaceful protest — would be increased to up to a year in jail. (Pioneer Press)

4. One of three finalists for St. Paul school superintendent, Orlando Ramos, withdrew Tuesday afternoon. “While his withdrawal is disappointing, we are very confident that we have two strong candidates to be the next superintendent,” said Board Chairman Jon Schumacher. “The Board respects Mr. Ramos’ decision and wishes him well.” Ramos withdrew hours after he acknowledged he’d had a personal bankruptcy in recent years that had not been disclosed to the school board. (Star Tribune)

5. An effort by the Dayton administration to protect pollinators is running into opposition at the Legislature and key provisions appear to be dead for the session. Republican lawmakers leading the fight say they're protecting agriculture from harmful pesticide regulation. "Farmers are concerned about increased regulation. No other state has taken steps like this," says Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, who chairs the House Agriculture Policy committee. Last year the governor and state Department of Agriculture officials proposed a pollinator protection initiative they said would make Minnesota a national leader in protecting bees and butterflies. (MPR News)

 

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