John Marty's Agenda for Minnesota's Future: Environmental Protection

Vision

Minnesota is extraordinarily fortunate to be blessed with abundant natural resources. We cannot afford to waste them or mortgage our children's future through wasteful, costly or polluting practices. A strong Minnesota economy depends on investing in and developing new sustainable technologies that create Minnesota jobs and rely on Minnesota's renewable resources.

John Marty's environmental agenda focuses on three inter-related areas: renewable energy and energy conservation, recycling and waste management, and transportation.

Record

• 1993 Sierra Club Environmentalist of the Year.
• Authored provisions increasing recycling requirements, and prioritizing waste reduction and recycling over incineration and landfills.
• Authored legislation curbing the urban sprawl that threatens farmland around the Twin Cities.
• Authored incinerator and nuclear power moratoriums.
• Authored bills strengthening energy efficiency standards.
• Authored provision requiring utilities to factor in environmental costs when acquiring additional power capacity.

John Marty's Agenda for Minnesota's Environmental Future

Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation

1. Move from fossil fuels and nuclear power to Minnesota-based renewable energy sources. Minnesota's economy now loses more than $3 billion a year importing energy from other states, despite having abundant natural resources of our own. Reinvesting these energy dollars back into Minnesota's economy would have enormous economic benefits including the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs, many of them in rural areas. As Governor, John will:
   • Reinstate the renewable energy positions (eliminated by the Carlson administration) at the Department of Public Service.
   • Aggressively pursue a transition to a renewable energy policy based on ethanol, electrical co-generation, biomass, wind and conservation practices.
   • Provide incentives for "in-state" energy production and ownership.
   • Set higher energy efficiency standards and work with businesses to improve their energy efficiency through programs such as the EPA's "Greenlights" program.
2. End the financial incentives for utilities to sell more energy. Link utility profits to improved efficiency and conservation efforts rather than the current link to greater energy use.
3. Support rapid retirement of Minnesota's two nuclear power plants. There are no realistic storage solutions for the deadly nuclear waste we now generate at Minnesota's nuclear plants. John opposes the current proposal for dry cask storage at Prairie Island. He also believes that we should begin the phase out of the plants, invest in re-training and job replacement for workers and move toward more environmentally safe and renewable energy sources.

Waste Reduction and Waste Management

1. Reduce the amount of waste. As Governor, John will require businesses that generate irresponsible, unnecessary packaging and toxic waste to pay for the collection and disposal.
2. Recycle more waste. Minnesota citizens have shown a willingness to recycle, but with strong leadership we can and must do better. As Governor, John will:
   • Require the state not only meets existing recycling standards but exceeds them by strengthening plans for waste reduction, reuse, recycling and organic composting.
   • Implement a rural curb-side recycling program as it has been successfully implemented in Tennessee and Washington.
   • Actively develop markets for recycled goods through recycled content laws and incentives to businesses that utilize recycled and used materials in their manufacturing process.

Transportation

1. Increase the availability, convenience and cost-effectiveness of public mass transit. Public transportation must be reliable, affordable and go where the jobs are. It now fails in all these areas. As Governor, John will:
   • Commit to mass transit before committing to expanding our freeway system.
   • Double the percentage of public transportation use by the year 2000 by reducing fares and establishing new routes through increased funding.
   • Build an effective rural and inter-city public transportation system that addresses the needs of seniors and people with disabilities in rural Minnesota communities.
2. Promote alternative forms of transportation. Provide incentives for businesses to encourage employees to carpool, bicycle or take public transportation to work.
3. Support increased ethanol production. Minnesota has an established ethanol industry which produces fuel to help cars run more cleanly. As Governor, John will increase support for ethanol production to ensure Minnesotans an abundant and inexpensive source of energy.

Prepared by Minnesotans for Marty, 2161 University Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55114 Telephone/Fax: (612)644-5775/644-4131

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