Minnesota

Minnesota governor forms subcabinet to help state fight climate change

Published

4 years ago

December 3, 2019

FILE - This Feb. 10, 2016, file photo, shows a former iron ore processing plant near Hoyt Lakes, Minn., that would become part of a proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine. Environmental Protection Agency documents show that its staffers were critical of how Minnesota regulators drafted a key permit for the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine. And they show the EPA officials concluded the permit would violate federal law because it lacked specific water pollution limits. The EPA released the documents after a court challenge by WaterLegacy. Environmental attorney Paula Maccabee says the EPA's concerns weren't reflected in PolyMet's final water pollution permit. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has established a pair of panels to advise him on ways that Minnesota can tackle the problem of climate change.

Walz signed an executive order on Monday to form a climate change subcabinet of state agency leaders. It’ll be led by Laura Bishop, commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. He’ll also appoint a Governor’s Advisory Council on Climate Change.

The subcabinet will be tasked with identifying policies and strategies for meeting or exceeding goals set by a 2007 state law for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 15-member advisory council will provide perspectives to the subcabinet.

Walz earlier this year announced plans for reducing greenhouse gases by encouraging the switch to electric vehicles. He has also proposed requiring electrical utilities to go carbon-free by 2050.