House advances $8.93 million omnibus environment policy & finance bill
The Minnesota House of Representatives Committee voted to approve its omnibus environment & natural resources policy and finance bill. While the bill includes a number of provisions requested by state agencies, it fails to include FMR's top legislative priority for the 2016 session: The Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program.
Working Lands program advances in Senate, left out in House
While the Minnesota Senate has included FMR's top 2016 legislative priority The Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program in its omnibus environmental bill, the House has declined to include this vital program for water quality in their version.
House advances $8.93 million omnibus environment policy & finance bill
Late last week, the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee voted to approve its omnibus environment & natural resources policy and finance bill. While the bill includes a number of provisions requested by state agencies, it failed to include FMR's top legislative priority for the 2016 session: The Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program.
Senate environment committee unanimously advances $7.5 million environment bill
Late last week, the Minnesota Senate Environment and Energy Finance Budget Division unanimously passed the Omnibus Environment & Energy Finance bill. The bill includes a number of environmental provisions, including FMR's top legislative priority for the 2016 session: The Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program.
Great news from Iowa on the promise of cellulosic biofuels
On the heels of encouraging progress on our perennial biofuels bill, more great news has come forward on the promise of cellulosic biofuels
With bipartisan support, perennial biofuels bills advance
One of FMR's top legislative priorities for the 2016 session earned unanimous bipartisan support in House and Senate committees today.
Unusual bill aims to mandate 5 new coal plants on Sherco site
In one of the more unusual pieces of legislation to come forward this session, a new bill (HF 3256) would require an as-of-yet unnamed public utility to build no fewer than five brand-new coal-fired power plants at the Sherburne County Generating Station.
Legislative attempt to rollback buffer law passes first hearing
As anticipated, buffers are back in the news as House Republicans are teaming up with a minority of rural Senate DFLers to rollback the buffer law. A pair of bills, authored by representative Torkelson (R) and Senator Skoe (DFL) have been introduced. Senator Skoe's bill has already passed the Senate agriculture committee despite opposition from Senate DFLers on the committee.
Perennial biofuels incentive program bills introduced
The legislature has introduced bills in both chambers to advance one of FMR's 2016 policy priorities: a perennial biofuels incentive program. Dubbed the "Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program," the bills ask for $479,000 in fiscal year 2017 for the state's Board of Water and Soil Resources to prepare a plan for creating a state-funded biofuels incentive program.
Surprise buffer law rollbacks a major disappointment
Without a buffer strip of grass or other perennial vegetation, water runs straight off a farm field, carrying phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment into nearby streams, lakes and rivers.
Bowing to pressure from agribusiness groups and select lawmakers, Gov. Mark Dayton made statewide news with a surprise announcement in late-January: a major portion of the 2015 buffer bill is being rolled back. As a result, hundreds of miles of private ditches will be exempt from buffer requirements and will continue to carry polluted farm runoff into Minnesota's waters.