Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives celebrated Earth Day in the way only the GOP can; by denying climate change and undoing efforts to combat it.
The MN House voted yesterday on a omnibus jobs and energy bill, that, among other things, scales back the state's green energy initiatives and lifts the moratorium on new nuclear power plants.
Minnesota had previously passed a strong renewable energy law that required 25% of all electricity generated in the state to come from solar, wind, or hydrogen by the year 2025. In the energy bill passed by the house yesterday GOP lawmakers redefined renewable energy (now called "advanced energy") to include hydroelectric plants and put sunset dates on energy conservation improvement statutes.
One might ask if they weren't worried about the impact this might have on climate change, but you don't have to worry when you don't believe in it. Lifting a gigantic middle finger to Earth Day 99% of MN House republicans voted against an amendment introduced by the democratic minority that acknowledged climate change is real and that mankind is contributing to it. In all 71 GOP lawmakers stuck their heads in the sand and pretended not to see what they know is there. The bill now heads to the democrat controlled senate.
Happy Earth Day, Minnesota!