ST. PAUL — District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, joined a letter with more than 40 state representatives from the Minnesota House of Representatives to Attorney General Lori Swanson and Gov. Mark Dayton asking them to add Minnesota to a growing coalition of states challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a federal court over the Clean Power Plan.

The plan, which mandates Minnesota reduce utility carbon emissions by over 40 percent by 2030, greatly expands the scope of federal authority and will impact the availability of affordable energy for families, businesses and communities across the state. Furthermore, the implementation of this new rule could lead to closures of coal-fired power plants, further increasing energy costs and creating substantial job loss.

“Higher electric bills and the loss of good-paying jobs will hurt many families across the state,” Bennett said. “Minnesotans need a common sense balance: energy policies that will protect the environment as well as their jobs and pocketbooks.”

“Legislators on both sides of the aisle oppose President Obama’s efforts to crush Minnesota jobs and raise energy prices for hardworking families,” added Representative Pat Garofalo, Chair of the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Committee. “It’s time for Governor Dayton and Attorney General Swanson to stand up for Minnesotans and join the efforts to block this outrageous federal overreach.”