Minnesota
governor signs clean air order
In August 2004, MN Governor Tim Pawlenty signed an Executive
Order that requires state departments to take action to
reduce air pollution in their daily operations. These
actions are
consistent with the recommendations of Clean Air Minnesota,
a partnership, led by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative,
of businesses, environmental groups, government agencies
and citizens working together to achieve significant, measurable
reduction in air pollution throughout the state.
As a large employer, MN state departments are joining the efforts of CAM, starting
with e-mailing all state employees, twice a year, a fact
sheet about steps they can take at work and at home to
reduce air pollution. The text of the Executive Order,
an Implementation Guide and a letter to all state agency
heads can be found at the OEA web page listed above. The
main directive is for each state department to begin during
2004 to implement two or more of the following air pollution
prevention actions:
- Purchase or lease the most
fuel-efficient and least polluting vehicles that meet
the operational
needs of the state department.
- Refuel state-operated
vehicles with the cleanest fuel available.
- Encourage
employees to consider alternatives to single-occupancy
vehicle commuting.
- Reduce state energy use through
purchasing energy-efficient office equipment and appliances.
- Employ energy-conserving strategies in state-owned or
leased buildings.
- Procure and use products with the
lowest potential to contribute to air pollution, such
as cleaning
products with low amounts
of volatile organic compounds.
- Employ landscaping
that reduces the need for gasoline-powered maintenance
equipment.
- Purchase electricity generated from renewable
sources.
Agencies are working with and will report annually to the
state's Interagency Pollution Prevention Advisory Team
(IPPAT; coordinated by the OEA) on the implementation of
this order. For more information, see the OEA web page
listed above or contact Ned Brooks at the MPCA at 651/296-7242
or Emily Moore of IPPAT at 651/215-0201.
Courtesy of Minnesota Sustainable
Communities Network