Washington, DC — In response to Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton’s decision to appoint Lt. Governor Tina Smith to the U.S. Senate, MN350 Executive Director Kevin Whelan gave the following statement:
“It’s good that Minnesota will keep a climate champion in the Senate. As Lt. Governor, Tina Smith has proposed concrete steps to move to an equitable, clean energy economy. The Dayton/Smith administration’s Commerce Department has rightly opposed a new Enbridge Line 3 tar sands pipeline. We will count on her to stand up for Minnesota if Trump tries to force dangerous, unneeded pipelines down our throats.”
350.org Executive Director May Boeve gave the following statement:
“Standing up to fossil fuel projects is a key test of climate leadership. Whether you’re a Lt. Governor, or a U.S. Senator, our rallying cry is the same: ‘keep fossil fuels in the ground.’ We look forward to working with Senator Tina Smith in Washington D.C. to block Trump’s fossil fuel projects and build support for 100% renewable energy.”
In Minnesota, the Dayton/Smith administration’s Line 3 pipeline review concluded: “Minnesota would better off without any new pipeline being built,” citing economic factors and the disproportionate impact on indigenous communities. The state also recommended that the existing pipeline be shut down.
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Contacts:
Dani Heffernan, [email protected], +1 (305) 992-1544
Kevin Whelan, [email protected], +1 (612) 414-9731