A new database put out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that coal-fired power plants and taconite processing are the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Northeastern Minnesota.
The database lists 6,157 greenhouse gas emitters across the country, including 132 major emitters in Minnesota. The Duluth News Tribune reported that four facilities in Northeastern Minnesota are among the state’s top ten polluters: Minnesota Power’s Clay Boswell Plant in Cohasset, Taconite Harbor Plant in Schroeder, U.S. Steele’s Minntac Plant in Mountain Iron and Cliff’s Natural Resources Northshore Mining in Silver Bay.
Read the full article HERE.
The database does not include emissions sources for agriculture, forestry, cars or other modes of transportation, but the EPA does see the database as a major milestone in its efforts to address climate change. It will allow states to identify their most significant contributors to climate change and prioritize changes to address them.
The database itself is a user-friendly resource where users can sort lists by state and view maps of emitters’ locations. Explore the database HERE.