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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Capitol Hosts Clean Cars Today

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Monday, March 3, 2008   

St. Paul, MN – Several "clean cars," the kind being encouraged by the proposed "Minnesota Clean Car Act," will be on display at the State Capitol today. The bill's sponsor, State Representative Melissa Hortman, says it sets a fleet-wide average for vehicles, and is designed to reduce global warming pollution and save energy.

"It will dramatically decrease fuel consumption, it will save consumers money and, it will make us much less reliant on foreign oil."

Hortman believes the plan will cut the state's contribution to global warming pollution to a greater extent, and faster, than under current federal law. It requires manufacturers to deliver cars to the state that cut global warming pollution 30 percent by 2016.

The bill has support from the dozen-member Clean Energy Minnesota Coalition. Christopher Childs with the Minnesota Sierra Club says it takes on some serious problems.

"It will give Minnesotans, and people in many other states, cars that will be much less expensive to run. The vehicles will cost a little more initially, but they will pay you back within perhaps two or three years. And, there are enormous benefits for the environment, not only in terms of global warming, but also in the reduction of other vehicle emissions."

Amanda Bilek with the Minnesota Project says motorists can keep driving their current cars because the law only affects new cars. And, she says, it's a popular idea.

"Research shows that 75 percent of Minnesota voters support legislation requiring all new cars sold or registered in Minnesota in 2009 to be manufactured to reduce global warming emissions by 30 percent."

Childs says trucks and S.U.V.s will still be available, all vehicle makers can meet the standards, and the technology is available now. The plan is modeled on a California law, which has support from several other states.


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