SPEAKING OF STEWARDSHIP...:

New rules on pollution from power plants (Tom Meersman, March 11, 2005, Minneapolis Star Tribune)

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a new rule Thursday that will require significant reductions in emissions from power plants in Minnesota and 27 other states by 2015.

Acting EPA administrator Steve Johnson said the Clean Air Interstate Rule will result in the largest pollution reductions and health benefits of any air rule in more than a decade. "The action we are taking will require all 28 states to be good neighbors, helping states downwind by controlling airborne emissions at their source," he said.

The changes will reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxides by 61 percent and soot-producing sulfur dioxide by 73 percent from 2003 emission levels, officials said.

The new rule sets pollution reduction targets for each state to meet by 2015, and requires them to develop plans by which utilities and other large sources will phase in changes to meet those goals.