The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency a staggering $197 million handout to combat so-called “climate change.” This astronomical sum comes courtesy of the bloated 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which was rammed through Congress without proper scrutiny.
John Mooney, regional director of the EPA’s air and radiation division, couldn’t contain his excitement over this windfall, boasting, “I’ve been with EPA a long time, and I’ve never seen dollar amounts come through like this.” One wonders if Mr. Mooney would feel similarly thrilled if he footed the bill himself rather than relying on taxpayers’ hard-earned cash.
This lavish gift aims to transform Minnesota’s entire food production infrastructure—think electric tractors, eco-refrigerators at mom-and-pop shops, and other dubious green initiatives. The ostensible goal? Reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the state’s sprawling agri-food complex, which is allegedly responsible for a whopping 20 percent of global warming gases.
Kate Knuth, MPCA’s climate czarina, emphasized her agency’s novel strategy focuses beyond mere farming itself, stating, “Obviously agriculture is a really important part… but it’s not the only part of the food system, and we’re excited about taking a holistic approach to reducing emissions in the food systems overall.” Translation: expect more bureaucratic meddling throughout every stage of food production and consumption.
Meanwhile, Governor Tim Walz took advantage of last week’s photo op opportunity at a rural farm near Rochester, touting his own pet projects aimed at propping up young farmers and peddling questionable “soil-quality improvement” schemes. When asked about the shifting weather patterns affecting local farms, Walz predictably parroted alarmist talking points, saying, “We’re seeing some of these weather patterns change in a fairly significant way…”
On cue, the governor released a glowing press release hailing Minnesota as a national vanguard against the supposed scourge of climate change. It seems Minnesotans can now look forward to their tax dollars being squandered on pie-in-the-sky sustainability fantasies while actual problems plaguing everyday citizens receive short shrift.
