To: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

Help Minnesota's Biggest Smoker Kick the Coal Habit

Please don't allow Xcel Energy to spend millions of ratepayer dollars to continue burning dirty coal at its Sherco 1 & 2 power plant, Minnesota's biggest source of carbon pollution.

There is a cost to Minnesotans in burning 30,000 tons of coal a day—a cost we pay with our health and the health of future generations whose air, water, and climate are being polluted today.

Instead, require Xcel Energy replace the coal plants with clean energy using wind, solar, and energy efficiency.

Why is this important?

According to the American Lung Association, "Each year 24,000 premature deaths, 550,000 asthma attacks, 38,000 heart attacks, and 12,000 hospital admissions attributed to Coal Plant pollution". Less burning of coal means less mercury, toxic chemicals, and waste products that pollute our lakes and cause health concerns that have the most impact on children and expectant mothers.

Sherco 1 & 2 are also Minnesota's biggest carbon polluters, pumping more than eight million tons of carbon dioxide into the air every year. Replacing them with clean energy would be a huge step forward for Minnesota.

We have a historic opportunity to act because the Public Utilities Commission is taking public comments for a limited time and will decide the fate of this facility soon.