ST. PAUL, MN –  Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R- East Grand Forks) released the following statement following the passage of the blackout bill from the Senate floor:

“The Blackout bill passed by Democrats tonight will lead to higher costs, less reliable energy, and could very well put people’s lives at risk. Senate Republicans tried to amend the bill with our A+ Energy Plan to keep our affordable, reliable energy available without increasing costs, but predictably, Democrats weren’t interested in compromise. Again, we see a party-line vote on an extreme bill that was rushed through the process.”

Senate Republicans earlier in the day proposed their A+ Energy Plan and offered many amendments during the floor debate. The A+ Energy Plan would:

• Allow nuclear construction in the state 
• Affordable renewable natural gas to continue to reduce emissions 
• Always On natural gas and coal for reliability and affordability 
• Authorize hydroelectric power to count as a renewable energy 
• All-of-the-Above strategy to mix solar, wind, hydroelectric, hydrogen, and biomass with our current energy sources 

Democrats voted against the A+ Energy Plan on a party line vote.