Tuesday,  June 03, 2014 • Vol. 16--No. 320 • 27 of 39

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tric, 8 percent nuclear, 6.5 percent wind, 3 percent natural gas and less than 1 percent from other sources.
• State Republicans immediately pushed back on the plan. Sen. John Thune said it would amount to an "energy tax" for state residents.
• The proposal "will be yet another sucker punch to middle-class families throughout South Dakota struggling to get by in the Obama economy," Thune said. "These regulations, which will increase electricity costs, will especially hurt low-income families and seniors who live on fixed incomes and already devote a large share of their income to electricity bills.
• Gov. Dennis Daugaard is very concerned that the new regulations will cause an increase in energy prices, spokesman Tony Venhuizen said in an email. The governor also wants to understand the degree to which the federal government can reject a state plan or impose a federal plan, he said.
• Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D. said the proposal could change "our way of life."
• "This is a pocketbook issue for South Dakota; it's a pocketbook issue for our entire country."
• South Dakota would be required to reduce its carbon emissions by 34.2 percent from 2012 levels. The state had more than 3 million tons of carbon pollution in 2012.

BNSF Railway exceeds fertilizer delivering goal

• BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer says BNSF Railway has exceeded its commitment to send additional trains hauling fertilizer to the Dakotas, Minnesota and Montana.
• The Republican from North Dakota says BNSF delivered 56 trainloads over the past six weeks. The company had committed 52 trains to catch up on fertilizer shipments.
• The Surface Transportation Board last month ordered BNSF and Canadian Pacific Railway to submit their plans to ensure fertilizer was available for spring planting.
• Increased crude oil and freight shipments have largely been blamed for causing the rail delays. The railroads have blamed bad weather and rail traffic congestion.



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