If we need a Minneapolis connection to the forcasted electricy shortage and the alarming double digit increases in engery costs, look no further than the High Bridge and Riverside Xcel/NSP coal burning plants on the river in each town. Just when residents thought we were getting somewhere in getting these dirty coal burning facilities seriously to consider burning gas rather than coal, along comes the new and improved utilitiy companies with funny names and gas rates going through the roof. How many consumers are going to opt for more expensive gas over cheaper coal at the riverfront generating plants with rates more than doubling? What does this mean to the already high level of air emissions for Minneapolis and St. Paul and for the Mississippi River? Remember the oil crisis in the `70s which evaporated when the prices increased? Lots of blather then about solar power and wind generation. But it went nowhere because the utilities got their rate hikes. Am I too cynical to believe this is another such cycle? Since Mpls and St. Paul also house a disproportionate number of low income households, the burden of higher energy costs also falls disproportionately on urban households. Furthermore, the Twin Cities area is home to more energy-dependent businesses than elsewhere in the state. What happens to the economy of the urban core if higher energy costs force more layoffs? I think there is not only a Minneapolis connection in the electricy demand issue, but one that our local elected officials need to put on the top of the agenda. Fran Guminga Bottineau, under the secondary plum from the Excel Riververside plant * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * F. Guminga <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
