Multiple parties, including Xcel Energy and environmental groups, announced today they reached a settlement on converting two metro-area Xcel Energy coal plants to natural gas. The Riverside Coal Plant, the single largest source of pollution in the City of Minneapolis, would be converted to natural gas by 2009.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has been a leading proponent of conversion since he took office two years ago. Rybak has testified on conversion before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and has worked with City Council members, State Legislators, neighborhood activists and environmental leaders to mobilize community support for conversion. "Converting Riverside from coal to natural gas is the single biggest step we can take improve air quality not only in Minneapolis, but the entire metro region," Mayor Rybak said. "Today's settlement agreement means that our children will be breathing cleaner air, suffering fewer asthma attacks, and we'll all be living healthier lives. It makes economic, environmental and public health sense to do this." Rybak continued. "I'm disappointed conversion of Riverside can't be accomplished earlier than 2009. It is, nonetheless a major step forward." "I'd like to thank Xcel Energy for bringing forward their conversion proposal. It's a great day when civic leaders, environmental groups, neighborhood organizations, faith groups and industry can work together to build support for a proposal to clean up our air. The Public Utilities Commission should vote to approve this historic agreement." Mayor Rybak said. The Minneapolis City Council was briefed on the settlement Friday morning during the Committee of the Whole. The Council will vote on Monday, December 15, on whether to become a party to the agreement. The settlement still requires a favorable vote by the PUC. Mayor Rybak will open oral testimony at the PUC on Tuesday, December 16 at 9:30 a.m. The hearing will be held in the Large Hearing Room, 121 7th Place East, Suite 350, St. Paul. The commission is expected to vote on conversion December 18. Mayor Rybak also would like to specifically acknowledge the many, many groups that organized and lobbied for conversion. This is an incomplete list: Izaak Walton League, Sierra Club, Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota, The Minnesota Project, North American Water Office, Clean Water Action Alliance, American Lung Association of Minnesota, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Minnesota/Twin Cities Asthma Coalition, the Minnesota Children�s Health Environmental Network, the School Nurses of Minnesota and the Women�s Cancer Resource Center, Minnesota Interfaith Climate Change Campaign of the Minnesota Council of Churches. Neighborhood groups throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul filing resolutions of support: Audubon, Bottineau, Hawthorne, Linden Hills, Marcy Holmes, Marshall Terrace, Prospect Park, Powderhorn Park, St. Anthony West, Seward, Sheridan, Shingle Creek, Southeast Como, Victory, Waite Park and Windom Park neighborhoods in Minneapolis and the Daytons Bluff, Mac-Groveland, Merriam Park, St. Anthony Park and West Side Citizens Organization in St. Paul. Other community coalitions and organizations: Mississippi Corridor Neighborhood Coalition, Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, Minneapolis Urban League, Clean Energy Now (send care of Andrea Kiepe at Clean Water Action Alliance) Laura Sether Office of Mayor Rybak Standish-Ericsson REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
