Without minimizing any other contributions, it was administration of Gov. Jesse Ventura that fashioned the landmark 1991 Energy Bill that provided the language and incentives necessary to make the Metro Emissions Reduction Project (MERP) a reality!
I know that a lot of people on The List did not like Gov. Ventura but without his enthusiastic support for this plan, we could never have negotiated the language with the Legislature. Getting the MERP language was one of the most exciting and remarkable public policy events I have ever been associated with! Credit is also due to Sen. Jim Metzen, Sen. Ellen Anderson, Sen. Larry Pogemiller among others still in the Legislature as well as forward thinking organizations like Minnesotans For An Energy Efficient Economy (ME3), Izak Walton League, a partnership of wind industry advocates, and other environmental groups who gave their support. Then the Commerce Deputy Commissioner Linda Taylor as well as Energy Advocacy Manager Marya White were absolutely magnificent! Jim Bernstein Fulton <snip> With the help of over 65 neighborhood groups and organizations, three years of grassroots efforts, city resolutions by St.Paul, Minneapolis, Burnsville,Brooklyn Park,Crystal, OakPark Heights, and energy legislation, the MN Public Utilities Commission finally passed the Metro Emissions Reduction Project that will convert two Xcel energy plants from coal to gas, and upgrade the Stillwater King Plant. The City of Minneapolis, Mayor Rybak, Xcel and residents should be proud of this historic coal to gas conversion decision! *It will be the first voluntary conversion in the nation! *It will be the single largest air reduction in the state! *It will reduce emissions at Xcel Riverside by over 90%! *It will save the City of Minneapolis residents an estimated $57.4 million in health related impacts a year with the conversion.(Study for CIty of Minneapolis by Carl Nelson, 2002) all for under twenty-five cents a day! Amy Luesebrink Lind-Bohanon and Shingle Creek Neighborhood Associations 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
