Governor Pawlenty included energy as one of his four “horses” in this week’s State of the State address.  I can’t but think about the apocalypse when four horses are brought into a conversation, but the Governor does seem to be riding in the right direction on this one.  At the end of the section there is also a little plug for passing a bill that would enable voters to amend the constitution to dedicate a portion of the sales tax for environmental purposes.  You can hear the audio of this section from the Governor’s website (mp3 format). 

Later today the Senate Energy policy committee will be taking up a bill that will create a statewide requirement for renewable electricity generation, along with a few other bills - such as the Governor’s energy package.  Christopher has a posting on Energista that digs into the bills some.  It is my understanding that the committee chair plans to have a vote on the Renewable Electricity Standard bill next week. 

The compact created by the eight Great Lakes states to govern water withdrawals within the watershed received its first legislative hearing in Minnesota yesterday and appears to be headed for smooth sailing.  

The Compact, which was introduced yesterday as HF 110, currently has 24 coauthors in the House.  The bill was taken up by the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy committee.  Testifying in support of the bill were Kent Lokkesmoe from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, David Naftzger from the Council of Great Lakes Governors, and MEP members Allison Wolf with Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Gary Botzek on behalf of Minnesota Conservation Federation and Audubon Minnesota.  A thumbs-up was given from the gallery to demonstrate the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s support.  No one testified against the bill.

The bill was passed by a unanimous voice vote and sent on to the House Government Operations committee.

The Senate companion bill (SF 38) is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Environment committee, which is slated to happen next Monday. 

For more information on the Compact, check out the MEP fact sheet (1 MB PDF).

The sports section of the Sunday Star Tribune included a short article with some big ramifications when it comes to creating a sustainable landscape while developing real energy security. It turns out some key agricultural leaders in Congress are realizing that focusing soley on corn ethanol as our energy savior is economically and environmentally short-sighted. (more…)

Here is this week’s update from MEP’s John Tuma - (more…)

Today’s topics: Energy, Forests, Global Warming, Water and Wildlife.
(more…)

Today’s topics: Agriculture, Development, Energy, Food, Global Warming, Green Space, Health, Non-Native Invasive Species, and Sustainability.
(more…)

It is something that I didn’t want to read about, but like a slow motion car crash you could see it coming.  The Duluth News Tribune has reported that Minnesota now has Quagga mussels. 

These little mussels are so nasty they out compete Zebra Mussels.  While it does not appear that they will provide a huge infestation in the deep of Lake Superior, this is terrible news for the Duluth Harbor and St. Louis River - and whatever other lake and river they are spread to after that. 

Quaggas are ferocious eaters - robbing the food chain for native species - and their waste ends up raising the acid levels in the water.  They highly concentrate toxins such as mercury in their bodies, passing on those toxins to whatever happens to eat them.  They also like to latch on to underwater pipes and will certainly prove to be a huge expense to any industry and water treatment facility located on the lakeshore. 

These little invaders are the result of poor ballast water regulation from oceangoing ships.  When will we get serious about preventing this type of thing from happening again?

The 2007 legislative session is darn near a week old now and the bills are rolling onto the assembly line.  Here are a few highlights and some information on what may be happening in the next couple of weeks.
(more…)

Today’s topics: State Agencies, Development, Energy, Forests, Funding, Global Warming, Water and Wildlife.
(more…)

Now that the LCCMR has made its decisions regarding projects it will recommend for funding to the legislature, last Friday’s meeting focused on the details – in particular what kind of wording will be in its recommendations to the legislature. (more…)