In a legislative session buzzing about transportation, carbon capping, and clean cars, another energy issue lies below the radar. Fresh Energy’s Daryl Sager is scheduling an informational hearing in mid-April to bring attention to the lack of funding for tribal weatherization assistance in the state.

Minnesota tribes are in desperate need of improved weatherization funding. Native Americans living on a reservation spend more on home energy costs than any other group in the state, according to Sager, and some reservation residents spend up to one-third of their incomes on home energy expenses. He has visited many tribal homes where families cover the windows with blankets in a futile attempt for better insulation. (more…)

This week’s update from lobbyist John Tuma:

“It is extremely desirable to remove as speedily as possible so vexing a question from our State politics, not allowing it to remain for years to disturb our own elections…”

Alexander Ramsey*

That quote was from our second governor, Alexander Ramsey, at his first inaugural address in 1860 describing a huge financial crisis facing the State of Minnesota as a result of some very speculative railroad financing schemes created by the previous legislature and administration. Dealing with state budget problems is nothing new under the sun as our 2008 Minnesota Legislature is facing its own vexing question of a nearly one billion dollar deficit.

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There’s nothing like a call-in radio show to bring them out of the woodwork. Or, in the case of young farmers who are excited about producing healthy food in a sustainable manner, out of the rich soil of Minnesota. When the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings program was the subject of discussion on Minnesota Public Radio’s Midmorning program Thursday, the switchboard lit up with testimonials from all over the state. It was a celebration of love — love for the land and for good food. (more…)

By Art Allen, Transit for Livable Communities’ Communications Assistant

I lived in Boston for three years, and I can tell you the pedestrians own that city. In fact, I noted to a friend recently how, in Minneapolis, pedestrians will scurry guiltily across the street if a car is waiting—even if there is a “Walk” signal in favor of the pedestrian. In Boston, however, the pedestrian will cross the street without looking (an arrogant mentality—it actually got me hit by a car once), signals be damned.

Almost everyone in Boston walks. There are ads from the tourism board proclaiming Boston as “America’s Walking City.” The sidewalks are wider than anywhere else I’ve been. And the sheer volume of pedestrians keeps the cars at bay. If you look at any “most walkable” list, Boston is tops.

So I was a little confused when I read a recent story in the Boston Globe, which talks about Boston’s need to become more bike-friendly. Certainly the bikers go where the walkers go. Right? (more…)

Groundwater—that stuff that trickles through sand, gravel and cracks beneath our feet, that provides 70 percent of the drinking water in this state but is often out-shined by all those beautiful lakes and rivers—is in the news these days. People are not only starting to worry about what’s in it, but how much of it is left. This attention to water is important because of one simple, hard truth: they ain’t making any more of it. Basically water is the ultimate recyclable product, and what we do to it now—quantity and quality wise—will show up centuries from now. That’s why it’s good to see the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board is convening an interagency working group to examine how the booming ethanol industry, among other things, is affecting groundwater. While working on a groundwater article for the current issue of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, I talked to rural residents and hydrologists who already know what impact ethanol plants can have on water in a localized region. One problem is most of those plants are being built in parts of the state that are corn rich, but water poor. But one bit of good news related to groundwater that I stumbled across while researching the story came out of Rochester. There, officials have figured out how to remove dangerous levels of one common pollutant from water without breaking the bank. A bonus of this system is that it relies on protecting natural landscapes in the area—one of those win-win situations people like so much. Once the EQB gets done looking at what thirsty industries like ethanol are doing to our groundwater, they and others concerned about the future of the wet stuff would do well to examine Rochester’s experience. It’s a lesson in learning from history and using that education to ensure a better future. (more…)

This week’s update from lobbyist John Tuma:

“I’m tired of sewing you up.”
Eddie Froelich

Those were the words of the trainer for the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team while stitching up hockey great John Mariucci in the 1940s. Mariucci’s retort was, “Imagine how I feel.” In just his first 13 games with the Hawks, Mariucci received almost 50 stitches between his forehead and chin. Mariucci is an icon in Minnesota hockey lore. Hailing from the raucous Iron Range during the rough-and-tumble years prior to World War II, he earned his reputation as a fierce battler on the ice.

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By J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director, Fresh Energy

Teachers and administrators at several school districts across the state of Minnesota have mentioned that their school principals received packets in December 2007 from Stanley S. Hubbard, Chairman and CEO of Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. (locally, KSTP Channel 5). The packets were designed so that “people will then be better able to make intelligent decisions regarding global warming.” The cover letter stated, “…I am sure that our program will help you and your teachers shed more light on the questions, ‘Is there global warming? If so, what causes it? And if so, is it good or is it bad?’” (more…)

by Michael Noble, executive director, Fresh Energy

As Congress and the Minnesota legislators consider policies to limit and lower global warming pollutants, the question always arises whether these “carbon capping” policies will be good or bad for the economy.

Opponents of legislation that limits and lowers global warming emissions always stress the uncertainty of cost. Advocates of capping carbon pollution say that it will drive innovation and new technology and will be the biggest shot in the arm for the economy since America retooled itself for WWII.

Who’s really telling the truth? (more…)

This week’s update from lobbyist John Tuma:

“The best brain and the surest brawn of the nation is found here (in the Midwest) and it should be organized into one mighty moral, material and patriotic force to overthrow paternalism and plunder, and regenerate politics and the Republic.”

John A. Johnson
Governor of Minnesota, 1905-1909*

A century ago Minnesota was in the midst of what was known as the “progressive era.”  Our political leaders, farmers, laborers and out-state business leaders ushered in progressive policies that reshaped our transportation system, commodities markets, employment relations, and economic structure.  This era gave us common innovative ideas like cooperative organizations, antitrust laws, direct election of U.S. Senators, labor rights, and workers compensation.  Things so commonplace to our social structure today that we would be stunned at the political struggle in the early 1900s that was necessary to put them in place. (more…)

Looking for a thin bit of hope that spring is indeed just around the ice-encrusted corner? A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farmer told me today that she just started veggie seedlings in her greenhouse. That’s all I need to believe that yes, our soil will thaw, the ice sheet will recede, and the sun will shine brightly enough to produce food again. Joining one of the several top-notch CSA farms that serve the region is an excellent way to get access to that food. According to what I’m hearing, consumer sign-ups at area CSA operations are starting earlier that usual—perhaps this harsh winter has given us a particularly sharp appetite for something other than tennis ball tomatoes. So don’t wait until the snow is gone—it may be too late. Check out LSP’s 2008 Twin Cities Region CSA Directory and start dreaming of fresh, sustainably-produced food.