Crown Hydro Debate Not About Renewable Energy
In the debate over the Crown Hydro power plant to be built on Minneapolis Park property, most proponents are framing the issue as being about renewable energy. They falsely claim those opposed to the project must be opposed to renewable energy.
Renewable energy is not the issue at all. It is whether the costs and risks of the project are worth the benefits to Minneapolis.
If what we want from this project is the additional hydro power, then why not simply allow Xcel Energy to produce it? Xcel has a hydro plant directly across the river from the proposed location running at far less than maximum output, simply for want of more water. Give the water rights to Xcel instead of Crown Hydro, and we save the $5.1 million from the renewable energy fund and an approximately $2 million rate subsidy from the state.
If you do not want to subsidize another private business, now is the time to call your Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board commissioner and tell them not to lease the land to Crown Hydro. They will be voting yes or no on this issue Wednesday evening, May 19.
Comments
At the last meeting, some commissioners wanted to postpone a vote because commissioner Marie Hauser, one of the Five, was not present. Initially, they tried to move it to the June 2 meeting, but then discovered that two commissioners would be absent, including Crown Hydro proponent Bob Fine, it seems. Then it was asked who would be present at the May 19 meeting, and a number of voices claimed "everyone." That was false; commissioner Vivian Mason, a strong voice for open and honest government and an opponent of Crown Hydro, will be absent. And they knew it.
The Five have no problem holding votes when their opponents are absent, but continue to finagle the procedings to make sure their side stays packed. It's clear they are not public servants, but self servants.
Posted by anonymous | Wed, 05/19/2004 - 12:27am | Login to post comments
Dear anonymous:
Commissioner Vivian Mason was not absent from the May 19 meeting. Your source of information appears to have made an error.
-- webmaster
Posted by webmaster | Fri, 05/21/2004 - 3:56pm | Login to post comments