It’s Getting Hot In Here

Otter Tail Power, the lead developer of Big Stone II, has just announced that it has withdrawn its support from the project. Activists in South Dakota and Minnesota have been fighting the 500-580MW coal plant for at least five years now, and let me tell you, it has been a rollercoaster ride.

Things were looking up earlier this year, when just days after Obama took office, the EPA revoked Big Stone II’s air permit. But months later, the developers turned in a revised air permit, which was later approved.

Then, this spring, the powerline that would carry the electricity from Big Stone II to Minnesota was approved by the Public Utility Commission on a 5-0 vote. This was after the PUC voted in 2008 3-2 to delay the powerline vote until more information on carbon costs and other variables was available. An independent report was commissioned that showed the estimated cost for the power plant was too low. This had led many to believe that the PUC might block the permit, but instead they decided to unanimously approve it.

This July, Elk River Municipal Utilities pulled their support from the project, citing cost and environmental issues. But a month later, the last environmental permits for the plant were approved, and the plant seemed headed to construction.

But earlier today, Otter Tail Power, the lead developer and project proposer, announced that it would no longer support Big Stone II. The press release notes that “the broad economic downturn coupled with a high level of uncertainty associated with proposed federal climate legislation and existing federal environmental regulation have resulted in challenging credit and equity markets that make proceeding with Big Stone II at this time untenable for Otter Tail’s customers and shareholders.”

The pullout of Otter Tail leaves only four developers, the Central Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, Heartland Consumers Power District, Missouri River Energy Services, and Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. Losing Otter Tail’s $400 million investment (of $1.6 billion) is no doubt hurting, but for now the four utilities are soldiering on. A responding press release noted that, “The remaining participants emphasized that Big Stone II will go forward if sufficient participants can be found to join the project.” I’d say that’s a pretty big if.

Just days after the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the new administration is already getting to work on cleaning up some of the weak rulings from the last eight years. For those of us in Minnesota and South Dakota, the change is already being felt as the air permit for South Dakota’s Big Stone II coal plant was revoked earlier today.

The proposed Big Stone II coal plant was located right on the border of Minnesota, and 45% of its electricity would have crossed the border. However, by locating the plant in South Dakota, Otter Tail Power and the other applicants avoided the stronger Minnesotan regulations. South Dakota’s regulators approved the environmental permits for the project months ago.

The final permit needed was a Certificate of Need from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) of Minnesota for a powerline going from Big Stone II to eastern Minnesota. High voltage powerlines in Minnesota have always been contentious, since the 1979 powerline battle (fought over the CU line, which now brings coal to Minnesota from North Dakota…very familiar). The Big Stone II line has been characterized as the “first major transmission project” in Minnesota since that time, although a number of smaller projects have been completed. After delaying the decision on the Big Stone II line, the PUC commissioned an independent study to determine if the dirty coal power would be the cheapest for Minnesotans. The reviewers, Boston Pacific, released their report in October, which stated that Otter Tail Power’s cost estimates for future coal power were far too low, considering an impending carbon price. Additionally, two administrative law judges both recommended to the PUC that the project be nixed. Despite this evidence (and the overwhelming organizing effort of local youth and green groups, too many to name), last week the PUC voted 5-0 in favor of building the powerline.

But what a difference a week can make. Today, Obama’s EPA revoked the original OK given for the South Dakota air permit, citing worries about the plant’s contributions to global warming and inadequate emissions monitoring. This action took place on the dead last day for review for the plant’s application. Talk about good timing!

It’s unclear whether this will spell the end to Big Stone II, a coal plant five years in the making, or the powerline, which could be rerouted or extended to bring dirty energy from another proposed coal plant near Selby, SD (“It’s probably going to be the cleanest coal plant in the nation”). Otter Tail Power has 90 days to submit a revised application. Yet this is surely a good sign for activists across the country working to stop carbon-spewing projects like this one. Let’s hope it’s the first of many.

The press release from Clean Water Action and the Sierra Club can be read below.

Continue reading ‘Obama EPA Overturns Big Stone II (SD/MN) Air Permit’

You betcha, Powershift will soon be making a visit to the great state of Minnesota. The home of nice people, hotdish, Garrison Keillor, the Democrat-Farmer-Labor party, community wind, the highest voter participation rates in the country, and the Mall of America now has its very own Powershift!

Continue reading ‘Minnesota Powershift: Connecting Communities, Creating Change’

Cross-posted on the new TEAM Minnesota blog

Last night, renowned climate scientist Jim Hansen spoke to a number of policymakers, nonprofit leaders, teachers, students, and others at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Hansen has been blowing whistles on climate change for twenty years, most recently citing 350ppm of CO2 as the level which we must reach to avoid catastrophic damage from climate change, and inspiring the 350 campaign. Hansen’s speech highlighted both the scientific consensus on global warming and the lack of an effective response from policymakers.

Yet during Jim’s speech, I was struck by his inability to connect the severity of his findings with the morality of responses from policy makers, young people, or really anyone else. We are past the point when expertise is needed from the scientific community. By continuing to propagate the “science vs. junk science” battle, Hansen and others are ignoring real questions of power, morality, citizen engagement, and the social changes that are needed to build a clean energy future.

Continue reading ‘Is science still relevant?’

As climate change debate moves from the question of “Is it real?” to the “What should we do?,” and our decision makers begin debate on climate legislation, the tactics taken by the youth climate movement are also expanding. Activists are simultaneously engaging in intense policy and value debates, summer training programs, pieing, and tons of stuff I don’t even know about.

We’re also starting to run into what I would unceremoniously call mid-term or mid-scale actions: those actions that lie in between short-term strategies and goals (organizing, communication, the development of a shared system of values and language, recognition of a “movement”) and the long-term vision (a sustainable, just, prosperous, climate positive, clean energy economy and society). To me, mid-term actions highlight the need to challenge and apply our values by taking a direct role in creating and demonstrating the future that we want to see. It’s moving off campus and into the community, starting a business or nonprofit, engaging with traditional environmental orgs across age divides, challenging the power of decision-makers, educating ourselves and others on a mass scale in a new way, collaborating on a local, regional, and national scale, and being creative in our view of the world.

Mid-term actions are process-oriented, experimenting, questioning, and applying our values. They are capacity-building; not only will mid-term actions reduce our carbon footprint and give us experience in reforming institutions, but they will grow our movement, cultivate an ecological consciousness, chip away at the power of the opposition, and scale-up to meet the challenge.

They’re also tough. They require a lot of thought, dedication, conviction and work. Mid-term actions have no clear “victory,” no sweeping legislation that will be passed or clear end of the road.

Nevertheless, mid-term strategies are crucial – and youth have the power and creativity to start them now. And so I offer to you some theory and practice from my own experiences here in Minnesota. These examples shouldn’t be viewed as isolated actions or demonstrations of what works; youth across the country are creating similarly creative projects. We don’t have everything figured out, (by any means!) and are constantly reassessing and challenging our plans. But we’ve got some inspiration, creativity and hope that I’d love to share and discuss. Continue reading ‘The Breadth of Activism’

On Monday, March 3 a group of four hundred concerned students gathered for the Youth Forum on Global Warming Solutions, a collaborative and nonconfrontational conversation with Minnesota’s Governor (and possible vice president candidate) Tim Pawlenty. Organized by the Governor’s office, the Will Steger foundation, the Transcampus Energy Action Movement (TEAM MN), and Youth Environmental Activists (YEA MN), the event sought to present both the Governor’s and student visions for what Minnesota can do to combat climate change. Continue reading ‘Minnesota Students hold Forum with Governor Pawlenty’

As a college activist from a rural town, I’m often unaware of the diverse groups that are involved in the Youth Climate Movement. Amazing action certainly doesn’t have to wait till you get a high school diploma, and YEA Minnesota is proving it.

A couple months ago, a coalition of high school environmental groups formed YEA Minnesota (Young Environmental Activists). My fellow college activists Timothy Denherder-Thomas and Jason Rodney attended this phenomenal YEA MN event just weeks ago, hosted by the Will Steger Foundation. Just listen to what high school student Ethan Buckner and some others have to say.

From my experience, these kids are phenomenal thinkers and activists. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with Ethan through TEAM MN, and many more students are engaged and involved. It’s incredibly inspiring to see this organization develop and take action. This is people power at its finest. The Youth Climate Movement should be sure to connect with student organizations at all levels, as all have incredible visions. Do you have any reports of high school action in your area? Let’s make some connections.