More info on Feed-In Tariffs, (FIT)
I have been receiving calls from as far as Michigan requesting more information on the Feed-In Tariff program I have been working on. This program has generated much excitement in the field of renewable energy and I will continue working to bring this idea to fruition.
Some of the people I talked to have actually complimented this blog on the information pertaining to FIT. Many enjoyed viewing the 3 videos on the right and learned more about the FIT program.
The first video is a conference I attended with the World Future Council (WFC) in Washington D.C., the second video is a 40 min feed of a cell-phone conversation with Terry Tamminen, author of “Lives Per Gallon, The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction” as he discusses FIT, and the third video is about “The German Feed-In Tariff Law.” Viewing this video gives you a good idea on how this program could work in Minnesota. Take some time and review the 3 videos.
Tags: Feed-in tariff, Germany, Green Energy, Minnesota, Oil
Junior Ranger Day, Saturday, April 26, 2008
Apr 23, 2008 News
National Junior Ranger Day will be celebrated on Saturday, April 26, at the Saint Croix River Visitor Center in Saint Croix Falls, WI., and the Namekagon River Visitor Center in Trego, WI. For more information visit their website.
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway received a grant from the National Park Foundation to host Junior Ranger Ambassador Elise Johnson to develop a Junior Ranger Activity Booklet. The booklet, available to children from 8-12 years of age, features 17 activities about diverse topics such as eagles, wolves, logging history, and scenery on the Riverway. The Junior Ranger Activity Booklet is posted on the Riverway website and can be downloaded. A printed copy of the booklet will be available at the Riverway visitor centers and the Marshland Center. Please call to ensure the booklet is available at the St. Croix River Visitor Center, 401 North Hamilton Street, St. Croix Falls, WI, phone number (715) 483-2274.
While the Junior Ranger program is available for children every day, special events are planned for National Junior Ranger Day. The St. Croix River Visitor Center will host the University of Minnesota Raptor Center on April 26. A live bald eagle, a barred owl, and other birds of prey will be on display from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with Jackie Fallon from the Raptor Center answering questions about the birds. Numerous other activities are available that day also so visit the website for more information.
Earth Day, April 22, 2008
Apr 23, 2008 Energy, Environment, News
The House and Senate joint environmental and energy group has worked to address budget issues in the deficit reduction bill. Included in the bill are several provisions I authored focusing on quickly energizing our Green Economy in Minnesota. We want to infuse venture capital and long term investment in Minnesota’s burgeoning clean energy economy.
You probably already know that Minnesota is the Silicon Valley of Windows – with Andersen Windows, Marvin Windows, Cardinal Glass in Northfield and Eden Prairie, Sage Electrochromics in Faribault, and 3M who makes a variety of films and tinting for windows. The challenge is to move from a deep leadership position in one area to a broad leadership position across related clean energy industries. A review of the draft version of House File (HF3999) will give you an idea of these Green Job provisions.
Several of us are attending the opening of Great River Energy’s new headquarters in Maple Grove, to
commemorate the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-rated building in Minnesota. The building is a model of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, and I hope that many communities can learn from this facility. I should note that Chisago City’s new public works building is currently on track to receive a LEED Gold rating, only one step below the Great River Energy’s Platinum rating.
I hope your Earth Day was memorable.
Tags: 3M, Andersen Windows, Cardinal Glass, Deficit Reduction bill, Great River Energy, Green Economy, Marvin Windows, Sage Electrochromics, venture capital
LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL READ-A-THON
Knowing the benefits of reading early and often to young children, I and State Representative Lynn Wardlow hosted the 6th Annual bi-partisan Early Childhood Read-a-Thon at the State Capitol April 16th. The annual event brings together legislators from both parties of the Minnesota House and Senate to read to area pre-school students.
I still cherish the times I spent reading to my own children when they were young. Not only did reading together become our special time, it helped lay a strong foundation for their academic success when they entered school.
This annual event includes a special appearance by the Cat and the Hat, who spent time with the youngsters from several St. Paul early childhood programs. Volunteers from the Minnesota Children’s Museum, Hennepin County Medical Center and Lerner Books were on hand with games and activities for the children, and to provide early literacy resources for parents. When asked about his support for the event Representative Wardlow, a retired teacher said, “We can’t underestimate the importance of giving children a good start. This event reinforces that it’s never too early to start helping children get ready for school.”
The bi-partisan Minnesota Legislative Early Childhood Caucus sponsored the Read-a-Thon. Co-chaired by Representative Sandra Peterson, Representative Lynn Wardlow, Senator Geoff Michel and Senator Tarryl Clark, the event is in its sixth year. It was conceived and implemented by State Representative Jim Davnie from Minneapolis and a teacher.
“It’s rewarding to see my colleagues on both sides of the aisle support this event,” said Rep. Nora Slawik, Chair of the Early Childhood Committee. “We all enjoy taking a break from the regular pace of the session, and we’re inspired by the excitement the children show. They remind us about why we’re so committed to making sure Minnesota’s youngest learners are prepared for academic success.”
After suffering budget cuts in 2003 as a result of the state’s budget deficit, the 2007 Legislature passed my bill to restore funding for many early childhood programs, including Head Start, ECFE and School Readiness programs.
The best return we get as a state comes from the investments we make in quality early childhood programs. Minnesota’s success has always been our strong commitment to providing every child with a quality
education, and that commitment must include sustained support for early childhood.
School District Capital Facilities Bond
Minnesota is facing a $935 million budget deficit due to our state’s recent economic downturn. As the Legislature looks to make those targeted budget cuts, we need to ensure that we are not cutting those investments that pay-off in the future such as education. In 2003, when the state faced a larger budget deficit, the Legislature made some fairly deep cuts. Particularly hard hit was K-12 education. Fortunately, in 2007, with our final education bill of $800 million for Minnesota schools statewide, we were able to restore nearly all of the cuts made five years earlier. I am committed to seeing that, in fixing this year’s budget, we don’t lose the ground we gained last year.
Unfortunately, the unfair school funding system and the tough economy means tough times for all schools including those in District 25B. After years of cuts, there is little left to cut. Class sizes will likely increase, and students will receive fewer opportunities today than we did a generation or two before them. They deserve better.
That’s why I am supporting a measure (HF 2475) that would provide $49 million ($51 per student) in additional school funding statewide in 2009. Funding would come from an unused surplus leftover in the state’s Q-Comp funding program. Approval of this bill would help ease some of the pain at schools across our district. In all, schools in our area would receive roughly $700,000 in additional school funding in 2009.
Specifically, HF2475 would provide:
Belle Plaine will receive approximately – $76,347
Montgomery-Lonsdale will receive approximately – $55,896
New Prague will receive approximately – $179,826
Northfield will receive approximately – $199,053
Faribault will receive approximately – $204,867
These figures are taken from the 2007 enrollment data depicted by the MN Dept of Education on their website.
The situation our schools are facing is a long-term problem that needs a solid, long-term solution. And while this year’s proposal is a short-term fix, it is a necessary step to set the stage for a comprehensive education reform measure in the coming 2009 Legislative Session.
Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.
MnDOT Gets New Commissioner
Apr 22, 2008 News
Tom Sorel, the current head of the Federal Highway Administration’s division office in Minnesota, was selected by the Governor to be the new Commissioner of MnDOT. The 51-year-old Sorel, who has a civil engineering background, brings 30 years of transportation experience to the Department and will be the first engineer to head MnDOT in 22 years.
Said Sorel, who has two primary goals, “I really hope to rebuild public trust and confidence in MnDOT and the transportation community as a whole,” he said. “My second prime objective is to regenerate a spirit of innovation and creativity in the state of Minnesota.”
Sorel has led the Federal Highway Administration’s Minnesota office since 2005 and has worked for the federal department for almost three decades. He served as the Transportation Department’s liaison during the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. He has been with the FHA since the late 1970s.
Personally, I think it is good to have an experienced professional in this important office.
Marjorie I. Bly
Apr 20, 2008 News
My aunt Marjorie Ingeleiv Bly passed away April 8th, after suffering from numerous ailments. She was 87. At the time she was being cared for at the Taiwan Naval Hospital in Penghu. Memorial services will be held in Penghu and in Northfield on Saturday, May 3rd. The service in Northfield will be at 1:00pm in St. Johns Lutheran Church, 500 3rd St. West. Donations may be sent to China Service Ventures to support the nurses training program. My aunt led a rich full life of service. It was summed up very well in a letter I received from the ELCA office in Chicago:
The whole church is profoundly grateful to Marjorie, who served officially for 43 years in public health ministry, first in China and then in Taiwan. Commissioned as a missionary by the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America in 1946, Marjorie served for three years in China, during what she called her “wandering” and learning period.
In 1952 Marjorie was called to Taiwan to provide care for leprosy patients and families through an outreach clinic. In 1954, she moved to Penghu Island, where she was completely at home among the people. She immersed herself not only in the care of people suffering from leprosy but also advocated for their inclusion in society, demonstrated by the leprosy clinic that was included in the general hospital program at Municipal Penghu Hospital. This was considered a radical idea at the time, and many doubters said it couldn’t’ be done. But it was. Marjorie established a dermatology clinic through the outpatient department of the hospital and provided follow-up care and treatment for patients and families.
Marjorie continued her ministry well beyond her official retirement from service with the American Lutheran Church in 1989, remaining in Penghu among the people whom she deeply loved. This love and deep affection was mutual and the people of Taiwan honored Marjorie by giving her the Chinese name “White Pearl”, paying tribute to her with awards and a visit from the President of Taiwan and then by caring for Marjorie in her last years. In 2007, she received the highest civilian award from President Chen Shui-Bian, President of the Republic of China, Taiwan.
We know Marjorie’s work made a significant contribution in the lives of the people whom they touched, and her life and ministry bear witness to God’s amazing grace in Jesus Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria
The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla
Executive Director
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Global Mission
My brother, two cousins, and I went to visit Marjorie in 2001 and got to see her clinic (Seen in this photo with two co-workers) and the community she lived and worked in. We witnessed first hand the mutual affection and could
appreciate the relationship she had with the proud people of the Pescadore Islands. For all of my life my aunt has been a presence in my life and a reminder of how much one person can do to improve the lives of others around her. A number of years ago I asked Marjorie to put down on paper the story of her efforts in a brief piece she called “Wanderings” you can download a copy of it here: Wanderings.
The Sesquicentennial Statehood Week – May 11-18, 2008
Apr 18, 2008 News
The Sesquicentennial Commission details plans to commemorate Minnesota’s 150th anniversary of statehood during a week of events May 11-18 and throughout the summer. The commission will use this historic milestone to encourage all citizens to learn about Minnesota and help plan for its future.May 11th, 2008 marks Minnesota’s 150th anniversary as the 32nd state in the union and begins a week of events in St. Paul and around the state in commemoration of the historic milestone.
Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission Executive Director Jane Leonard detailed plans for “Statehood Week” at a press conference today in the State Capitol building. “Statehood Week is the beginning of more than 400 events throughout the summer that will not only honor our state, but encourage all Minnesotans to reflect on what statehood means in the 21st century and what it will mean as we head into the next 50 years,” explained Leonard. “Exciting programs planned for May 11th through the 18th are great ways to start bringing people together to see where we’ve been and talk about where we are heading.”
A more detailed schedule of these events in chronological order can be downloaded from the Sesquicentennial website.
Information on the Bonding Bill
Apr 9, 2008 Energy, Environment, Jobs, News, Transportation
On Monday afternoon, April 7, 2008, Governor Pawlenty used the line-item veto 52 times to trim the bonding bill to $717 million – a reduction of 13%. Basically the Governor vetoed thousands of jobs that would have been created all around our state at the time when Minnesota’s economy needs the extra boost. The line-item vetoes by the Governor represent thousands of lost opportunities.
The impact for our area, as a result of the Governor’s cut, will mean that funding for the Robert Street Corridor Transit Study ($500,000) and most of the transit will not be available. He also cut $2 million for Early Childhood Learning Facilities. A full list of the line item vetoes is available on the Governor’s website.
Of greatest concern was the veto of a critical $70 million investment in the Central Corridor Light Rail line. By slashing $70 million, the Governor has jeopardized nearly half a billion dollars in federal funding. Without the federal money, light rail will not happen. Estimates are that if we continue to wait on this venture, even by one year, the costs will increase by $40 million.
What was very surprising about this cut was that the Governor, who initially requested the amount in his own budget proposal, actually vetoed his own request. Already, Tuesday morning, the Governor appears to have reviewed his position and softened his stance. Maybe he will decide not to play games with Minnesota’s transportation future and revive his own proposal. We’re hoping he decides to veto his own veto.
Please let me know what you think. Visit www.mn2020.org to send us your comments. Your thoughts will be posted as they come in.
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