Environment

My walks with Ace

Often Ace (our Golden Retriever) and I head out on our walk past the big barn and through the cornfield to the east fence line. Our walks are usually after the 10 p.m. news, so it’s dark and the stars reflecting off the snowy ground light our path. Ace covers about 2 miles on these walks as he sniffs out every critter that’s been by. He’ll scare up a rabbit every now and then, but never catches them. As he’s running and sniffing, I’m deep in thought about that day’s events or reflecting about the past summer’s growing season.
Seeing the cornfield at rest with a blanket of snow makes the turmoil they went through last summer seem a distant memory. The corn, beans and hay were off to a great start and everyone was looking forward to a good harvest. Then a band of hail starting in Isanti County and following Chisago County Road 10 came roaring through Harris and east past our place. Besides the physical damage to buildings, the corn and beans were reduced to stems. Amazingly, a few weeks later, the crops had come back and were looking good—then the rain stopped In the end, we were left with no hay to speak of and hardly any corn or beans.
Tonight, though, as Ace and I are walking over crunchy snowfields with a temperature around -20 below, my thoughts go towards the trees we are going to plant this spring. My wife and I will plant over 800 trees along our borders and fence lines. We are working with the Chisago Soil and Water District, who developed a tree plan for our property. I had been planting about a hundred a year until I realized at this rate I’ll never get as many trees as I wanted. So, this year, we’re doing it all in one shot.
You, too, can work with the Chisago Soil and Water District to get a tree plan or just order trees. They are located at 38814 Third Ave. in North Branch or you can call 651-674-2333. If you live in Isanti County, contact the Isanti Conservation District at 380 Garfield St. S. in Cambridge or 763-689-3224, Ext. 5. You know the saying, “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.” Well, the second best time is this spring.
My nightly walks with Ace put into perspective the ever-changing and sometime harsh conditions Mother Nature throws our way, but also the resilience of our environment. Despite the hail, the droughts and the snow, the fields and trees will begin anew this spring. This thought brings both comfort and optimism to other areas of my life.
Meanwhile, Ace just raised a rabbit and they are coming right at me.
On a different note, I’d also like to invite everyone to upcoming town hall meetings I will be hosting with Rep. Kalin. On Tuesday, Feb. 26, we will be holding a meeting in Wyoming at the Geise Memorial Library (26855 Forest Blvd.) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. On Thursday, Feb. 28, we will be meeting at the North Branch Library (6355 379th St.) from 7-9 p.m. Please do come if you can make it. These meetings are a great opportunity to share your views on the issues we’ll be discussing in the Legislature.

News Release - January 18th, 2007

Believe it or not, Minnesota holds the unfortunate distinction of importing more electricity than any other state in the nation. More than a third of all electricity imported by our nation goes to Minnesota. I find this fact to be unacceptable. In a state with many forms of renewable energy available at our fingertips, such as wind, biomass, or ethanol, this simply should not be the case.

I serve as a member of the Energy, Utilities, Technology, and Communications Committee, where I will have a voice in determining the future of Minnesota’s energy policy. I, along with other senators, have proposed a Renewable Energy Standard that will require utilities to produce at least 25 percent of their total energy from renewable sources by the year 2020. This legislation will build on Minnesota’s current Renewable Energy Objective, which asks utilities to make a good-faith effort to have at least 10 percent of their energy mix come from renewable sources by 2015.

There are several reasons that Minnesota should enact a Renewable Energy Standard. First, we would decrease our dependence on foreign fuel sources and take steps towards achieving energy independence. Second, enhancing the use of renewable energy will do much to protect our environment. Third, a Renewable Energy Standard will likely jump-start an alternative energy industry in Minnesota, lead to thousands of new jobs in rural Minnesota, and millions of dollars in investments in our state’s economy.

Along with being a wise idea on many levels, a study recently completed by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has determined that a 25 percent Renewable Energy Standard is completely feasible for the state. The study showed that Minnesota utilities could use wind power to generate up to 25 percent of their energy mix without a significant impact on energy costs; giving all Minnesotans cleaner energy at an affordable price.

Although some rural utilities have expressed concern that this legislation would lead to increased energy costs to ratepayers, it in fact emphasizes price protection for customers. Utilities, especially those in rural Minnesota, who do not have the technological or financial capability to meet the Renewable Energy Standard without increasing their prices, will receive a waiver from the Public Utilities Commission to delay or modify the standard to more attainable levels.

Establishing a Renewable Energy Standard would make Minnesota a national leader in renewable energy production, rather than a leader in imported energy. Given the governor’s support for renewable-energy proposals, along with a supportive majority in both legislative bodies, I am optimistic that Minnesota could see a Renewable Energy Standard passed this year.

I encourage you to contact me with your questions or comments about renewable energy or any other issue. You may call me at (651)-296-5419, send an e-mail to sen.rick.olseen@senate.mn, or write to G-24 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155-1606.