Taconite Good, Road Salt Bad?

As we made our epic journey down to Wabasso for Easter, I flipped through the Sunday Op-Ed section of the Strib.

One headline caught my eye.

"The Trouble With Road Salt".

I showed Bluewoman the headline and posed the question, "what do you think I'll write about?"

She knew instantly...

If road salt is so bad for the environment, what about the controversial use of taconite tailings? Remember, the mining industry can no longer dump them in Lake Superior but we can use them on roads.

The effort to reduce road-salt use is driven largely by the legal requirement to protect aquatic life. However, as is often the case with environmental regulation, reduced road-salt pollution would have other benefits. A well-tuned adaptive management strategy could actually improve winter-driving conditions using less road salt (a shift from a brawn strategy to a brains strategy). Using less road salt would reduce corrosion of vehicles and bridge decks. According to a study by the Federal Highway Administration, bridge-deck corrosion costs $8.3 billion per year in direct costs (and 10 times more in indirect costs), much of it caused by salt. The same study reported that $23.4 billion is spent annually to avoid or repair corrosion to vehicles. The effort to reduce road-salt use would probably yield economic benefits that far exceed costs.

Some would argue the same with taconite tailings.

Bob Olson's message to the delegates

Spent a bit of time talking to Bob Olson about the campaign and offered to post a You Tube for him.

Olson expressed great concern over the lack of debates in the 6th CD. When you compare and contrast what's happening in CD 3, who have had nearly 20 debates and forums, you can understand the concern. (There has only been on debate/forum).

I know students at St Johns/ St Bens attempted to put together something but from what I understand, no dates would work out for Tinklenberg.

With Senate District and County Unit conventions looming in the very near future, Olson wanted a way to "get the word out" to delegates.

Check it out!



In my opinion, his most powerful statements start right around the 5 minute mark, as he begins his close.

Check it out!

Bob Olson at the Farmers Union booth

CD 6 DFL candidate Bob Olson was hard at work at the Minnesota Farmers Union booth at the Minnesota State Fair.

Drawing on his experience as a tax lawyer and the majority owner of St. Stephen State Bank, Olson explained how tax incentives and loan guarantee funds can help American farmers lead the way to breaking our country's addiction to foreign oil.

"There is nothing more important to agriculture in Minnesota than to develop our sustainable energy resources, including wind energy, biodiesel, and corn and cellulosic ethanol," he said. "The tax law must change so the economic benefits go to Minnesota farmers, rather than large corporate and out-of-state interests."

Doug Peterson, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, said he was pleased with Olson's commitment to the state's agricultural economy.

"Bob Olson understands the issues that are important to family farmers, ranchers and rural communities," Peterson said. "We appreciate his coming by our booth at the State Fair and spending time talking with us."

By investing in American-made renewable energy, Olson said, we can strengthen our national security, protect our environment and jump-start our economy.

"It makes as much sense for Minnesota and America to ignore wind and other sustainable energy as it would to stop farming the land and start buying our crops from the Middle East," he said.

Olson's strength in renewable and sustainable energy issues will suit the 6th CD well. In rural Minnesota, the majority of farmers tend to vote Republican. Having an expert on one of the most important issues to our farmers, sustainable energy, will not only strengthen "the F" in DFL, but will strengthen labor ties as well.

It creates a win-win situation for the DFL and the 6th CD. CD 6 DFL candidate Bob Olson was hard at work at the Minnesota Farmers Union booth at the Minnesota State Fair.

More on the MinnCan pipeline

It's been a long week at work, I have not had a lot of time to post or respond to what's going on lately...but nothing like going back to another good ole MinnCan / Koch Industries pipeline story.

The SC Times has a story today about an appeal to the Minnesota Court of Appeals regarding the pipeline being forced down their throats in Greater Minnesota.

Some seem to think that 165 landowners should simply roll over because nearly a thousand did. If you have checked out previous posts here about the pipeline, you will read about extremely coercive tactics used by Koch Industries / MinnCan pipeline folks.

MPIRG attorney John Carney said the landowners' due-process rights were violated because:

» Many landowners never received notification of the pipeline, while others received notice too late to have any meaningful participation in the process.

» The PUC didn't follow a Minnesota Supreme Court decision requiring that new utilities follow existing routes when possible.

» The PUC didn't properly evaluate whether a new crude oil pipeline is needed in Minnesota. Other alternatives weren't considered or were rejected without proper analysis, the landowners contend.

» The environmental review wasn't adequate for a project of such magnitude and impact.

Regardless, nearly 6 months later, the pipeline cutting through the heart of Greater Minnesota still remains an incredibly important issue, especially for our farmers.

We'll continue to follow the story!

More local musings

In my notable absence fighting neo-conservative political operatives, this story flew under my radar.

Thank goodness for great minds like Chris Truscott and Dave Mindeman at mnpACT!.

Rep Ron Shimanski takes pride in his first year at the capitol as an obstructionist.

House members held the line against over $5 billion in new, job-killing tax
increases. In cooperation with the governor, who made very clear from the
beginning that there were some initiatives that would be "poison pills" - making
an entire bill unsignable - House members promoted the values that Minnesotans
hold dear.

It's the same rant he sent out in his constituent email as well.

Thankfully, Dave was around to set Shimanski straight.

$5 billion...wow..sounds like a lot. But, a lot of that money was offset by property tax relief. New taxes on the wealthy to give a break to property owners already hit by a slumping housing market. That particular bill had a net increase in taxes of zero.

And one of the poison pills alluded to by Rep. Shimanski is an effort to take inflation into account for state budgeting. Most of you understand inflation... you know... the thing that made the Crosstown Project cost an additional 30% during a 3 year delay in execution. The thing consumers are noticing in the produce aisles. The increases the state takes into account on the revenue side of things but pretends doesn't exist for spending purposes.

In his hometown of Silver Lake, the top issue people talked to me about last year was property taxes. Shimanski failed his constituents and his hometown.

Another issue Shimanski failed to address deals with the Koch Industry / MinnCan pipeline debacle. Shimanski, a small farmer himself, failed to act to protect farmers near Lester Prairie and Plato, as pipeline representatives used coercive tactics in order to obtain permission to run the pipeline through their property.

The SC Times published a story today about the pipeline problems as well.

The owners of about 85 percent of those parcels have signed agreements giving Minnesota Pipe Line an easement across their property in exchange for a payment, company spokeswoman Patty Dunn said.

The owners of the remaining 15 percent haven't signed either because they haven't reached a financial agreement or because of objections to the project. The company filed petitions in 13 counties this week seeking condemnation of the easement tracts, Dunn said.

A blatant assault of property owners rights. Where are the conservatives on this? Tom Emmer? Ron Shimanski? Dean Urdahl? Why are you not protecting the private property rights of Minnesota's farmers?

Tom Emmer: Al Gore's Climate Porn

Saw the video at MN Publius.

It's a must see.

No one has an advantage with a Special Session looming!

The Strib has a piece this morning with the headline "GOP has the edge at start of final week".

Call me a pessimist, but I doubt this is the "final week".

The headline and the story itself force me to question whether or not the GOP truly has the edge or not.

Back in November Minnesota's voters sent a resounding message to our elected officials. It led to the political tsunami that elected strong DFL majorities in both the House and the Senate.

Some have been listening to the concerns of the majority of Minnesotans.

No one campaigns on tax increases. I was asked this question at several forums across our district. At that time, I honestly stated that I saw no real need to raise taxes but thought we could generate more revenue for the state by taxing the highest income earning Minnesota's at a higher rate, depending on revenue forecasts and the expense of responding to the concerns of constituents.

In reality, less than 1/2 of 1 percent of Minnesotans would be asked to pay a higher tax.

It may be 6 months since the election and it would appear as some down in St Paul and the Startribune, have forgotten the core issues at hand.

Property tax increases have squeezed working and middle class Minnesotans.

Access to affordable and quality health care squeezes these same families tighter and tighter. While most Minnesotans are insured, the vast majority are also under-insured.

Because of high property taxes, school operating levies are failing at more and more schools across Greater Minnesota. The need for funding reform has been evident for more than a decade now, with little to no help for small districts like Atwater Cosmos Grove City and McLeod West.

Special education costs cut deeply into the General Operating Funds for these schools and others across Greater Minnesota.

Higher education tuition has skyrocketed under Governor Pawlenty and GOP rule.

Our lakes and streams are becoming more and more polluted.

Our roads are becoming more congested and falling in deep disrepair.

In response, the DFL put forth bills to begin to reverse Governor Pawlenty's damage from his "no new taxes" pledge, and someone has to help pay for it.

Despite all of these concerns, obstructionists like Tom Emmer, Marty Seifert, Ron Shimanski, Amy Koch, Bruce Anderson, Dean Urdahl, Laura Brod, Mark Olson and others have sided with the Governor and slowed any significant progress on the issues that matter most to Minnesotans.

Which leaves me to believe that no one has the advantage down in St Paul.

When this state moves towards another Special Session, voters around the state will once again be outraged. Outraged that elected leaders across both sides of the aisle have failed once again.

Failed to get their work done.

Failed to end the partisan staring contests.

Failure to solve the problems Minnesotans want solved.

I would be incredibly naive to think that the GOP would simply roll over and give Minnesotans and the DFL what they want.

Nor should they really.

Now, perhaps this has been covered on other blogs, but I have not seen it yet...so here goes.

What happened to the $300-$500 million the state could recoup by simply enforcing the tax code? I know Mike Hatch and others campaigned with this chip back the 06 election cycle.

Was this real or was this a ruse? Why hasn't anyone talked about this? Will this become a political chip in this "final week"?

If the GOP has an advantage in the "final week" it is a very slight advantage. The DFL still has a greater long term advantage though. They have produced quality legislation that does not coincide with the priorities of Governor Pawlenty and his small group of hatchet men and women.

The GOP has failed to respond to concerns around property taxes, health care, higher education, transportation, veterans issues and many others.

Until they do so, and stop protecting the top 1% while sacrificing the latter 99%, a GOP advantage may be shorter than any of us think.

Mark Olson: God, Global Warming and general insanity...

General Insanity, you know...the cat running the war in Iraq now. (insert rimshot)

Thank you, thank you...I'll stick to my day job.

I Don't Hate America scoop on Mark Olson making some pretty insane comments about God and Global Warming.

On the floor of the House, Olson discussed whether or not you believe in God makes a difference whether or not you believe global warming is an issue with merit. Also he talked about how he was reading the Bible, and that scriptures he read made more sense to him regarding global warming than science did.

DJ astutely points out that this is the same man crying and clutching a bible as he left the Sherburne County Jail after he was released for beating his wife.....ahem, allegedly.

So Olson skated by this session. If he is found guilty...I know I'll make my way up to Big Lake to door knock for Jim Huhtala. I hope Kiffmeyer runs too...

Let's find the video of Olson making an ass of himself again!

Who's behind the pipeline?

Need some more info on these cool cats that are pushing this pipeline down our collective throats?

Here you go!

Koch Industries indicted on 97 counts of violating federal clean air and hazardous waste laws.

"Companies that produce dangerous pollutants simply cannot focus on profit and
efficiency at the expense of a community's health," said Lois Shiffer, Assistant
Attorney General in charge of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural
Resources Division. "We will continue to find and prosecute those who would
flout our environmental laws."

More violations and fines paid out by Koch.

For Koch Industries, the amounts of money it can save by sabotaging
environmental rules make the sums diverted to the think tanks that do the dirty
work pale in comparison. The year 2000 was particularly rough for the Kochs. In
January, Koch Industries agreed to pay about $35 million for violations of the
Clean Water Act related to 310 oil spills in six states. Two months later, Koch
admitted to environmental violations at its oil refinery in Rosemount,
Minnesota, and was forced to cough up another $8 million in penalties. Then in
July, it agreed not only to spend about $80 million to cut emissions from its
Rosemount facility and from two other refineries in Texas, but also to pay a $1
million fine for air-pollution violations.

They pay big amounts of money for their media/pr spin!

Koch's track record on the environment includes the largest pollution penalty
ever assessed by the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as lawsuits over
groundwater pollution in Minnesota, escaping benzene gas in Texas and oil leaks
in six states.

Even Janet Reno drilled them hard, pun intended.

"This record civil penalty will put those who transport hazardous materials on notice -- you cannot endanger public health or the environment," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "We will not let you foul our water and spoil our land by breaking the law."

"Ties that bind".

Company execs have given almost a half million dollars to Republican's and to President Bush.

During the 1990s, the company's leaky pipelines were responsible for more
than 300 oil spills in five states, prompting a penalty of $30 million.

In 1996, a faulty pipeline caused an explosion outside of Dallas in which
two teenagers were killed. In a lawsuit related to the deaths, a trial court
returned a judgement of $376.69 million against the company.

Anna Nicole Smith even filed a lawsuit against the company.

We could seriously go on and on...and we probably will.

It is my belief that people need to know who is building this pipeline in our backyards. For the most part, the mainstream media has failed in its role to provide unbiased coverage of the pipeline discussion.

I admit, I am biased. I am biased towards ensuring that Minnesotans have a full and fair opportunity to discuss the pipeline, without being coerced into supporting it.

This is our powerline people, time to step up and make our voices heard.

It's time to fight.

Koch Industries: Some interesting connections

Minnesotan's always like to know who's digging in our collective backyards. I guess that's just the way we are up here.

We call it Minnesota Nice.

We already know that Koch Industries was co founded by Anna Nicole Smith's former husband. I'm sure that revelation curled some toes in conservative Central Minnesota.

It seem also that a high profile GOP staffer, who now is employed by Koch Industries, may have assisted former Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, in his illegal lobby dealings. Whether they knowingly or unknowingly assisted is at question now, per the story cited above.

It's pretty clear where the Koch family charitable interests go as well.

David and Charles Koch, sons of the ultraconservative founder of Koch Industries, Fred Koch, direct the three Koch family foundations: the Charles G. Koch Foundation, the David H. Koch Charitable Foundation, and the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation.

Following in the footsteps of their father, a member of the John Birch Society, the Kochs clearly have a conservative bent. Charles Koch founded the Cato Institute, and David Koch co-founded Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) [now FreedomWorks], where he serves as chairman of the board of directors. David also serves on the board of the Cato Institute. The Koch foundations make substantial annual contributions to these organizations (more than $12 million to each between 1985 and 2002) as well as to other influential conservative think tanks, advocacy groups, media organizations, academic institutes and legal organizations, thus participating in every level of the policy process.

Their total conservative policy giving exceeded $20 million between 1999 and 2001.

Curtis Moore argues that "Koch money funds industry-friendly messages that fill our airwaves and editorial pages, and influences outcomes in the halls of Congress and courtrooms across the country." CSE produces numerous policy papers that reach every congressional office as well as hundreds of newsletters and op-ed pieces. Representatives of the organization may be seen on a number of radio and television shows. Cato's influence also extends to policymakers and the public.

In touting limited government and free markets, these organizations doubt the dangers of various chemicals, environmental pollutants and global warming, as well as challenge research efforts documenting these hazards. One CSE paper argued that "environmental conservation requires a commonsense approach that limits the scope of government."

In writing these papers and making these appearances, individuals associated with these organizations often conveniently decline to acknowledge the substantial funding they receive from Koch and other corporations from the oil, coal, auto and other industries. By withholding such information, they are able to front as unbiased the public-minded associations promoting rigorous scientific research and economic autonomy, when, in fact, the individuals are mere mouthpieces for industries like that of the Koch brothers.

These organizations influence not only public opinion and policy but also judicial outlook. For example, in 1999 CSE subsidized the creation of amici
briefs providing reasons to proclaim the Clear Air Act unconstitutional. CSE received $600,000 from the Claude R. Lambe Foundation that year. The foundation also provided substantial funding to the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE), which holds seminars for federal judges at its ranch near Big Sky, Montana. Many influential judges attend these seminars, including those who heard arguments made by legal representatives receiving funding from CSE. It makes sense that the Kochs would fund such anti-environment organizations, given their seedy past of environmental violations and lawsuits.

Most significantly, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Koch Industries with
97 counts of defying federal hazardous waste and clean air-acts when it
knowingly emitted benzene fumes and then lied about its actions when questioned.

In 2001, Koch Industries agreed to a $20 million settlement, a drastically smaller sum than it would have paid if convicted.

I suggest going to the main link to view the sources used in this piece as well.

This is the company that wants a pipeline built in rural Central Minnesota.

More research pending!

The "Toxic 13"

Christopher Truscott has another great blog up at mnpACT!

Renewable energy sources have a great deal of support in the Minnesota Legislature. In fact, 188 of 201 elected leaders support the initiative for 25% of the state's energy sources coming from renewable energy by 2025.

13 elected leaders do not support this proposal.

In addition to being good for our environment, this legislation also puts Minnesota in a position to lead in the 21st century, while other states struggle for answers to their own energy needs. Whereas smokestacks symbolized progress at the turn of the last century, green industry is the wave of the future and we're now on the cutting edge of a promising new era.

We have all spoken out about the importance of renewable energy sources and our state's vision to become energy independent.

Not surprising though, are the individuals that do not support these initiatives in our local area.

Mark Olson

Tom Emmer

Bruce Anderson

Ron Shimanski

We anxiously await the spin...

This is our Powerline! MinnCan pipeline thoughts

Seems to me that the mainstream media have passed on this story. It would appear as though this story have not been covered since November!

According to MPIRG, the Public Utilities Commission will hear testimony tomorrow, Feb 13th, about the proposed pipeline.

Why do we need a new pipeline?

The MinnCan Project is a proposed $300 million crude oil pipeline built by the Minnesota Pipeline Company which is solely owned by Koch Oil. Koch Industries also owns and operates Flint Hills Resources, one of the two refineries south of the Twin Cities. Marathon Petroleum is the other refinery. This proposed project, if completed in 2008, would transport up to 165,000 barrels of crude oil per day at a pressure of 1462 pounds per square inch (psi) through a 24-inch pipe. 200 miles of the 300 mile project would be constructed through a new easement. This would affect thousands of Minnesota property owners, damage over 4000 acres of Minnesota forests, wetlands, agricultural and developed land, a Vietnam Veteran Memorial and 23 organic farms, including an organic dairy farm.

What could happen?

Pipeline construction involves a 100 foot construction right of way. The permanent easement is maintained at 50 feet. Construction will damage agricultural lands, clear-cut woodlands, and disrupt wetlands. Pipeline construction is exempt from compliance with the Minnesota Wetlands Conservation Act. The right of way will be maintained clear by cutting or with chemicals.

In the early 1980's Paul Wellstone co-wrote a book, with Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, titled 'Powerline: The First Battle of America's Energy War.' The book traced the frustrating, sometimes violent controversy that enveloped Minnesota's heartland over a seven-year period that pitted farmers against large corporate power companies and a government bureaucracy that tried to install a power line on the farmer's land.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is our Powerline.

It runs through hundreds of miles of farm land, nearly two dozen organic farms. In a time where we do not have a well defined energy policy, adding another pipeline is merely a bandaid solution. Instead of continuing our addiction to petroleum, which will be further fueled by another pipeline, we need to embrace renewable energy sources and other methods in our transition towards energy independence. Both Bush and Pawlenty have stated such in their "State of the ___" addresses.

We must reject these business practices. We must stand up and show policy makers and big business that clean air, clean water, and a sound energy policy, that places people over the profits of big polluters, is what we want.

Paul is gone, he can't bail us out on this one. We need to do this ourselves.

Another group in the MinnCan pipeline fight

Sky Blue Waters has some great info!

Global Warming protest?

Nope, I am not outside the paper in Cokato protesting Global Warming...

It's too frickin cold to protest! Although I have picketed in colder weather!

Global Warming? SC Times Opinion

Looking our over Cedar Lake near Annandale, I see two large open areas on the lake. Just last weekend I watched someone struggle to get a fish house off the ice. Typically, the lake is frozen by early December and I usually am out and about on the lake mid-December.

Except for a 10 foot jaunt onto the lake in late December, I have not spent any significant time on the lake.

Randy Krebs writes an opinion on Global Warming in today's SC Times.

Unfortunately, Mr. Krebs experiences are far too common today in a warmer Minnesota.

Minnesota Seed Company Fined

From the Strib.

Syngeta Seeds, a Minnesota Company, was fined $1.5 million for distributing genetically modifed corn seed.

It seems the seed would create corn laced with pesticide. It was stated that the pesticde is human safe and meant to repel rodents and insects.

Genetically Modified Foods may be a hidden danger. Large corporate seed companies are the biggest culprit.

More to follow on Genetically Modified Foods...

The end of a good thing! Chainsaw Sisters to close

The BWCA trip that culminated in a stop at the Chainsaw Sisters saloon was a great trip.

We entered in at Mudro (Entry Point 22) and engaged in one heck of a journey. I paddled with Jason this year and it was our friend Eric aka Senior's first BWCA trip. He teamed with our friend Chris Mehr in what was dubbed the "Smoking Canoe".

After safeguarding a Jar-Jar Binks talking doll the entire first day...we sprung it upon its unfortunate victim when we hit camp that night.

It was one heck of a long day of paddling. Mr. Manea kept pushing us to get up into the bay section of the journey. The portages were not too bad, although I carried the biggest bag (it had Jar-Jar in it), I laughed a lot as Jar Jar would offer insight as the bag would hit the ground...it was pretty comical.

Ah, the BWCA...

We ended that trek at the Chainsaw Sisters...a bag of Old Dutch Sour Cream and Onion Chips and a half warm PBR! After a week in beautiful Northern MN, it was great!

It does not get much better than that!

Unfortunately, the end has come for a great Minnesota establishment. Thanks for the memories...and the warm PBR!

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Seems some SCSU employees have it figured out. US Senate Candidate Robert Fitzgerald travelled around the state in a bus powered by fryer oil waste.

Enjoy...and yeah, John Roberson was from Annandale.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — John Roberson doesn't stop at the gas station when his car is running low on fuel. Instead, he heads to the nearest fast food restaurant.

Roberson fills up the 55-gallon tank on his 1979 Mercedes 240D with vegetable oil that was already used to cook French fries and chicken strips. While nearly everyone else pays $2-$3 a gallon for petroleum-based fuel, Roberson pays nothing for his ``veggie'' fuel — or for the satisfaction that comes with knowing he's doing his part to reduce pollution and the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

Roberson and his fellow St. Cloud State University employees Darrin Printy and Timothy Gardner are among a small but dedicated group across the country who are looking for cheaper, cleaner fuel alternatives.

``It seemed like a good idea. I'm not a big fan of going to the gas station every week and buying 10 or 20 gallons of fuel to commute,'' said Roberson, who lives about 20 miles away in Monticello.

Much attention has been paid to biodiesel, a processed blend of vegetable oil, petroleum diesel and alcohol. Minnesota law requires that all diesel sold in the state contain at least 2 percent biodiesel.

But the cars driven by Roberson, Printy and Gardner run on straight vegetable oil salvaged from deep fat fryers. After tracking down a used car with a diesel engine, Roberson bought an $800 conversion kit that he installed himself one weekend.

It included a tank in the trunk to hold the oil, some coolant lines, a dashboard switch and a fuel gauge. Roberson bought the car last April, and said it's been running great since.

``I was a little concerned with the cold weather this week ... and it ran just fine,'' he said.

The cars use regular diesel fuel to start and stop. But once it's warmed up, the driver switches over to vegetable oil. The cars get about the same gas mileage, 25 to 30 mpg, as a traditional diesel engine, and Roberson estimates he gets almost 100 miles for every gallon of diesel he uses.

All three men said that restaurants they approached were eager to get rid of their used oil. Roberson and Printy both get theirs from the burger chain Culver's.

Restaurants typically have to pay to get used oil disposed of. ``It eliminates their waste, plus it's basically free,'' said Barb Behling, public relations director for the Wisconsin-based chain.

Behling said she was getting at least a call a week last summer from people interested in oil for veggie-fueled cars, at a time when gas prices rose to around $3 a gallon. Calls have dwindled as gas prices have dropped, she said.

The St. Cloud State colleagues admit veggie cars probably aren't for everyone. Roberson and Gardner are both car guys who were able to install the converters themselves, and those less mechanically inclined would need to pay to get it done.

You also have to be willing to forsake style. Most of the converted cars are at least 20 years old, because older diesel models have proven easier to modify. That can mean more expense when it comes to repairs or replacing parts.

The three men said it helps a lot to have friends in the same veggie-powered boat.``Between the three of us, we're able to compare notes and keep things running,'' Printy said.

Both Printy and Robertson also installed mini ``refineries'' in their garages in order to make it easier to strain the oil to remove bits of French fries and other contaminants.

``It's a lot more work to do this than to just pull up to a gas station and put your credit card in and lift the handle,'' Roberson said.

``I don't know that it's a drawback, because it actually makes you think about some of the work and the product that goes into your car to get you from point A to point B.

''Then there's the smell. But that one's not necessarily a drawback.

``I think it kind of smells like a cross between French fries ... and grilling something on the grill,'' Roberson said. ``It smells a lot better to me than the regular diesel smoke. It gives you the munchies.''

Global warming, a local spin

It seems as though we have naysayers amongst us out here as well. Hell, if Michelle Bachmann says global warming is a fallacy, then it must be.

Before Bachmann ran out here for Congress, here is a story from a local paper.

"I’m not convinced that global warming is real. It might be, but it seems to me we don’t have enough data. If half of Minnesota was covered by glaciers only 10,000 years ago, we might be in the middle of a 20,000-year cycle and this weather might be perfectly normal."

and

"I remember in May 2005 it snowed in the Twin Cities, convincing me that Minnesota has horribly long winters. Instead of a catastrophe, maybe global warming will be an improvement."

It's December 13th today...and its 43 out right now. Snow? Non-existent. The lake even has standing water and holes through the ice today. No, I am not walking on it.

I suggest a viewing of "The Inconvienient Truth". I challenge naysayers to research the data used, it seems to have withstood peer reviewed research already.

The denial is troubling to me. We only have a short amount of time here on Earth. A short amount of time to make a difference, make this place better for those coming after us.

This is why we need a holistic energy policy. We need a "Manhattan Project" for renewable energy. A project of this magnitude will create global change and provide our nation with energy independence.

Pioneer Press Energy Opinion

Looking forward with new energy

There were times during Gov. Tim Pawlenty's first term when it appeared that Democratic-Farmer-Labor leaders in the Legislature didn't mind if the session crashed and burned and the Republican governor took the blame (some of which he earned.

But on Tuesday, as he looked forward to the first session with DFLers in firm control of both the House and the Senate, Pawlenty saw reason for hope.

"They don't want to come in here and take control and have everything stink,'' the governor said. "It's not in their interest to throw sand in the gearbox.''

The governor and four new legislative leaders spoke to a gathering of journalists Tuesday about the budget-setting session that will begin Jan. 3. Energy was on the governor's mind, and he and the new legislative leaders were on their best behavior for a session preview at the Capitol.
During his first term, Pawlenty and the Legislature had a 50 percent breakdown ratio — two out of four sessions ended badly. Pawlenty was narrowly re-elected to a second term in November. DFLers, who controlled the Senate during Pawlenty's first term, won control of the House in November and increased their margin in the Senate.

INFLUENCE IN RENEWABLE FUELS MARKET

Pawlenty took the opportunity Tuesday to talk energy, which he called "a national economy imperative and a national security imperative.'' His focus, which involves a significant government influence in the renewable-fuel market, may put off ideologues on both sides.
But government is part of the energy market, and every other market. Anybody who thinks otherwise is out of touch with reality. The question is where that role should start and end.
Pawlenty sees a future that relies on cleaner fuels that don't require us to give succor to our enemies. He would position Minnesota to profit from that future. His "Next Generation Energy Initiative" would stimulate the effort by requiring more use of renewable fuels, more conservation and less pollution.

He'll find considerable common ground with Democrats there. He's also likely to catch criticism from both the right and left. The right imagines the market in oil to be more virtuous and free-standing than it actually is, and the left imagines government to be more virtuous and effective than it actually is.

Good for the governor. He's talking sense.

And maybe the new faces around the negotiating table will help move the people's business along.

In the House, Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, is in line to become House Speaker. House Republicans will be led by their new Minority Leader, Marty Seifert, R-Marshall.

In the Senate, Sen. Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, is the new Senate Majority Leader, and Sen. Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, the new Senate Minority Leader.

GAS TAX INCREASE VS. BORROWING

From them, we heard echoes of old debates about transportation — whether a gas tax increase (which Democrats tend to favor) is needed to pump money into roads and transit, or whether borrowing for highway construction (which Pawlenty and Republicans tend to support) is a better option.

Seifert is a plain-spoken fellow who sees a need for a longer school day — something parents will cheer for. Pogemiller, the most experienced of the lot (he was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1980), spoke of decentralizing the process so committee chairs have more power to reach agreements over contentious issues.

He said the focus will be on "bread and butter, meat and potatoes.'' Kelliher said it will be important for the Legislature to be "fiscally moderate.''

Translation: Gay marriage, abortion and other hot buttons may not get such a pounding this session.

We applaud the new energy, the new faces and the governor's plans to have Big Corn (or Big Switchgrass) go after Big Oil. There's a lot to do. We wish them well.