Minnesota Power: Going green means a rate hike

James S.
Duluth, MN     11/04/2009 10:57 AM

William C. Thank you and bless your little pea-pickin heart!

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Bill S.
Duluth, MN     11/04/2009 9:48 AM

John e. Get your facts straight. "High sulfer coal form wyoming"??? Wyoming has low sulphur coal (PRB coal). There wasn't a big coal industry in Wyoming until the Clean Air Act in the 70's restricted the sulphur content of coal in power plants. Before that high sulphur Eastern Coal was used because of it's higher thermal energy content. Not everyone has the money to install geo thermal pumps or put in new windows, and explain to me how raising my taxes and power rates are going to help me afford those things? You know what is really bad for the enivronment...people. so why don't we tax you to death for having children, like china does. Is that the kind of country you want to live in.

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William C.
Duluth, MN     11/04/2009 6:32 AM

James writes: "Live your life in a green manner, we don't give a d---. But please leave the rest of us alone... Please don't impose your will on good people just because you think you can. Nobody is deliberately getting into your life, don't get into ours." -- Sorry James, but I didn't design this world. We all breathe the same air, we drink the same water and we rely on the same limited resources. I can live my life in a green manner and you're right, doing so will mean that I have no impact on your life. But can you say the same? Can you leave me alone and stop imposing your wasteful ways on me? If I'm not putting any pollutants into the air and you are, and then my kid has a severe asthma attack, you bet I'm gonna tell you to clean up your act. If you don't want other people having an influence over your life, you're going to have a tough time living in a society. If you really want to be left alone to do as you please, I suggest you buy some solar panels and a water recovery unit and go live off the grid. Then we both get what we want. How's this for an analogy: It costs a lot of money to pay a certified electrician to wire your house properly, but it costs a lot more to do it on the cheap and have your house burn down ten years later.

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john e.
Duluth, MN     11/03/2009 7:37 PM

Pamela I. This is the biggest job killer there ever was!!!! What planet do you live on? I am only sugesting that we all show some respect for our childrens future. By becoming energy effecient humans, maybe smog free, we will all be happier humans. Job Killer? Warren Buffets trains hauling high sulfer coal from Wyoming? How about Job creation? Window installers Both Marvin and Anderson window companies are located in MN. Local Jobs. Hire A local insulation contractor, oops more local jobs? Hire a local company to install a ground source heat pump that is 3 to 5 times more effecient than your 5 year old heating system, oops More local jobs..... come back to planet earth...Welcome to Minnesota nice. :)

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pamela l.
Cloquet, MN     11/03/2009 5:42 PM

This is the biggest job killer there ever was!!!! People will pay more for utilities, spend less on goods and services, and bring down and already hurting local economy. But everything will be just fine according to John e. if we all would just unplug or apps on standby,install a geo-themal heat pump, insulate the attic and plug holes in the house. What he neglects to mention is the cost to do these things which he suggests. Anymore bright ideas John!!!!

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James S.
Duluth, MN     11/03/2009 4:51 PM

Dear John A. and Truth: I accept your comments, I just don't share your points of view. Truth is correct, and I'll be the first to forward the fact. Pawlenty was the one who pushed the 25% by 2025. I am not pleased with his attitude, since there are 2 "clean coal-fired" power plants on the drawing boards for northeastern Minnesota and as I understand it, he is opposed to those plants. Fortunately, they were grandfathered in before Obama took office. Now it is questionable if they can be viable if Cap & Trade passes. Isn't that just great you greenies? Think of the working families that need those jobs and the schools and communities that were depending upon them. And they are clean projects. John A., maybe you can afford to pay more for energy created by the green movement, the products that will only go up in cost as a result of the green movement and your job may be secure if Cap & Trade passes. But my family can't. We are already cut to the bare bones. We ask no quarter, but we are not willing to give quarter either. Live your life in a green manner, we don't give a d---. But please leave the rest of us alone. The green movement should be supplemental to our economy, not a mandatory immediate impact. Everybody that can afford to upgrade their homes to better insulation, new windows and doors are already doing it because it only makes sense. Please don't impose your will on good people just because you think you can. Nobody is deliberately getting into your life, don't get into ours. Our environment is improving incrementally each year since I was a little boy and frankly, I am very pleased at the progress we have made along that time table. People are part of the environment too, please give us a chance to prove ourselves.

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John A.
Duluth, MN     11/03/2009 4:15 PM

Truth in Duluth's comment bears repeating: "No matter what your beliefs are about global warming and green jobs, be careful who you blame for Minnesota Power's rate increase and why it is being done. Minnesota's Republican Governor, Timmy Pawlenty, signed the legislation and actually made several stops around the state, including Duluth, to tout its benefits. Please remember that the Governor's purpose in supporting this bill was to promote renewable energy sources." -- Pawlenty was all for green jobs and renewable energy when he was still checked-in as Governor. He knows it's a good thing for our state. Now that he takes orders from national party leaders, he is backing down on his original beliefs. You can't trust either party to do what is right for us - they are both just self-serving machines.

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K. P.
Cloquet, MN     11/03/2009 3:37 PM

John E and John A. Thanks for adding some intelligent comments to the mix. Whether or not global warming is 'real', I think we all know we are destroying our own environment. Look at the haze hanging over the city when you come down Thompson Hill if you have any doubt. Remember folks, we did not inherit this earth from our parents, it is on loan to us from our children. Let's leave it a little better than we found it, for our kid's sake.

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K G.
Esko, MN     11/03/2009 3:14 PM

Yes, John A., but how can American industry compete with the cheap, made in China, crap from Walmart? US manufacturers buy steel from foreign countries because it cost less. The US buys crude oil abroad because it's cheaper. Etc.... US Government is making it nearly impossible for industry to succeed in this country. Because of that it's getting harder and harder for the average Joe to succeed in America. Many folks can't afford the cost of US made products. Now high utility costs are forced down our throats because of the US government's outrageous theories and ideas. The future looks bleak. and John, God Bless your family in uniform. They are the true heros of this country!

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Paula M.
Minneapolis, MN     11/03/2009 3:10 PM

More cap and trade, more Obama, hold on to your wallets!

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