Contact:
| Cesia Kearns, Coal Campaign Organizer | Office: 612-659-9124 x310 |
| Mobile: 612-310-2649 | |
| Email: |
Citizens Rally to Pull the Plug on Big Stone II
Public Utilities Commission to Vote on Dirty Coal Power
| WHAT: | Citizens demonstrating outside the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in opposition to the Big Stone II coal-fired power plant in anticipation of the final decisive PUC vote about the transmission lines for the Big Stone II project. |
| WHERE: |
On the sidewalks outside Metro Square Building on the corner of
Jackson St. and 7th Streets in downtown St. Paul. The PUC meeting will
be in the large hearing room beside the PUC Offices in Suite 350 of
the Metro Square Building, located 121 7th Place East. Parking and directions: http://www.puc.state.mn.us/about/directions.htm |
| WHEN: |
Tuesday, June 3, 9.00 am: Peaceful demonstration outside Metro Square Building Tuesday, June 3, 9:30 am: Citizens attend PUC meeting and deliberations |
| VISUALS: | Colorful signs, the world's largest "footprint petition" — an enormous section of fabric several hundred feet long where people from across Minnesota have traced their footprint to demonstrate concern about global warming and coal-fired power. |
Background
Big Stone II is a large, new coal-fired power plant proposal that Otter Tail Power Company and other Minnesota utilities plan to build just across the border in South Dakota, close to Ortonville, Minnesota. It would build transmission lines across Minnesota to carry the power. The existing plants global warming pollution output would nearly double with the expansion of the plant, undoing the Twin Cities' efforts to offset carbon emissions. Recently, the Administrative Law Judge with the Public Utilities Commission recommended against approving the certificate of need for the Big Stone II expansion. The PUC will hear deliberations regarding this recommendation at the meeting on June 3, and then vote on the recommendation on June 5. The worlds largest footprint petition was created at the Global Warming Day of Action on April 14, 2007 in St. Paul. People signed on to support two goals:
1.) For decision-makers to pursue strong global warming solutions in Minnesota to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 90% by the year 2050
2.) A commitment to reducing one's individual "carbon footprint" through personal action such as riding a bike a few times a week instead of driving, or to use more energy efficient appliances.