by Marya Hart
Campaign teams advocate for legislative change on environmental issues.
Stop Line 3
The Stop Line 3 team has been busy working with coalition partners on a successful webinar with over 250 people in attendance. They are continuing to pressure the PCA to uphold Minnesota's water standards and reject Enbridge's water crossing permit applications. Members are also working to circulate a faith leaders' petition to lawmakers.
Zero Waste Task Force
The Zero Waste Task Force has initiated a project to get the city of Minneapolis designated as a fair trade town, in cooperation with Fair Trade Campaigns. Fair Trade Campaigns was developed "because the products we buy and sell are connected to the livelihoods of others." Their goal is to support responsible companies, empower farmers and workers, and protect the environment. Campaign principles include environmental sustainability, ethical production methods, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
Clean Energy
Xcel Energy is coming out with a draft of its Integrated Resource Plan, in which it proposes its timeline and approach to achieving 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. The Clean Energy team has two concerns: Xcel is proposing to build a new gas-fired plant and to extend the life of a nuclear power plant.
Once the plan is released, Xcel and the Public Utilities Committee will accept comments, both in writing and in person. The legislature, as of this writing, is doing nothing after its special session (where they didn’t do anything either). As team member John Krenn pointed out, “It would be much better if the state could act instead of doing nothing."
Land Use and Transportation
This summer is staying hot, and so is LUT’s pursuit of clean, equitable transportation. The team is still pressing elected officials to grant funding for transit, reform the transit fare system, and enact land value tax legislation to encourage city spaces to be more efficiently used for housing and services, not parking lots.
In Minneapolis, you may have noticed that many parkways are now open to cars again. If you enjoyed safely and freely walking and biking the parkways, please text your thoughts to 612-712-2827. Your suggestions will be considered for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's 2021 comprehensive plan, which will include long-term solutions and planning for the next decade.