Crown Hydro Makes Another Offer to Park Board from @NHalterJournals #NoCrownHydro

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From Nick Halter at The Journal on April 7:

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board commissioners were greeted at their meeting Wednesday with a surprise: An offer from Crown Hydro to develop a hydroelectric facility on park land next to St. Anthony Falls. 

The offer was not the first from Crown Hydro, but it was substantially less than its previous offer in 2007, which the Park Board voted against pursuing. 

But Crown Hydro may have some added bargaining power this time around. The company’s attorney, Tim Keane, told the Park Board that he is working with state legislators and the governor’s office on a bill that would sidestep the Park Board and allow Crown Hydro to build the dam. 

“It basically directs the Park Board to issue the authorization,” he said in an interview after the meeting.

Many Park Board commissioners are vehemently opposed to the 3.2 megawatt facility, saying it will reduce Upper St. Anthony Falls to a trickle.

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