Crown Hydro - Senate Republicans Introduce Partisan Big Government Bill
Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 8:00AMThe Senate will hold it's first hearing today on it's party-line version of a bill ordering the Minneapolis Park Board to practically give away Mill Ruins Park near St. Anthony Falls to a private developer. The Bill has only 3 authors, all Republican.
Providing an exception to the municipal approval requirement for a hydroelectric facility (Crown Hydro) meeting a certain definition of an eligible energy technology and with a license granted under federal regulation; prohibiting the commissioner of revenue and management and budget (MMB) from disbursing funds to the Minneapolis park and recreation board until board approval under federal regulation for a hydroelectric facility
Interestingly, the bill contains no requirements for Crown Hydro to meet any regulations or oversight at the State or Local level. Seems like a blank slate for Crown Hydro to do whatever they like to the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls and the National Historic Parkland they want given to them.
Every local government body, every Historical & Preservation orgainization, and every local and state environmental organization has come out strongly against this project. Yet the Republicans in the House and Senate want Big Government to take away the birthplace of our city and give it to a Michelle Bachmann supporting developer to do God knows what. God knows what, because Crown Hydro's position is that they can't give any assurances on the impact of their plans until they have control of the land (more on this in an upcoming article) - "Just trust us" in other words.
More information on this bill:
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=Senate&f=SF1191&ssn=0&y=2011&ls=87
For more information on what you can do to stop this ill-conceived land grab, go here...
http://millcitytimes.com/minneapolis-riverfront-news/crown-hydro-important-park-board-meeting-tonight.html
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