Crown Hydro Update for Friday April 29 - NoCrownHydro.org #NoCrownHydro

Mill City Times launched this blog and a Facebook page covering the proposed crown Hydro project, which has once again surfaced over the almost unanimous opposition of elected officials representing Minneapolis as well as river lovers and local residents.

Nick Halter from The Journal broke the story on April 6 with this posting on Twitter -

Whoa! Crown Hydro makes offer to Mpls Park Board to build hydro electric dam at St. Anthony Falls. This is a long, contentious project

Seems the developer ambushed the Park Board with this.

Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman was the first from that body to come out strong against this ill-conceived project -

“It is simply outrageous that the Legislature would even attempt to override the decisions of local government, in this case the Park Board, and compel both the sale of public land and the planning approvals required for a private developer for their private development”

Thank you Council Member!

Coverage since the story broke:

http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?&story=16712&page=65

http://www.mndaily.com/2011/04/14/leg-pushes-hydroelectric-plant

http://www.fmr.org/news/current/crown_hydro_project-2011-04

http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?&story=16774&page=65

http://www.startribune.com/local/120660474.html

Twitter coverage since the story broke:

From @Nick Halter

The "bipartisan" Crown Hydro bill is losing its DFL support. Reps. Nelson, Persell, Koenen and Sens. Metzen and Stumpf no longer authors

Fight over St. Anthony Falls hydroelectric facility flows to the Legislature: http://tinyurl.com/3c6p2z8

Mpls Park Board discussing Crown Hydro proposal Wed. night: http://tinyurl.com/3w48dly

Here's the bill http://tinyurl.com/3w9canp. It has 26 authors, both GOP and DFL. None of them are Mpls legislators.

Crown Hydro wants to build hydroelectric facility at St. Anthony Falls. Park Board commissioners say facility will dry up historic falls

Rep. Beard introduces bill that would cut state aid to Mpls Park Board if the board doesn't give permits to Crown Hydro

Crown Hydro makes another offer to build hydroelectric facility at St. Anthony Falls, this time for much less: http://tinyurl.com/5safryc

Whoa! Crown Hydro makes offer to Mpls Park Board to build hydro electric dam at St. Anthony Falls. This is a long, contentious project

From @garyncarlson

Banaian fiscal note/legislative budget office-light bill laid over. Gov Ops moves to the Crown Hydro bill.

Beard offers amendment to Crown Hydro bill to eliminate references to specific cities & private entities to avoid constitutional problems.

Brian Rice tells committee that the more general Crown Hydro language applies to four Minneapolis hydro facilities.

Craig Johnson-LMC raises concerns on Crown Hydro amendment applying to four first class cities.

Beard says he is encouraged that the Park Board and Crown Hydro are discussing the project.

Scalze raises concerns about local control & possible future efforts by developers to seek similar legislative preemptions of local control.

Greene amendment to require local approval of Crowne Hydro project defeated 6-7.

Greene amendment to Crowne Hydro bill to remove all local control defeated 0-13.

Simon moves to table the Crowne Hydro bill to allow negotiations to continue. Motion fails 6-7.

Beard amendment to the Crowne Hydro bill adopted 7-6. Citizen testifies in opposition to the bill because it usurps local control.

Amended Crowne Hydro bill approved on a 7-6 vote and sent to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Join us on Facebook to voice your opposition, share your opinion, and post any links or information on this topic.  We've set up an easy web address to our Facebook page - http://NoCrownHydro.org and the blog address is http://millcitytimes.com/minneapolis-riverfront-news/ in case you want to share.

We'd love to hear from anyone who'd like to help organize opposition to this taking of parkland.