Imagine for a moment that the wind mills that once powered America’s farms improved and multiplied over the years and were now supplying this nation with their unquestionably-clean energy. Got the picture?

 

Now imagine that someone offered an alternative, “Let us dig this black Montana rock stuff called coal out of the ground and haul it the 900 miles by train and then burn it. The furnace to burn that much will only cost about 1 billion dollars to build but will be able to burn about 300 cars of coal (about 42,000 tons!) each and every day. Great idea, don’t you think?”

 

It would be a terrible idea and unfortunately it is our current reality. But the nation is moving toward a much better idea — including not shutting down Sherco but transitioning it, toward truly clean energy.

 

Jobs? Some existing workers will be retiring anyway during nearly a decade of transition; enjoy. Younger employees can be re-trained for the jobs of their own future.

 

We cannot go on as we have. Will Minnesota be a leader for clean air and modern jobs?

 

In a recent article, Representative Jim Newberger did little to inform, much to mis-inform and I would say, mostly just lobby hard for Xcel and the coal industry; they all want to just keep on burning. So probably, do most other area representatives. Give yours an earful.