| Yep - on November 4th, 2008, now-President Obama won in each and every Minneapolis precinct; in some precincts taking over 87.6% of the vote. Clearly, Minneapolis' citizens voted overwhelmingly for President Obama and his plans. A key campaign platform was called New Energy For America. A key plank in that platform was President Obama's call for 10 percent of our electricity production from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025. If that "25 by 2025" sounds familiar, here in Minnesota, it's because it is - and we'll get to that later. For now, I'm going to talk about how the Crown Hydro project is a perfect example of what President Obama is looking for when he's talking about in his energy plan.
According to the International Hydropower Association, "Hydropower currently
offsets 2.1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. If developed, the remaining realistic hydropower potential would offset a further 7 billion tonnes.
Year after year, this would be equivalent to saving:
• some 37% of current total world emissions, or
• three times the annual emissions of all cars on the planet."
Let's look at how the Crown Hydro Project fits in: |
| The first thing to remember, is that most hydro projects are big - really, Really, REALLY big. Think "Hoover Dam" big. To get to the potential that the International Hydropower Association thinks possible, means more Hoover Dams, which are what's called "hydro with resevoir" - which is NOT what Crown Hydro is. What Crown Hydro is, is a small, unobtrusive, "run of river" project, that utilizes through diversion the natural flow of water and existing elevation drop to generate clean, renewable energy - which is exactly what candidate Obama called for while running, and is still calling for as President.
It's also the exact type of hydropower project that was at the core of what caused the City Of Minneapolis to be built; the type of power project that caused Minneapolis to be called The Mill City. Anybody remember the Minneapolis Millers, and Willie Mays? Bonus points for those that remember the year Willie played here, but: that's a tangent. What you can also remember, is this project will re-use existing limestone tunnels that helped power the flour industry decades ago. In a few, short words: this project fits.
The proposed Crown Hydro project is a $20 million hydro diversion project that provides 100% clean renewable energy without any taxpayer investment and could provide the Minneapolis Park Board with a revenue source for a long, long time. It's a project that does NOT require federal or state or county or city tax dollars to proceed; is NOT waiting for a stimulus bill to be signed before construction can proceed; and will produce union construction jobs.
So, what's not to like about this project? Well, over on Democratic Underground, so far the main argument against the project is that the developer has terrible taste in women. We'll get to that subject, later. For now, let's consider what President Obama said, at his Inaugural Address:
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics. (President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address)
Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a call to action in these words. The stale political argument that some have used, such as that post at Democratic Underground, is that the developer dared to host a fundraiser for a republican so therefore he is unworthy of park board support, is over. The question isn't is the developer a Republican; the question is the project worthy. With a decades old energy crisis threatening national security, each and every green energy project deserves complete and thorough consideration, regardless of the developer's political affiliation.
With President Obama's call for 10% of electricity generated by clean and renewable sources by 2012, and 25% by 2025, Crown Hydro's developer should not continue to be dragged through the mud to be crucified on the altar of partisan politics.
After all, if President Obama can appoint three republicans to his cabinet, the Minneapolis Park Board should be able to approve a republican developer's project, if it fits in with President Obama's Energy Policy goals.
Shouldn't they? |
