How is local solar working?

By |

Overall, Minneapolis has more sunny days than Houston, Texas, according to Michael Allen, who owns All Energy Solar. “People don’t believe me when I tell them that, but it’s true.

Continue Reading

Transitioning from dependency

By |

What if we couldn’t rely on world-wide transportation to bring us our food, or fossil fuels for transport and heat? We have the tools right here.Saturday I learned that if I want to try canning, I shouldn’t use recipes that are over 25 years old. I learned about top-lit updraft stoves and “maintaining emotional sobriety in the face of a crisis.” Do what you can, and let go of what you can’t do, said the man who introduced the emotional sobriety topic.At a show-and-tell day meeting, about 20 people interested in the “transition” movement found kindred spirit, detailed examples and a reading list at the Northeast Library Feb. 4 on those topics plus a lot of information about keeping and using what falls on your property. They came from as far away as Buffalo and Saint Paul, thanks to web posting as a meet-up, and local publicity. Continue Reading

OPINION | Renewable energy and health: Me, myself and I

By |

In the continuing debate surrounding how, why, when, where and whether we should move decisively ahead with renewable energy sources, there are just as many reasons raised for opposing wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, biogas and others as there are for supporting them. There is one area, however, that gets swamped under the economic, environmental and political pros and cons of renewable energy in the public debate: Human health. Yet, despite the relative lack of public attention, I find it nearly impossible to build a case against renewables in this regard. If any human being seriously, selfishly and rationally considered what’s in his or her best long-term health interests, renewable energy would be a no-brainer.Let’s consider the three traditional energy sources we use today: Coal, oil and natural gas. When extracted, processed and burned, each of these fossil fuels releases nasty chemicals into our air, water and soil. Continue Reading

Environmental groups sound alarm about nuclear plants

By |

Nearly 4,000 gallons of water containing “small amounts” of tritium and “trace amounts” of other chemicals have been released by Prairie Island nuclear plant since November. The most recent leak happened February 3rd when 27 gallons of water overflowed a holding tank.Mary Sandok, a spokeswoman for the plant, told the Red Wing Republican Eagle that in late November, about 3,900 gallons of water containing small amounts of tritium was released “under similar circumstances.” She said neither release posed a threat to the public or plant employees, and that the amount of tritium in the released water falls below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s limit for safe drinking water. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the most recent spill was so small, the utility wasn’t required to report it.But the advocacy groups Environment Minnesota and the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, or MPIRG, are calling attention to nuclear power in Minnesota, the aging plants that produce it, and their proximity to drinking water.The groups have released a study that claims the drinking water for almost one million people in Minnesota could be at risk of radioactive contamination from a leak or accident at the Prairie Island or Monticello nuclear power plants.MPIRG’s executive director Josh Winters and board chair Natalie Cook talked with KFAI’s Terry Carter who asked them to explain why tritium is a concern. [Audio below] Continue Reading