Minnesota
Expanding Solar Energy Opportunities
Protecting Minnesota’s Wild and Scenic Rivers
Minneapolis-Saint Paul is among the ten major metropolitan areas within a 400-mile radius of Chicago primed to benefit from the advent of a Midwest high speed rail network. A regional high speed rail network would significantly reduce traffic congestion, travel time, air pollution, and urban sprawl. And at 10% of the cost of constructing new highways, a high speed rail network with its hub in Chicago just makes sense. ELPC is working to develop a Midwest high speed rail network that will be good for the environment, create jobs and spur economic development. The high speed rail network would provide fast, modern, comfortable, and convenient new transportation options and will reduce our reliance on auto and air travel.
Expanding Solar Energy Opportunities
ELPC is working on third-party ownership, net metering expansion and interconnection standards improvement. We are also interested in exploring opportunities for community solar program development at rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities across the Midwest region.
Protecting Minnesota’s Wild and Scenic Rivers
ELPC and local allies are opposed to a massive new bridge that will cross the Lower St. Croix River at the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. In 2010, we won a U.S. District Court decision that led to a determination by the National Park Service that massive bridges should not be built across rivers with a Wild and Scenic River designation — an important protection for our most treasured rivers. But in March 2011, Congress and the President signed legislation allowing the bridge to move forward. ELPC and our local allies are working together to determine potential next steps.