All posts in the topic Midtown EcoEnergy (Short link)
Summary
- There are 18 posts — by 10 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Carol Greenwood at Jun 15 19:34 UTC
Radio alert
Air America Radio MN, 950 AM, Mark Heaney will be interviewing David
Morris re this sometime between 5:00 and 7:00.
Listen Listen Listen.
Carol Greenwood
Sheldon Mains, SNG Board Chair, has suggested that, due to time
pressures, it would be acceptable to submit this motion by e-mail to the
SNG mailing list
(or anybody else in the neighborhood, really, who wants to promote or
discourage it, since committee membership is open to anyone who lives or
works in the
neighborhood and attends committee meetiings or wants to be involved at
some level).
The Motion Is:
It is moved that the SNG Board draft and sign a letter urging
the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff and citizen board require
that, at minimum,
Kandiyohi Partners produce an Environmental Assessment Worksheet that
would provide information about potential broader community impacts of
their project, the
Midtown EcoEnergy biomass burn plant.
Please indicate if you *support* this motion or *would not support* it.
I'll tabulate and submit numbers to Sheldon for the board's consideration.
Carol
I think this is a great idea. Comments to the MPCA are due Jan 14, as I recall. Does the SNG Board meet before then? Cam > Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2008 14:15:17 -0600> From: <email obscured>> To: <email obscured>> Subject: Re: [Seward] Midtown EcoEnergy> CC: <email obscured>> > I support the motion.> > Do we need addresses to make this official?> > Peter> > On Jan 1, 2008 12:40 PM, Carol Greenwood <<email obscured>> wrote:> > Sheldon Mains, SNG Board Chair, has suggested that, due to time> > pressures, it would be acceptable to submit this motion by e-mail to the> > SNG mailing list> > (or anybody else in the neighborhood, really, who wants to promote or> > discourage it, since committee membership is open to anyone who lives or> > works in the> > neighborhood and attends committee meetiings or wants to be involved at> > some level).> >> > The Motion Is:> > It is moved that the SNG Board draft and sign a letter urging> > the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff and citizen board require> > that, at minimum,> > Kandiyohi Partners produce an Environmental Assessment Worksheet that> > would provide information about potential broader community impacts of> > their project, the> > Midtown EcoEnergy biomass burn plant.> >> > Please indicate if you *support* this motion or *would not support* it.> > I'll tabulate and submit numbers to Sheldon for the board's consideration.> > Carol> >> > > > -- > Peter Fleck> Blog: http://www.pfhyper.com/blog> Twitter: http://twitter.com/pfhyper> <email obscured>> > Peter Fleck> Seward, Minneapolis> Info about Peter Fleck: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/peterfleck> > This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/5cHcqAqJoreaXFeerAxJTx>
I support this motion. Jim Scheidt Seward resident **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)
The SNG board's December meeting was postponed for the holidays. It
was to be last Wednesday (Dec. 26), but instead it's tomorrow,
Wednesday, Jan. 2. As usual, it's at 7 pm in the Seward Towers East
building, 2910 E Franklin Ave., and is open to all who are interested.
Hal
Hal Johnson
2625 E. 24th St.
SNG board member
The next Seward Neighborhood Group meeting is this Wednesday, January 2 at 7 PM at the Seward East Tower Advantage Center (2nd Floor). Enter from the parking lot and take a sharp left, through the door, through the next door on your left and up the stairs (an elevator is available--it is accessible). sheldon ................................ Sheldon Mains, Chair Seward Neighborhood Group http://www.sng.org 612-618-7149, <email obscured>
Dear Folks,
I support the motion. As a father of 4 and 6 year old girls I am concerned
about the high rates of asthma in the city. Increased asthma rates have
been directly linked to poor air quality.
Thank you,
Eric Berger
2553 35th Ave. S.
Check out this article in the Twin Cities Daily Planet, that details shenanigans by participants in the empowerment zone funding process. Dan Gordon has done an outstanding job (and thanks to his editor Mary Turck for facilitating this series) in digging into the dark corners of funding machinations for Midtown Eco Energy. Go to http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/02/02/public-money-private-business-empowerment-zone-bonding-former-directors-project.h to read "Public money for private business: Empowerment Zone bonding for former director's project" By Dan Gordon , TC Daily Planet February 12, 2008 “There’s something about it that just doesn’t smell right.” .... Mayor R.T. Rybak has asked for the public's opinion about this. Contact him at <email obscured> Carol Greenwood
Thanks for passing this along, Carol. This is good and much needed reporting on the issue. Nice job, TC Daily Planet for picking up the story in a way others news sources have not. I'm relieved to know Councilor Gordon is finally expressing clear skepticism on the project. Hopefully they'll kill this thing in March. Then we can start a new discussion about uses for the site, less biased by people with clear conflicts of interest. Becca Vargo Daggett <email obscured> 763.656.3982 Sent with my iPhone (please excuse any typos) On Feb 13, 2008, at 3:32 PM, Carol Greenwood <<email obscured>> wrote: > Check out this article in the Twin Cities Daily Planet, that details > shenanigans by participants in > the empowerment zone funding process. Dan Gordon has done an > outstanding > job (and thanks > to his editor Mary Turck for facilitating this series) in digging into > the dark corners of funding > machinations for Midtown Eco Energy. Go to > http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/02/02/public-money-private-business-empowerment-zone-bonding-former-directors-project.h
For those of you who are still tracking this issue, the Standish Ericsson neighborhood, which surrounds Lakes Hiawatha and Nokomis, has officially weighed in on the Midtown EcoEnergy incinerator proposal. After hearing the concerns of neighbors and watching a presentation by the Midtown EcoEnergy developers, the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association (SENA) has come out in opposition to the burner. The SENA Board cited pollution concerns, the apparent lack of available clean fuel, and concerns about an overall deterioration of our neighborhoods, saying the facility would be "a step backwards." My blog has a link to the actual letter: http://burnerinfo.blogspot.com - Dan Cooke
March 25 Bridge article
*East Phillips withdraws biomass support*
A required ‘good neighbor agreement’ for a proposed Phillips biomass
project has fallen apart, putting the future of the project in question.
A unanimous vote this week by the general membership of the East
Phillips Improvement Coalition follows a similar vote by the EPIC board
in December to withdraw support for the wood-burning power plant. The
agreement with Kandiyohi Development Partners was one of many
requirements for a city land sale. The neighborhood originally entered
into the agreement in 2005.
In a statement explaining the reversal, Carol Pass, EPIC board president
said, “This neighborhood already is host to two asphalt plants, a
foundry, a superfund site and serious lead issues. The neighborhood’s
willingness and ability to absorb more was extremely stretched.”
Council Member Gary Schiff says he will not support the extension of a
March 30th project deadline. “The city required a good neighbor
agreement for a reason. We are not going to force a project with
environmental impacts in a neighborhood where it isn’t wanted.”
Negotiations to convert a former incinerator into a biomass energy and
district heating facility began with the Green Institute in 2004. After
competition emerged to develop the site, the city issued a request for
proposals and awarded the rights to Kandiyohi Development, the only
company that responded. Seventy-eight million dollars in Empowerment
Zone bonds were issued in the fall of 2006, and have since expired. A
power purchase agreement with Xcel Energy, plus financing commitments
must be in place by the March deadline.
In case you missed the Strib article...
Knight Ridder/Tribune 03/25/2008 4:09 AM ET
Small step forward for wood-burning plant [Star Tribune, Minneapolis]
Wood-burning plant embroiled in politics [Star Tribune, Minneapolis]
by Steve Brandt
Mar. 25--Minneapolis officials are poring over a developer's claim that
it has met conditions to exercise an option to buy a city site for a
wood-burning power plant in the East Phillips neighborhood.
Kandiyohi Development Partners asserted to the city in a letter received
Friday that it has the necessary commitment from Xcel Energy to buy the
plant's power, one of the city's conditions for selling its land.
That's an abrupt change of stance in a week. Kandiyohi earlier asked the
city to extend its March 30 deadline for exercising the option.
Kandiyohi's chances appear to hinge on whether it has "a commitment to
enter into a power purchase agreement" subject to reasonable conditions,
as required by the option agreement. "By no means is it an ironclad
agreement," said burner opponent Jullonne Glad.
In a letter last week, Xcel acknowledged that it is negotiating with
Kandiyohi. But the utility's commitment contains a big if -- if the
developer and the utility reach an agreement. If so, Xcel said it will
seek necessary management and regulatory approvals.
"We are negotiating with them," said Xcel spokeswoman Mary Sandok.
Greg Goeke, who is managing the land sale for the city, said city
officials will decide "in a day or two" whether the developer has met
option conditions. Kandiyohi tried last July to exercise the option, but
the city said it hadn't made enough progress on the power sales agreement.
Kandiyohi said in the letter that it has exercised its option, sending
the city a $50,000 check due. If the city agrees that Midtown has met
all option conditions, it still must meet stiffer conditions to close on
the land by the Oct. 2 deadline.
By then, the option agreement requires that Kandiyohi have all necessary
government approvals, including a state emissions permit; demonstrate
financing commitments, which it has obtained from Piper Jaffray;
negotiate a neighborhood agreement, and have a signed power sales agreement.
Steve Brandt --612-673-4438
*Another Steve Brandt article.
Midtown burner project hits a snag with the city *
STEVE BRANDT, Star Tribune
Minneapolis officials have told the developer of a proposed wood-burning
power plant that it hasn't met a key condition for buying city land for
the project.
Midtown Eco Energy was told Wednesday that city officials feel it lacks
a commitment from a utility to buy the project's electricity. That's
required in the option agreement for the land.
The move leaves up in the air the developer's ability to purchase the
site at 2850 20th Av. S., now serving as a city garbage-handling station.
Midtown said in a statement that it is disappointed by the delay. "We
will continue our discussions with the city, and hope the matter is
resolved as quickly and judiciously as possible," the statement said.
The option agreement requires Midtown to meet city conditions by Sunday.
Midtown earlier asked to extend that option deadline by five months, but
withdrew the request and asserted that it had met all option conditions.
But the city determined that a letter dated last week from Xcel Energy
said only that negotiations were underway to sell the project's power to
Xcel, without any tentative commitment. The city also wants a commitment
from a higher-level Xcel official.
One thing that's certain is that the council couldn't grant an extension
by Sunday. That raises the question of whether there's support on the
council for granting a new option.
Opinion in neighborhoods around the controversial project appears to
have shifted against the project since it moved from the nonprofit Green
Institute to for-profit Kandiyohi Development Partners, the politically
connected group behind Midtown. Opposition also developed on
environmental grounds.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Senate's omnibus environmental bill would
require the project to hire 35 percent of its workforce from nearby,
require advanced diesel emission controls on trucks hauling wood to the
burner, and mandate quarterly reporting of plant pollutants to
neighborhoods.
Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438
March 28, 2008
Minneapolis “Midtown burner” plan could go up insmoke
by Burl Gilyard <mailto:<email obscured>>Staff Writer
for Finance & Commerce
*Burl Gilyard*, real estate/retail writer
Burl joined Finance & Commerce in April 2004 after working as a staff
writer for City Pages, Corporate Report magazine and the Twin Cities
Reader. As a freelancer, he has written for numerous regional magazines
and The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Rolling Stone, Slate.com
and American Journalism Review. A Minneapolis native and a graduate of
the University of Minnesota, Burl lives in Minneapolis with his wife,
Nicole Cina.
<email obscured>
<mailto:<email obscured>>
*$92 million proposal may be dead as the developer and the cityfight
over why it hasn’t happened*
Michael Krause has long been promoting a wood-burning power plant in
South Minneapolis, and his development idea is known as the Midtown
EcoEnergy facility.
But today, Krause is feeling burned up.
So,too, are officials for city of Minneapolis, which owns the
1.6-acresite where the plant would be built, home to a still-in-use
garbage transfer station.
And the councilmember for the Midtown area, Gary Schiff, doesn’t want to
spend any more time on the project.
In fact, Krause, a principal with Minneapolis-based Kandiyohi
Development Partners, said that his firm is weighing legal action
against the city. Kandiyohi has a contract to purchase the city-owned
garbage transfer station at 2850 20th Avenue S. for the $92 million
project.But the contract requires Kandiyohi to meet a list of option
requirements before a looming March 30 deadline.
City staffers don’t believe that Kandiyohi has met all of
theconditions. GregGoeke, director of property services for the
city’s Department of Public Works, sent a certified letter to the
developers on Wednesday,outlining the city’s concern that Kandiyohi
has no deal in hand from a utility to buy the power generated at the
proposed plant. A separate,internal city memo noted that the city
does not believe that Kandiyohi has secured financing for the project.
“[The letter] came as a surprise. We clearly think we’ve met all
therequirements for the option,” Krause said. In response, Krause
said that his firm is considering suing the city. “Yes. If we need
to,” Krause said of potential legal action. “And Ithink that’s clear
to everybody.” City representatives met with the Kandiyohi team on
Thursday to discuss the project’s status. “Weare continuing to work
and communicate with the developer, but the power purchase agreement
requirement hasn’t yet been met,” said Matt Laible, a spokesman for
the city.
Krause said that Kandiyohi believes it has demonstrated that
XcelEnergy is interested in the project. AMarch 17 letter from Xcel
Energy to Kandiyohi acknowledges that the utility is “negotiating
the terms of a power purchase agreement” at the site, but makes it
clear that there is no definitive agreement yet. Xcel spokeswoman
Mary Sandok declined to comment beyond the letter.
CouncilmemberSchiff, who has supported the project in the past, has
become frustrated with the protracted project. The Midtown Eco
Energy site is in Schiff’s Ninth Ward. “They have not made progress
on numerous points — we basically have had no communication or
progress from them since August,” Schiff said. “They’re stuck in the
water, and I don’t think we should be spending more time on it.”
Schiffnoted that the developers were already granted a one-year
extension on the deal to buy the site, an extension that expires on
Sunday.
In a March 2007 letter to the city requesting the extension,
Kandiyohi principal Kim Havey wrote, “The primary necessity of the
extension is that power purchase negotiations entail a great deal of
time and their conclusion is not on any predetermined schedule.”
A year later, Kandiyohi still does not have a deal. Plansfor the
long-gestating project date back to 2001, when the nonprofit Green
Institute first floated the idea. Krause was then executive director
of the Green Institute. He later left the Green Institute and formed
the private Kandiyohi, which took over the burner project and bought
the Green Institute’s research.
The city ofMinneapolis issued an RFP (request for proposals) in the
spring of 2006 to sell the transfer station property and develop a
biomass plant. The city drew a single response: from Kandiyohi.
Kandiyohi’s plan calls for a 24.5-megawatt facility that would
generate both electricity and heat. The primary fuel source would be
wood, but a past Kandiyohi submission to the city also mentioned
agricultural byproducts such as cornstalks and corn cobs.
Although the biomass project is touted as eco-friendly, an ad hoc
coalition of neighbors, MinneapolisResidents for Clean Air, is
organizing against the project. JullonneGlad, a member of the group,
said that neighbors are concerned about the potential environmental
impact of the power plant. “That area is saturated already, and my
concern is the cumulative toxicity. The reason people live there is
they don’t have the means to live elsewhere,” Glad said. “We do not
feel that our interests and our concerns have been taken into account.”
Krause said that Kandiyohi has been judicious in its environmental
review of the project. “The neighborhood does not have a veto over
this project,” Krause said.“We’ve looked at absolutely every detail.”
Two other as-yet unresolved issues for the project are state
environmentalreview and the status of federal production tax credits.
TheMinnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is currently reviewing
Kandiyohi’s submitted environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) on
the project, which developers submitted in January.
Kevin Kain, an MPCA project manager, said that the MPCA is waiting
for some additional information on air emissions from Kandiyohi. He
estimates the proposals will be ready for a public comment period in
May. Kain said the comment period should last 45 days, after which
the MPCAwould review the comments and make its findings.
Federalproduction tax credits, a financing tool widely used by
renewableenergy developers, are currently set to expire at the end
of the year. “It’s become a political football,” Krause said of
prospects for extending the tax credits.
But those issues are moot if Kandiyohi doesn’t have a site to develop.
Nevertheless,the project still has political support. Jeremy Hanson,
spokesman forMinneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, said Thursday that Rybak
remains a supporter of the plan. “Mayor Rybak continues to support
the Midtown energy project and thinks it’s going to create a good
source of alternative energy to help us address global climate
change and will provide great jobs in an area of the city that’s
very important,”Hanson said.
The latest is that Kandiyohi Partners will be seeking another site, probably in Southeast Minneapolis or in St. Paul just across Hwy 280. Please not that they had to got to a PR firm to get formulate their position so as to put themselves in the most blame-avoidant and favorable light possible. PSBPR is Padilla Spears Beardsley at http://psbpr.com/. According to Corcoran resident and Green Party Activist Dave Bicking, ".... here's what Padilla Speer Beardsley can do for your company when you are looking for governmental action in your favor: "If your organization's success depends on winning public support and influencing publicpolicy, depend on Padilla Speer Beardsley's experienced public-affairs specialists. We combine cutting-edge research techniques with public-affairs know-how to identify attitudes and messages most likely to determine the outcome of controversial issues. We help clients use that knowledge to win the support of voters, regulators and policymakers." And: "when your success depends on a yes or no vote, our public affairs team can identify the attitudes and messages most likely to determine your success, and in turn, apply them to win the support of voters, regulators and policymakers." I thought that decisions were supposed to be based on facts, including potential outcomes and their probability, rather than just "messages". Oh, well. Carol Greenwood <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MplsCleanAir;_ylc=X3oDMTJmM2RwdGUwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIxNTAxMDcwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDIzMARzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzEyMTMxMzAwNzg-> >>> "Olby, Katie" <<email obscured>> 6/6/2008 3:58 PM >>> Midtown Eco Energy To Cease Pursuit of South Transfer Station Site Developer, City and Others to Partner on Alternatives MINNEAPOLIS, June 6, 2008 - Midtown Eco Energy (MEE), a project of Kandiyohi Development Partners (KDP), today announced that in light of City of Minneapolis promises to work in good faith with MEE to locate an alternative site for a renewable energy facility, MEE will not seek to locate the facility at the South Transfer Station, the location which was previously being considered. Midtown Eco Energy investors and managers indicated that they will continue to explore renewable energy alternatives in Minneapolis and beyond. The City had originally issued a specific RFP for a biomass combined heat and power (CHP) facility at the South Transfer Station location. The RFP was awarded to KDP in 2006. In addition to returning the site to the property tax rolls and creating good paying permanent jobs, MEE was committed to extensive pollution remediation of the garbage transfer station as part of the renewable energy project. More than $2 million has been invested in engineering, site plans, and environmental and city permitting. Working with a wide array of nationally and internationally respected and experienced project engineers, architects and consultants, MEE cleared numerous regulatory hurdles and resolved many of the technical and environmental issues associated with this site as the company prepared for construction start-up. However, the existing health and environmental challenges faced by the surrounding diverse community were not fully known at the outset, and so could not be addressed in the initial months of project development. In addition, some city leaders and Public Works officials recently indicated an unwillingness to sell the garbage transfer station citing that its current use is sound. Unfortunately, much of the effort put into MEE will have to start anew at another location or with another approach. KDP believes these investments could have been better made had there been more information and clarity from the MPCA and City at the early stages of the project, especially regarding the environmental challenges in the neighborhood. With this information now firmly in hand, KDP can emerge from this as a company highly sensitive to the human element in this type of development while maintaining the most imaginative, innovative and successful practices in meeting the need for renewable energy. "We are responding to the concerns raised by the Phillips community regarding the impacts of decades of environmental and land use policies of the City and MPCA on air and land pollution," said Craig Wilson, a KDP principal. "The incredible eco-friendly opportunity to bring green-collar jobs and renewable energy to the right community remains tremendously attractive, and will remain a top priority for our firm." To meet State goals for renewable energy, regulatory reform, timeliness and environmental justice clarity at the City and State level must occur now so that entrepreneurs and residents are better informed about where and where not to develop new energy resources. Working closely with local groups, KDP has every intention to be a good neighbor and to bring a sustainable energy future to the people of Minnesota, accountable to their needs and uplifting of their future For more information, please contact Sheri Hansen at 612-455-1707 or <email obscured>.
Keep in mind that we are downwind from the Southeast Minneapolis Industrial area (see below). Carol Greenwood This is a letter from Paula Connell, the PCA coordinator for the Midtown Project. I'm sure you've already heard, but I thought I'd notify you officially that Kandiyohi has withdrawn their Midtown Eco Energy project; therefore, we will no longer be working onthe environmental review, air permit or request for contested case hearing. We heard from them earlier this week. I've already contacted Nancy Hone and Carol Pass and told them the same thing. We will also be sending out a very short letter to everyone on our mailing list telling them this too. Paula J. Connell, P.E. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Rd St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 282-2605 fax (651) 296-8717 *This is an excellent article published in the Minnesota Independent (formerly Minnesota Monitor) by Chris Stellar, formerly the editor for the bridge. Thanks, Chris.* Wood-burning power plant seeks new Minneapolis home </article/2008/06/10/city-hall-monitor-wood-burning-power-plant-seeks-new-minneapolis-home.html#comments>Print this page </article/2008/06/10/city-hall-monitor-wood-burning-power-plant-seeks-new-minneapolis-home.html&print=1> Reprint rights </article/2008/06/10/city-hall-monitor-wood-burning-power-plant-seeks-new-minneapolis-home.html&reprint=true> By Chris Steller , Minnesota Independent <http://minnesotaindependent.com/> June 13, 2008 A weekend report that developers of the proposed Midtown Eco-Energy power plant had given up on putting a wood-burning power plant in the East Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis raised cheers among neighbors whose initial approval had turned to opposition. But the story’s suggestion that the project might move to southeast Minneapolis raised eyebrows and hackles among residents there, who stand ready to raise hell if the idea proves more than a passing thought. <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com> * Minnesota Monitor is now The Minnesota Independent <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4222> * Video: O'Reilly Factor ambush on Moyers backfires at media conference <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4221> * Franken wins DFL endorsement <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4220> * DFL Convention: Let the balloting begin! <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4219> * DFL convention: Franken v. Nelson-Pallmeyer <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4218> * Lowe's ads get OK in Minneapolis parks <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4217> * Howard Dean addresses DFL convention <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4215> * Klobuchar on Franken <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4216> * Senate committee: Bush misled public on Iraq intelligence <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4214> * North Dakota is the Saudi Arabia of... oil <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4213> * The Uptake's update <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4212> * Friday Financials: How to put you money where your mouth is. Literally. <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4211> * Media Monitor: Ask a 'stupid' question... <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4210> * You don't know Jack: Can Nelson-Pallmeyer beat Franken for the DFL nomination? <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4209> * U of M grain disease research threatened by U.S. ag policies <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4208> * Convenient: RNC's Obama attack ignores convention planner's own Rezko baggage <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4207> * Religious rights or classroom disruption? Student sues over anti-abortion shirts <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4206> * Campaign songs: The good, the bad, and the ABBA <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4202> * VP or not VP: Pawlenty raises his national profile <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4205> * Central Corridor rail: Traffic, parking a game of inches <http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4204> Steve Brandt’s Saturday Star Tribune story cited City Council Member Gary Schiff as saying Kandiyohi Development Partners had suggested the Southeast Minneapolis Industrial (SEMI) area as a new site for the burner. That was after the developers announced they were throwing in the towel on a city-owned site in the East Phillips neighborhood. The proposal there had drawn neighborhood opposition as well as a new bill that Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law targeting the project for special state studies on cumulative effects of pollution. But by suggesting a new site in southeast Minneapolis, developers stumbled into a place where one cumulative effect of decades of pollution is organized opposition to more of it. The Prospect Park neighborhood has weathered many long struggles with polluters, including a battle with the American Can Co. that ended in one of the city’s earliest Good Neighbor agreements between residents and industry. Nearby, the Southeast Como neighborhood has had its own environmental coordinator, Justin Eibenholtzl, on staff for seven years. Over that time Eibenholtzl set up an online inventory of industrial sites, helped lead the successful effort to get Xcel Energy to switch from coal to gas at its Twin Cities riverside plants, and recently snagged a McKnight Foundation grant to establish Como as a “Green Village“—a plan Kandiyohi’s project would be at odds with. It wouldn’t fit the city’s plan for the SEMI area (PDF, 6.8 MB) either, according to Jim Forsyth, senior project coordinator at Community Planning and Economic Development Department (CPED). SEMI also lacks city-owned property that might make it a match for the East Phillips site. Both sites do, however, lie within the city’s Empowerment Zone, a federal job-growing program that Kandiyohi’s Kim Havey once led for the city. Havey’s ties to Minneapolis government, as well as those of Kandiyohi principal Michael Krause (a former city planning commissioner) and investor Lisa Goodman (a current City Council member), led to media reports (Daily Planet, Strib)that in turn led the city to look for gaps in its ethics policy. The latest news of the project’s potential relocation took residents by surprise. “People will get fired up,” promised Eibenholtzl, a veteran environmental battler who said keeping Kandiyohi out of SEMI is one fight he hopes will go away on its own. “I hope this [project] will die its 1001st death,” he said. In an interview today, Schiff told Minnesota Independent he wouldn’t support a SEMI location. City Council Member Scott Benson, who also attended Kandiyohi’s Friday meeting with Schiff, told the Minnesota Independent on Monday that the way he remembered it, SEMI came up in conversation as containing land with the increasingly rare industrial “I-3” city zoning, but he downplayed the significance of its mention and denied that the city was offering new sites as a quid pro quo for Kandiyohi dropping the Midtown plan. The meeting, Benson said he gathered, is one of a series Kandiyohi has set up with City Council members. Kandiyohi didn’t return a request for comment for this story.