More than two dozen students and other concerned citizens downwind and downstream from the proposed Big Stone II coal fired power plant are traveling to St. Paul on Tuesday June 3 to express their support for a recent Administrative Law Judge ruling stating that the controversial plant is not needed and is inconsistent with Minnesota’s Renewable Energy Laws. Final oral arguments are being heard tomorrow, June 3 starting at 9:30 a.m. in downtown St. Paul in Suite 350 of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) offices at 121 7th Place East. The students will arrive at the PUC offices at around 9:00 a.m. and will be available for interviews. Many of the students on the bus have been studying and advocating for renewable energy for the past several years. The students are looking forward to employment opportunities with western Minnesota's burgeoning renewable energy industry and the Upper Minnesota River based recreation and tourism economy. They are concerned about continued mercury emissions and Minnesota River water draw down issues as well as the global warming impacts of the proposed plant. They believe that the plant poses a threat to the Upper Minnesota River environment and that it will divert needed capital away from investment in a distributed renewable energy system that would benefit the farms and small communities of western Minnesota. In March of 2008 the students met with Governor Pawlenty’s staff Joshua Gackle to discuss their concerns about the Big Stone II plant. They created a short and informative You Tube video about their meeting with the Governor’s staff that can be viewed on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0n6qPLIag8. A You Tube music video of the students attending the ALJ hearing in Ortonville in January 2008 can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oA-hY-na5g After hearing the final arguments on Tuesday, the PUC will hold private deliberations on Wednesday June 4th. They will reconvene in public Thursday June 5 to make their final decision on whether or not to grant the Big Stone II partners permission to build power lines into Minnesota from the proposed plant. For more information call Patrick Moore 320-841-1487 or Brooke Herling 651-341-2984 | 
