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Environmentalists protest Otter Tail plant
Published Monday, April 14, 2008
Photo by Zak Holtan
A man who identified himself only as Mr. Otter protests outside the Otter Tail Corporation annual meeting this morning.
Representatives from local tribal and environmental groups gathered at this morning’s annual meeting of Otter Tail Corporation shareholders to voice opposition to the Big Stone II project.
As shareholders filed into the Bigwood Event Center for the start of the 10 a.m. meeting, opponents of the project met in a Center conference room nearby to share their concerns.
Cesia Kearns spoke on behalf of the Sierra Club’s National Coal Campaign. Coal, she said, is not only increasingly expensive but a major obstacle to Minnesota’s clean air standards. The state is already dependent on coal, she said, and as with any business venture, Otter Tail Corp. should diversify its energy systems — meaning greater use of wind and solar resources.
“We’re asking that Otter Tail Corp. step away from Big Stone II, a risky project,” Kearns said.
Peggy Peters is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton tribe and part of the group’s environmental protection council. She said a major concern for the tribe is the lack of communication from Otter Tail Corp. at the start of the project.
“As a sovereign nation, we had expected to be consulted,” she said. “We weren’t approached and because we hadn’t given them a formal declaration of opposition, there was some misspeaking” that suggested Sisseton Wahpeton was not opposed to the project.
This could not be farther from the truth, Peters said.
“Right now (tribal leaders) are currently going over an official opposition letter,” she said.
Both Kearns and Peters stressed their presence at the meeting was simply to get their messages across.
“We’re not coming here to point fingers,” Peters said. “We want to say in a peaceful manner that we want to work together to provide renewable energy.”
“They have a right to express their opinion and we respect that,” said Cris Kling, Director of Public Relations for Otter Tail Power. “It’s one of the neat things about living in this country.”
Opponents of the project had planned to present shareholders with a gift basket at the start of today’s meeting, emphasizing clean energy sources.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by melindakay (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's one of the "neat things," Cris? You are the director of public relations for the company, and that's the best you can come up with? How patronizing and juvenile.
Posted by Stonewall (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As public relations director for Otter Tail Power, Cris Kling has to be "politically correct". The protesters, and we as bloggers on this site can say almost what ever we want.
Posted by duke12 (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coal provides 50% of the nation's electricity and employs 80,000 people in the USA. If these wackos succeed in stopping the use of the most plentiful fuel in the United States from being used as a source of energy and electicity they may just freeze in the dark..........
Posted by paultommerdahl (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And pay a TON more for the electricity that we do receive...
Posted by notadrone (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know what I find "patronizing" melindakay?
“As a sovereign nation, we had expected to be consulted,”....
Do I need a passport now to visit Wahpeton?
Posted by Venti (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, heaven forbid we have to start paying enormous amounts of money for our electricity. We might actually have to start thinking about how we use it. Or even (*gasp*) start conserving it. And we all know the world would simply come to a complete halt if the price of gas become essentially unaffordable to most of us. We might actually have to start driving less, maybe even start... WALKING PLACES. Ahhhhh! Or maybe we would be forced to figure out more effective and efficient public tranportation for people and actually use it. Noooooooooooo!!!!!! I'm an American and I need to waste things! And in order for me to continue wasting, the things that I want to waste must be cheap so that my wasteful ways do not impact my wallet! This is the American way and if you don't like it or you don't want to learn our way of life then you can just get out!
Posted by Venti (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How 'bout that for patronizing?
Posted by Venti (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and hey, don't forget to make sure not to vote for a Democrat this fall either cause they'll probably just raise taxes in order to do something stupid like try to actually pay for all the worthless crap we've been spending our money on for the last 8 years. We're Americans! We don't actually have to pay for the things we spend our money on! Isn't that why we invented credit cards??? Duh.
Posted by notadrone (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Venti, those Democrats are just soooo much more in tune with what worthless crap we SHOULD be spending our hard-earned money. I mean, what do us stupid Americans know about spending money wisely? Right?
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 10:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Where there is smoke, there is progress"
They who protest the power plants, should be the first to have their power turned OFF.
Posted by paultommerdahl (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Venti, I'll take your advice and not vote for a democrat this year. I was planning on voting for one, but thanks to your wonderful explanation, I will defect and find someone else to vote for.
On another note, I enjoyed my daily bus ride to work and back. Did you?
Posted by DevoBill (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder how long it took the protesters to walk to Fergus?
How did they know to come to the meeting?
Posted by Venti (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Explanation? I was not aware I had explained anything.
And yes, I enjoy my bus ride or my hour long walk to and from work every single day. Thank you for asking. ;)
I personally plan on voting for Jeb Bush, or possibly one of the Bush daughters this fall. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Right?
Posted by Venti (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mel:
You are definitely correct. They should have their power turned off immediately. Cause we all know that if you are not for power plants, then you are against them.
Am I right? High 5!
Posted by notadrone (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 3:23 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by Venti (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, drone. But technically, that would be considered a low 5.
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