Biographical Information: Banks earned a graduate degree in environmental health at the University of Minnesota. While earning his degree, he began working part-time for the power plant siting staff of the Environmental Quality Board. After obtaining his degree, he worked as a senior engineer and chief of the section of environmental health impact analysis for the Health Department. He was the author of the health study report on powerline construction. Banks went on to be a research fellow with the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Subjects discussed: Background. Position and responsibilities at the Minnesota Dept. of Health. Involvement with project to study transmission line. CURE (Counties United for a Rural Environment) petition to Environmental Quality Board board. New York Public Service Commission and proceeding over health and safety aspects of two proposed 765 kilovolt AC lines. How health report was developed and its recommendations. Russian studies. AC line vs. DC line. Difficulty in proving health hazards. Role of the state in dealing with line. Possible ways for health dept. to do research on line. Usefulness of science court. How citizens can put pressure on state to bring action against powerline. Media impact. Issues regarding effectiveness of state agencies in responding to public concerns.
Biographical Information: Hartman was a project manager for the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board. He received his undergraduate degree in History and Economics and a master's in Urban and Regional Planning. Prior to working for the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board he worked for Commonwealth Associates in Michigan. Subjects discussed: Background. Role as project manager. Process to submit an application to Minnesota Environmental Quality Board. How process worked with CPA-UPA project. Corridor selection procedure-original process; reason for new procedures; end point and entry point selection; corridor selection. Corridor evaluation committee. Purpose of information hearings. Public hearings-choosing and role of hearing examiner; set up of; structure of; writing of report; missing transcripts. Powerline route-choosing route; opposition to route; reasons for not making I-94 a route; alternative routes. Health and safety issues. Environmental Impact Statement. Future problems in siting powerlines in existing right-of-ways. Public image of agency. Reflections on the controversy and how it was handled. Science court. The construction of the project-involvement of agency; involvement of opposition. West Coast trip. Effectiveness of new siting procedures. Cost of project. How final approval of project is made. Need for line. Criticisms of how agency handled project. Impact of controversy on future powerlines.
Biographical Information: Strand was raised in Cyrus, Minnesota. He was a farmer in Cyrus and was elected to the state Senate in 1976. Subjects discussed: Background. Initial involvement with powerline project. Pope County's involvement. Corridor selection committee-placing of corridor; placing of line within the corridor. Legislature dealing with public input process-lack of substantive changes; public attitudes toward. Running for office. Moratorium. Health and safety issues. DC vs. AC line. State control over line after it is built. Need for line. Impact on future powerlines. Laws of eminent domain. Personal impact of controversy. Effect on people within Strand's district. Disagreement within the community. State troopers. Resignation of Pope County attorney. Predictions on outcome. Role of Governor's Anderson and Perpich. Responsibility to constituents. Legislation and alternative energy sources.
Biographical Information: Strand was raised in Cyrus, Minnesota. He was a farmer in Cyrus and was elected to the state Senate in 1976. Subjects discussed: Background. Initial involvement with powerline project. Pope County's involvement. Corridor selection committee-placing of corridor; placing of line within the corridor. Legislature dealing with public input process-lack of substantive changes; public attitudes toward. Running for office. Moratorium. Health and safety issues. DC vs. AC line. State control over line after it is built. Need for line. Impact on future powerlines. Laws of eminent domain. Personal impact of controversy. Effect on people within Strand's district. Disagreement within the community. State troopers. Resignation of Pope County attorney. Predictions on outcome. Role of Governor's Anderson and Perpich. Responsibility to constituents. Legislation and alternative energy sources.
Biographical Information: Schrom was a native of Albany, Minnesota, where he lived and owned a farm at the time of the interview. In 1970 he was elected to the State Senate. He served on a number of commissions including Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Labor and Commerce. Subjects discussed: Background. Power Plant Siting Act. Why controversy arose. Eminent domain-validity of; use by utilities. Conflict of role as legislator and stance on controversy. Health hazard issues. Tower placement and section lines. Public hearings. Farm bill. Alternatives to line-coal. Future energy needs. Issue over declaring a moratorium. View of opposition-its tactics; organization of; impact on community. Role of Governor Perpich. Impact of costs of powerline and vandalism for citizens.
Biographical Information: Fjoslien was a native of Brandon, Minnesota and he owned and operated a farm nearby. He was elected to the state legislature in 1972. He also served on numerous committees including the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and the Education and Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. Subjects discussed: Background; result of 1973 legislation; viability of eminent domain; responsibility as a legislator to represent constituents; effect of powerline controversy on constituents; usefulness of confrontation in current situation; governor's role in issue; and the difficulty of the powerline as a political issue.
Biographical Information: Torborg was a Catholic priest and the director of the Office of Rural Life in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Subjects discussed: Office of Rural Life. Getting involved in powerline issue. Science court. Role in parish. Tesla-work of; relationship of powerline and Tesla's ideas. Alfred M. Hubbard and his work. Aalternative energy sources. Lack of government involvement in alternative energy sources. Working with state officials. Rural America meeting in D.C. Effects of controversy on people in the Sauk Centre area. Attitudes toward government. How controversy could have been avoided. Attitudes after the line is built. Day of prayer on capitol steps. Health and safety issues. Future energy needs and resources.
Biographical Information: Anderson was manager for Agralite Cooperative in Benson, Swift County. Subjects discussed: Role as manager for Agralite Cooperative; function and structure of Agralite as a cooperative; how cooperatives have planned for future power needs. Cooperative Power Association, United Power Association and the Cooperative-United project-involvement with Mid-Continent Area Power Pool; planning of plant; determining need for plant; communication problems between planners and farmers; controversy over Cooperative-United transmission line. CPA-board vs. representatives of cooperatives; public relations. Feasibility of building underground plant. Health and safety issues. Obtaining easements. Future impact of the powerline controversy.
Biographical Information: Olhoft was a state Senator from Herman, Minnesota. Subjects discussed: Background. The Power Plant Siting Act-reason for creating; problems with act; amendments. Environmental Quality Board-effectiveness of; role of; responsiveness to public; hearings. Effectiveness of citizen's committees. Eminent domain and land use. Energy situation and alternatives to deal with future. Legislative role in supporting energy alternatives. Effect of controversy on job as Senator. Role of Governors Anderson and Perpich.
Biographical Information: Gelbman was the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) coordinator at the University of Minnesota-Morris campus. Subjects discussed: Background information on MPIRG. How MPIRG chooses issues to be involved in. When and why MPIRG became involved in powerline project controversy. Science court. Health and safety issues. Opposition groups-atmosphere at meetings; protest activities of opponents. Court proceedings. Role of law enforcement. MPIRG's position as to the cause of issue. MPIRG's other projects.
Biographical Information: Richardson resided in Morris, Minnesota. He was a retired farmer and a member of the Agralite Cooperative board of directors. Subjects discussed: Development of telephone cooperatives. Development of Rural Electrification Administration and involvement. People's inital resistance to electricity in the l930s and '40s. History of Agralite Cooperative. Role as director of Agralite. Input of cooperative members and board of directors. Cooperative procedure to site lines. Views on powerline controversy. Issue over dissemination of information to farmers regarding powerline. Increase in number of lines vs. alternative energy sources. Health and safety issues. Concerns over early powerlines and current ones. Cost and delay concerns for cooperatives regarding energy sources. Future needs for electricity. Usefulness of protest.
Biographical Information: The Fuchs were farmers and protest leaders from Belgrade, Stearns County. Subjects discussed: How they learned about the line. Communicating with other farmers about the line. Preventing power company obtaining easements in Stearns County. Obtaining easements in Meeker County. Re-routing of line. Power Plant Siting Act-utilities being grandfathered out; choosing to come under act. Information hearings. Public hearings-corridor route; missing records; Citizen's Advisory Committee; routing of line; health hazards. Utilities projected energy needs. Working with legislators. Governor Perpich and the science court. The People's Power Project and Tesla's experiment being done on the Fuchs land. Federal lawsuit-reasons for filing; hope regarding outcome. Court injunction.
Biographical Information: The Rutledges were farmers in Lowry, Minnesota. They were members of the opposition groups Families Are Concerned Too and Save Our Countryside. Subjects discussed: Learning about the powerline project. Becoming involved in the controversy. Involvement with Families Are Concerned Too. Issues in controversy-changes in; section lines; health concerns. Science court. Involvement of legislature-Power Plant Siting Act. Reaction of power cooperatives to opposition. Reasons for confrontations. Governor's Anderson and Perpich. Court involvement. Necessity for line. Power needs-necessity for line; alternatives. Working with the government. Role of the media. Implications of powerline issue for more lines. Living with the powerline.
Biographical Information: Tripp was a farmer from Belgrade in Stearns County. She was a protest leader and a candidate for Governor in 1978. Subjects discussed: Learning about the powerline project. Involvement in Keep Towers Out, Counties United for a Rural Environment, States United for a Rural Environment, and Coalition of Rural Environmental Groups. Reasons for the opposition-routing of line; health and safety concerns. Working with state government-personnel; Governor Perpich; legislators. Hearing process. Citizen's advisory committee. Underground wiring as alternative. Lawsuits. Mediation sessions. Confrontations. Energy needs for the future.
Biographical Information: Berg was born and raised in Traverse County. He lived and operated a farm in Chokio, Stevens County. From 1973 through 1976 he served in the State Senate. Subjects discussed: Background; role in Senate and involvement with powerline controversy; Environmental Quality Council; eminent domain; legislation process; why powerline controversy began; 1973 siting law and the resulting problems; meeting with power companies and communicating potential problems; health and safety concerns; position over controversy as a politician; solutions to controversy; and concluding remarks.
Biographical Information: Hagen was a farmer from Pope County and was president of Counties United for a Rural Environment (CURE). Subjects discussed: Background. How Hagen first learned about the the powerline project. Routing of line. Power Plant Siting Act-being grandfathered out; decision to come under siting law. Development of opposition groups such as CURE. Informational hearing and hearing process-purpose of; effectiveness of process; issues brought up. Environmental Quality Council-citizen's advisory committee; certificate of need. Reaction by the state and utilities to concerns expressed over powerline. Opposition to line-reasons for such a negative reaction to powerline project; issues over routing of line; why confrontations occurred. CURE-approach to issues before and after utilities came under siting act; role as head of CURE during confrontations; working with the media; working with Governor's Wendell Anderson and Rudy Perpich and the legislators; mediation sessions and request for a moratorium; relationship with Families Are Concerned Too (FACT) and the airport in Starbuck. Dealing with the courts-health and safety issues; issues of easement and liability. View of current situation. Personal effect of issue on Hagen's life. Development of energy sources in the future.
Biographical Information: Schumacher was a farmer in Glenwood, Minnesota. He served as State Representative from District 15a during the 1975-1976 session and served on the Health and Welfare, Higher Education, and Transportation committees. Subjects discussed: Situation upon entering office as state representative in 1974. Handling of hearings. Need for increase in energy. Role as representative. Lack of response to concerns of farmers by utilities and the legislature. Health and safety factors. Impact of issues on area. Reasons for confrontation by opposition. Solution to the powerline issue via court decision. Possible changes in powerline future. Uniqueness of controversy.
Biographical Information: Nelson was born and raised on a farm and at the time of the interview was a farmer in Grant County, Minnesota. After graduating from high school, he earned a undergradute degree in physics at the University of Minnesota and a master's in physics at the University of Pittsburgh. For several years he worked in Massachusetts before returning to farming. Subjects discussed: Background. Learning about the powerline project. Environmental Quality Council-Power Plant Siting Act; impact on utilities; zoning ordinances; corridor study; citizen's advisory committees; hearing process; taping of hearings and transcripts being lost; environmental impact statement; need certificate. Opposition organizations-CARE; individual groups; consolidation of lawsuits; role in organizations; mediation sessions; Governor Perpich's involvement; confrontations with surveyors. Utilities-communicating with; power of board of directors vs. general managers in making decisions; calling the National Guard. Working with legislature. Health issues-ozone levels produced; electric field; induced charge."" Personal impact of controversy. Current situation with judges and the courts. Impact on groups and people involved in controversy. Future of electricity and energy use.""
Biographical Information: Sieling was a farmer from Perham, Minnesota and was director of the Lake Region Cooperative Electrical Association.Subjects discussed: Background. Background of Lake Region Co-op. How co-op expanded service. Assessing needs of region. Powerline proposal-general background; AC vs. DC line; routing of line; height of line. Communication vehicle for farmers over line. Energy needs. Infeasibility of underground line. Section lines. Farmer's complaint over lack of input on positioning of line. Routing of line; support rally. what the result of clearing up communication problem might be. Microwave towers. Meeting deadline to get line built. Alternative sources of power. View of current situation.
Biographical Information: Emmons was sheriff of Pope County. Subjects discussed: Police department's first involvement with the powerline controversy; potential conflict with utilities surveying; dealing with confrontations; local people's reaction to police; why confrontation occurred; reaction of townspeople to issue; view of current situation; Governor Perpich; media coverage.
Biographical Information: Nelson had been a resident of Glenwood, Minnesota since 1964. He became Pope County attorney in 1966. Subjects discussed: How he became involved in powerline issue. Role in hearings. Sheriff Emmons and enforcement of court order. Calling the national guard. Reasons for confrontations between farmers and utility companies. Impression of present situation. Role of governor. The media.
Biographical Information: The Jenks were farmers in Pope County and were members of Families Are Concerned Too (FACT). Subjects discussed: Farming background. First learning about the powerline. Routing of line-original route; Environmental Impact Statement. Tower placement. Issue of powerline as a possible health hazard-electric charge; ozone level. Amount of land condemned for route. Surveying of own land and dealing with surveyors. Joining anti-powerline organizations-Save Our Countryside; Counties United for a Rural Environment; Families Are Concerned Too. Impact on lives with involvement in powerline controversy. Increase in cost of electricity. Impact of injunction. Role of the governor and state government. Problem of agricultural land not being a priority.
Biographical Information: The Hedners were farmers from Pope County and were members of Families Are Concerned Too. Subjects discussed: How the Hedners first learned about the powerline. Routing of line-priority of DNR lands; I-94 route; how route impacts farmers. Role of Minnesota Environmental Quality Council. Health and safety concerns. Easement payments. Public hearings. Farmer's liability for poles. Issue over need for electricity. Alternative sources of power. Efforts made to stop the utilities. Reaction of county officials to the farmers opposition to the line. Families Are Concerned Too. Stopping the line. Future of opposition. Canadian pipeline.
