Men working in a field with heavy equipment and rebar forms in preparation for power line tower foundations for the Cooperative Power Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota/United Power Association, Elk River, Minnesota high voltage power line through Grant County, Minnesota.
Reels of power line cable on flatbed truck in front of a power line tower for the Cooperative Power Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota/United Power Association, Elk River, Minnesota high voltage power line through Grant County, Minnesota.
Reels of power line cable on flatbed trucks for the Cooperative Power Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota/United Power Association, Elk River, Minnesota high voltage power line through Grant County, Minnesota.
Reels of power line cable and drum puller stringing cable for the Cooperative Power Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota/United Power Association, Elk River, Minnesota high voltage power line through Grant County, Minnesota.
A power line drum puller stringing power line for the Cooperative Power Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota/United Power Association, Elk River, Minnesota high voltage power line construction through Grant County, Minnesota.
A crane helicopter keeps the top portion of a power line tower in place while workers connect it to the base of the tower, for the construction of the Cooperative Power Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota/United Power Association, Elk River, Minnesota high voltage power line through Grant County, Minnesota.
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: Bradley was a professor of physics at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. He was involved in Coalition of Rural Environmental Groups. Subjects discussed: Background; involvement with Coalition of Rural Environmental Groups; 400+ line controversy; state agency involvement; need hearing; utilities and energy needs; Bradley's energy needs predictions; governor and state agency response to needs predictions report; health and safety factors; effect of controversy on people opposing the line; the role of the media.
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: 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: Hayenga was the staff assistant at the Blue Earth-Nicollet-Faribault Cooperative Electric Association in Mankato, Blue Earth County. Subjects discussed: His background. Background of BENCO. Structure of CPA and UPA. Mid-Continent Area Power Pool. How a project is implemented. Reasons for rate of growth for electricity. Conservation of energy. Structure of Cooperative-United line. Determining need for electricity. Concerns over opposition of line. Health and safety concerns. Siting process-routing of line; public hearings. Alternative sources of power-coal; underground line. Eminent domain laws. Government regulations on utilities-impact of; reason for increased interference. Reason for controversy. Impact of controversy on future powerlines and plants. Research for different technologies. Role of electricity in Minnesota.
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: 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: Lennick was born and raised in Minot, North Dakota. After graduating from high school, he worked for a utility company in the area and then joined the Army where he was a first lieutenant in the artillery. He attended Grand Forks University of North Dakota after returning from the army and received a degree in electical engineering in 1957. He worked for several utilities before joining CPA as an engineer. At the time of the interview he was general manager of CPA. Subjects discussed: Background. CPA-structure; source of power; Coal Creek Project; power useage. The powerline project-the plant; cost; AC vs. DC line; informing public; West Coast trip. Line-safety; alternatives to overhead line. Power Plant Siting Act. Public hearings. Corridor and line routing-eliminating corridor process; exemption of wildlife lands; routing along highway 94; obtaining easements; tower placement. Use of eminent domain-whole farm option; determining value of land and payment. Opposition to the line-reaction to; working with the groups; concerns of opposition; dealing with; vandalism. Status of transmission line and plant. Roles of Governor's Anderson and Perpich. Mediation sessions. Science court. Operation costs and rate increases. Future for utilities-lifeline rates; government involvement; sources of power and research for alternatives; changes in planning future plants and powerlines. Role of the media in portraying the controversy. Impact of controversy on job. Line to Mankato. How project might have been done differently.
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: Brooks was originally from New Jersey. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan and did her graduate work in political science at Michigan State. After graduating, she taught at Michigan State and Lansing Community College. In 1971 she moved to Minnesota. She worked for the State University Board, headed Senator McGovern's presidential campaign effort, and was director of majority research for the Senate. In 1976 she became an aide for Governor Rudy Perpich and was also the governor's representative to the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board. Subjects discussed: Background; role in Governor Perpich's administration in powerline issue; Governor Perpich's handling of the issues; Governor Wendell Anderson's administration in handling controversy; legislators vs. the governor on making decisions; legislative action taken; science court; protest movement; what it was like working for Governor Perpich; the media's role; and the usefulness of the public forum in environmental issues.
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: Sheldon was born and raised in Minneapolis. In 1970, he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism. After graduating, he was the editor of two weekly newspapers and was with Associated Press before becoming state editor of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader in 1971. He went on to be associate editor of the Minnesota Motorist Magazine and became AAA's public relations manager. He was hired as Cooperative Power Association's public relations manager in 1977. Subjects discussed: Background. Status of project upon being hired as public relations manager of CPA. Dealing with Le Seur County suit and southern line. Routing and siting powerline-impact and usefulness of state laws; AC vs. DC line; towers; expense and cost to consumer. Development of project-Fallkirk Mining Company; Minnesota vs. North Dakota as plant site. Management study of CPA. Vandalism. Health issues. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. As public relations manager-initial reaction to situation; steps taken to deal with situation; relationship to management; working with opposition. Science court. Possibility of merging CPA and UPA. CPA's image. Media's handling of events. How problems could have been avoided. Long-term impact on cooperative structure. Personal impact.
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: Hanson was raised on a farm and is a farmer in Pope County. He attended Alexandria Tech School and at the time of the interview was pursuing a degree at the University of Morris. In 1978, Hanson was the manager of Alice Tripp's gubernatorial campaign. Subjects discussed: Background. Learning about the powerline. Local reaction. Routing of the line. Health and safety issues. Media. Hanson's history of political involvement. DFL and powerline. Alice Tripp's campaign for governor-as campaign manager; campaign issues of powerline, abortion and taxes; candidates Bob Short and Wendell Anderson on powerline issue; sheriff's campaign; Republican candidates on the powerline issue; local politicians view of Tripps' candidacy; Rudy Perpich as a campaign issue in powerline controversy; possibility of Tripp campaigning again. Personal role in controversy. Decision to fast in protest. Concluding remarks.
Biographical Information: Hanson was raised on a farm and is a farmer in Pope County. He attended Alexandria Tech School and at the time of the interview was pursuing a degree at the University of Morris. In 1978, Hanson was the manager of Alice Tripp's gubernatorial campaign. Subjects discussed: Background. Learning about the powerline. Local reaction. Routing of the line. Health and safety issues. Media. Hanson's history of political involvement. DFL and powerline. Alice Tripp's campaign for governor-as campaign manager; campaign issues of powerline, abortion and taxes; candidates Bob Short and Wendell Anderson on powerline issue; sheriff's campaign; Republican candidates on the powerline issue; local politicians view of Tripps' candidacy; Rudy Perpich as a campaign issue in powerline controversy; possibility of Tripp campaigning again. Personal role in controversy. Decision to fast in protest.
Biographical Information: Martin was born and raised on a farm in North Dakota. He served in the Air Force for four years and then attended the University of North Dakota where he received a degree in business administration with a major in accounting. In 1960, he was hired by Rural Cooperative Power Association (later to become United Power Association) as an administrative assistant. He became general manager of UPA in 1972. Subjects discussed: Background. UPA-structure; board of directors; how electricity is generated; Coal Creek Station; powerlines; types of customers and useage. Factors in building line-economics; type of transmission lines; need for energy source. How Mid-Continent Area Power Pool provides energy resources. Possibility of alternative projects. Planning for future needs and alternative energy sources. UPA and promoting use of electrical energy at the generation-transmission level. Public opinion regarding an energy crisis. Regulation of cooperatives in the future. 1973 Power Plant Siting Act-choosing to come under law; routing line and corridor selection; hearing process. Obtaining easements. Powerline controversy-initial realization of problem; why opposition developed; role of outside organizations; health and safety; entry point; eminent domain; dealing with problem; involvement of Governor's Anderson and Perpich; corridor vs. routing process; mediation sessions; science court; confrontations between protestors and surveyors/construction workers; role of media; personal impact; long term implications on cooperatives; current situation; state troopers; and costs due to vandalism.
Biographical Information: Vanderpoel was an editorial writer and reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune and the St. Paul papers before becoming the director for the State Planning and Agency and Minnesota Environmental Quality Board. Subjects discussed: Role as State Planning Agency director and Environmental Quality Board director. Process for siting a line. Initial involvement with the Cooperative-United project. Cooperative-United project and Certificate of Need. Public hearings. Citizen's Committee. Routing of line-decision making process in determining route; issue over lack of priority in routing on prime agricultural land; alternative routes. Consideration of alternative energy sources-coal; underground lines. Health and safety. Science court. Environmental Quality Board-effectiveness; public image; lawsuits. Role of media. Powerline controversy-reasons for occurring; outcome; impact on future line sitings.
Biographical Information: Tollefson was a a farmer in Northfield, Minnesota. Subjects discussed: First knowledge of powerline; petition for powerline. Health and safety. As member of the Citizen's Advisory Committee. Problems with 1973 siting laws. Purpose of Citizen's Advisory Committee. Role of Governor Perpich. View of confrontations by opposition. Science court. Impact of controversy on people involved. Future of electricity as energy source. Alternative energy sources. What the result of the powerline controversy will be.
