November 21, 1999
Dear Representative Mares:
Ever since the 1994 Prairie Island legislation, I've felt strongly that our
state must take responsibility for energy consumption. Recently, I learned
that Minnesota purchases about 10% of our electricity from Manitoba Hudo in
Canada. That electricity comes to us very cheaply but at the cost of
alarming destruction to Canadian forests and to the Cree Indians who live there.
I think Minnesotans need to be aware of true energy costs. I want a law
which requires Manitoba Hydro to furnish a complete report to account for
all the environmental and social costs of its electricity. Good choices
about energy sources can't be made without accurate information. Please
introduce or support a bill mandating disclosure about the sustainability of
our energy sources.
A concerned consumer,
Diane J. Peterson
