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