Biographical Information: The Woidas were farmers and powerline opponents from Sauk Centre in Stearns County. Subjects discussed: Learning about the powerline project. Effect of the line on farm-placement of tower and position of line; spraying; irrigation; safety. The opposition-concerns of; involvement in; role of outside protesters in; effectiveness of. Working within the cooperative structure. Electricity-conservation; increased need; alternative methods for farmers; underground wiring; future problems with resources. Routing of line-alternative routes; wildlife land given priority. The role of and working with the media. Confrontations-with surveyors; arrests; lawsuits. Compensation by the utilities-easement; annual payment. Involvement of Governor Perpich. Mediation sessions. Costs resulting from the project-vandalism; hiring security quards; to citizens. Clean-up after the line. State government-relationship with utilities; legislators; views of working within the system. Coal mining. How controversy could have been avoided. Leadership role. Impact of lawsuits on opposition. Relationship of Indian movement and the powerline controversy. Iowa Coal scam. Public awareness of controversy.
Biographical Information: The Woidas were farmers and powerline opponents from Sauk Centre in Stearns County. Subjects discussed: Learning about the powerline project. Effect of the line on farm-placement of tower and position of line; spraying; irrigation; safety. The opposition-concerns of; involvement in; role of outside protesters in; effectiveness of. Working within the cooperative structure. Electricity-conservation; increased need; alternative methods for farmers; underground wiring; future problems with resources. Routing of line-alternative routes; wildlife land given priority. The role of and working with the media. Confrontations-with surveyors; arrests; lawsuits. Compensation by the utilities-easement; annual payment. Involvement of Governor Perpich. Mediation sessions. Costs resulting from the project-vandalism; hiring security quards; to citizens. Clean-up after the line. State government-relationship with utilities; legislators; views of working within the system. Coal mining. How controversy could have been avoided. Leadership role. Impact of lawsuits on opposition. Relationship of Indian movement and the powerline controversy. Iowa Coal scam. Public awareness of controversy.
Biographical Information: Wald received his master's degree in forestry. Immediately upon obtaining his degree, he began working as a environmental use planner for the State Department of Natural Resources. Subjects discussed: Background. Environmental Impact Statement-400+ line; how it was prepared. Controversy over charge of farmland as lesser priority than wildlife lands in routing of line. Route recommendation. Public hearings. Reasons for controversy occurring.
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: 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: 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: 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.
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: Stone was the editor of the Pope County Tribune. Subjects discussed: Background. Pope County Tribune. Coverage of the powerline controversy. Getting information on issues from the cooperatives and the utilities. Effect of reporting on opposition effort. Quality of overall reporting on issue. Determining newsworthy events. Covering confrontations. Sheriff's responsibility in confrontations. Relationship of lawsuit and protesting. Public relations. County attorney's resignation. Tripp campaign. Reporting of damage by cooperatives and cost discrepancies. Difficulty of job as editor in reporting controversy. Impact on people in area. Reasons for controversy. Opposition groups.
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.