Subject Headings: Overhead Electric Lines / Contributor: Minnesota Historical Society / City or Township: Morris

Creator:: Hirsch, Merle N. Phd
Date Created:: 1979-02-20
Description:: Biographical Information: Hirsch was a professor of Physics and chairman of the Science and Mathematics Divisions, University of Minnesota at Morris. Subjects discussed: How he became involved in the powerline controversy. Hearing process-involvement with; effectiveness of. Environmental impact of line and Corona discharge. Commonwealth Associates report. Monitoring ozone levels produced by line. The effect of electric fields on plants and animals. West Coast trip. Science court. The possibility of an underground powerline. Need for line. Usefulness of research on powerline, especially for scientific community. Impact of controversy on farming community.
Contributing Institution:: Minnesota Historical Society
Type:: Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:: Oral histories

Creator:: Richardson, Hervey
Date Created:: 1977-12-07
Description:: 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.
Contributing Institution:: Minnesota Historical Society
Type:: Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:: Oral histories

Creator:: Gelbman, James
Date Created:: 1977-12-08
Description:: 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.
Contributing Institution:: Minnesota Historical Society
Type:: Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:: Oral histories

Creator:: Jost, Paul
Date Created:: 1979-02-14
Description:: Biographical Information: Jost was a farmer near Morris in Stevens County. He was vice-president, board of directors of Cooperative Power Association and a member, board of directors of Agralite Cooperative. Subjects discussed: Background. History of Cooperative Power Association. Planning of the project and different power source options considered. Anticipating opposition to the line. Role of local cooperatives and informing people of route. Power Plant Siting Act. What people were reacting to concerning the line. Role as board of director and dealing with members of Agralite. Health and safety concerns. Cost effectiveness of one plant as opposed to a decentralized system. Public hearings. Science court. How utilities dealt with confrontations. Determining the need for a line. Utilities and research of energy source options. Impact of controversy on other powerline projects. How Jost became a director. Role as a CPA representative. Membership involvement in cooperatives. Positive benefits of controversy on cooperatives. Impact of involvement with cooperatives on life.
Contributing Institution:: Minnesota Historical Society
Type:: Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:: Oral histories

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