Range power boondoggle, despite 80 percent backing from feds, remains likely to fail

I've written and blogged plenty about the Mesaba Energy Project (notably here, and most recently here). This boondoggle proposal is built on a foundation of lofty economic and environmental promises that can't be fulfilled without a realignment of the universe. So I'll just point out this interesting MPR story from last week that shows the financial hurdles this coal burner will face and gently remind readers to tell their legislators that this project should receive no further special treatment.

Project opponents have criticized the Kelliher MPR piece as a puff piece for the company, but I still think it shows the immense difficulty Excelsior Energy will face in actually doing what they say they're going to do. Nevertheless, we should all be appalled that the government is underwriting 80 percent of $2 billion start up company that consists entirely of lobbyists and coal power insiders.

House Republicans purge the infidels

A lot of DFLers were surprised that the six Republican state representatives who supported the transportation bill stuck with the coalition in overriding Gov. Pawlenty's veto. But the roads need to be fixed and I suppose these six finally got sick of the "no new tax, unless it's a fee" games played by Pawlenty and his legislative allies.

Well, now these six representatives are being stripped of their caucus positions, committee leadership spots and, in all likelihood, their Republican endorsements for re-election. (See MPR's "Pawlenty, Republican leaders circle the wagons" and "Gas tax increase not playing well in Anoka"). I am not surprised that die-hard GOPers would be upset with this group breaking ranks, but I am surprised that they're basically excommunicating the whole lot of them despite the Republicans' status as an almost feckless minority in the House. If these six somewhat moderate Republicans were to switch parties or lose to more conservative opponents (who would be prime targets in the Fall), we would see a DFL legislature that can and would override Pawlenty all the time until he leaves office. I just don't get it.

At this rate, the House Republican caucus of 2009 will include Rep. Marty Seifert, the Monopoly guy and Skeletor. That's a pretty bad ass group, but they won't be able to stop universal health care, a stronger education system or tax reform. And that's good news for DFLers, independents and moderate Republicans. You know, most Minnesotans.

The folks at http://www.mnpublius.com/ have done a great job covering this topic with multiple posts in just the past day. They found some interesting quotes from the affected GOP reps.

An important day for Iron Range mining projects

There's a lot going on today that could impact many of the precious mineral mining and value-added iron mining projects currently in development on the Iron Range.

First, this morning lawmakers are meeting with representatives of India-based Essar Global, the company that bought the Minnesota Steel project which aims to build a taconite mine and low-grade steel factory near Nashwauk. Essar officials are also meeting with local officials and others associated with the project today. Even if these meetings yield no "new" news, most Iron Rangers in the known hope these talks yield some specific timetables and direction from the company as to how the first Iron Range steel mill will become a reality.

Then this afternoon there is is a multi-committee legislative hearing in St. Paul about the environmental risks of several of the proposed mining projects on the East Range. Local representatives are pretty upset that these hearings are being held at all and I expect some theatrics. This Minnesota Public Radio story gives you a pretty good idea of the situation. I don't think these hearings will stop any of the projects, but the testimony will raise many points that will come up during the state and federal permitting process. In that regard it's not terrible to deal with them up front. The largest determiner of whether these projects go will be whether or not the companies involved can make money mining minerals. The same has been true through all of mining history. Oh, how little it seems we have learned.

Personally, I like how most mining news still comes out on Fridays. It's like their holy day or something.

MPR posts 'Select a Candidate' quiz for 2008

Minnesota Public Radio posted their "Select a Candidate" feature for the election year. I wouldn't recommend using it as your only method of selecting a candidate for Minnesota's U.S. Senate race or the presidential caucuses, but it will help show you which candidates line up with you on your most important issues. I took the thing and found that I had, in fact, endorsed Barack Obama correctly. (Whew).

Try it for yourself.