Posted: 9/20/06
Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Peter Hutchinson proposes $200 million a year toward clean water and land preservation
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
Peter Hutchinson quipped itís almost possible to tell the temperature from fish from some Minnesota lakes ó they contain so much mercury.
The Independence Party gubernatorial candidate proposed slating $200 million a year toward clean water and land preservation.
Hutchinson made the proposal while presenting his energy and environmental agenda at the Capitol on Tuesday (Sept. 19).
He proposed slating $100 million a year toward the Clean Water Legacy act ó a program designed to fulfill the obligations of the federal Clean Water Act passed more than 30 years ago.
Currently, future funding for the legacy is uncertain.
One part of his clean water proposal is to require a ìstate-of-the-waterî posting at all publicly assessable lakes detailing the condition of the water.
Additionally, the candidate proposed slating another $100 million a year toward wetland and wildlife habitat ó acquiring land easements and using other means of securing and expanding these areas.
Hutchinson gave a single-word answer on where this funding would come from.
The answer is health care
ìHealth care,î he said, explaining his proposed health care agenda will result in more than $1 billion in savings to the state.
In detailing his agenda, Hutchinson opined that the state currently has no plan for its future power needs.
He proposed a goal of reducing electrical consumption by two percent a year through conservation ó establishing aggressive goals for renewable energy.
Addressing biofuels ó Hutchinson proposed a national center for biofuels for the University of Minnesota ó the candidate argued that Minnesota needs to move away from corn for ethanol production.
Besides using up the corn crop, using grain as a fuel source will ultimately lead to water use problems, he said.
Rather, Hutchinson calls for the use of grass and other fibers for ethanol production.
Hutchinson gave a qualified kudo to Gov. Tim Pawlenty for his energy initiatives. ìI commend the governor for whatís heís doing,î said Hutchinson.
No overall plan on energy needs for the state
ìI think taking somebody elseís idea on ethanol and making a big thing out of it ó thatís a good thing to do,î he said. But Hutchinson repeated that thereís no overall plan on energy needs of the state.
DFL gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Mike Hatch recently also spoke on the need for funding the Clean Water Legacy Act.
ìEverybody is in favor of the Clean Water Legacy Act but no one wants to pay for this,î said Hatch, referring to past actions at the Legislature.
Brian McClung, Pawlenty campaign spokesman, said under the governorís leadership Minnesota has become a model in the use of renewable energy.
ìWe have the highest per capita use of renewable energy in the nation, have the largest number of E-85 gas stations, and have the nationís first ethanol standard and only biodiesel standard,î said McClung in an e-mail.
Indeed, the governorís own official vehicle is an E-85 Chevy Suburban, said McClung.
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