We were pressed for time this morning, so we (to our shame) skipped the Green-Blue Alliance Town Hall meeting in Mankato, and chose to amble slowly to Worthington in the west. The prairie was at its pre-frost best, blanketed by black-eyed susans, goldenrod and wild asters punctuated by mellowing bean and corn fields, with lovely sculptural wind turbines in the background. We saw many kestrels and rough-legged hawks, as well as a sandhill crane that made our heart sing.
We'll have more on the turkeys in Worthington tomorrow, but hope that KEYC-TV Kyra Klapper's report on the town hall meeting makes up for our own sloth. She reports in Tim Walz Discusses Building Minnesota's Green Economy (video at the link):
On the heels of unveiling his three-step, bipartisan energy plan...Congressman Tim Walz today met with Local Operating Engineers.Along with the Blue Green Alliance, they discussed building Minnesota's Green Economy.News 12's Kira Klapper was there, and has more.
Tim Walz says, ''I will tell you this, right now, the only thing stopping us is the will of the Government to make it happen.''
But Tim Walz is here to make sure it does happen.
At this Green Jobs Town Hall Meeting, Congressman Walz talked about building Minnesota's Green Economy, with some unlikely sponsors: the Blue-Green Alliance, which is a partnership of the United Steel Workers and the Sierra Club.
Congressman Tim Walz says, ''They're not usually seen as working together, but it's a very visionary group that's working on moving green job technology- the idea that we can move off of fossil fuels, we can capitalize on the ingenuity that's out here in Southern Minnesota, and that's going to not only help us with energy costs, it's going to create good, sustainable non-outsource-able jobs.''
Jobs like building wind turbines and their components, jobs in second generation Biofuels, and public transit.
Joshua Low of the Blue Green Alliance says, ''So we've seen other countries really reduce their global warming footprint though investing in renewable energy and, through that, they've created tens of thousands of jobs.'' And Minnesota looks to do the same.By investing in making green jobs a priority, it is estimated that 37,000 more jobs will be created in state.
Lee Hiller, Business Agent for Local 49 Operating Engineers, says, ''And now there's going to be a new plant built in Faribault, MN to build the gear boxes for the wind turbines, which may employ up to 300 people...It creates job opportunity, but, also, the wind farms work.''Work for a solution to global issues.Walz says, ''The solution is a combination. If steel workers, and the Sierra Club can be side-by-side, the possibilities are endless."
On the way down to Worthington and back --by different routes--we saw dozens of Suzlon turbines, presumably built in Pipestone.
A special mention: in Worthington, we got a chance to meet Dale, who blogs at Corner House Comments. He is the epitome of the "good union man," who works for family, co-workers and his community. We dedicate this lullaby from Minnesota homeboy Bob Dylan to him. We always thought the song spoke to rural values:
Thank You! It was a privilege to have a conversation with you and to be your 'goon' for the day. Oh yes, you forgot to mention the vulture over the parade route in Worthington.
Ollie says: That's coming sometime in today's longer post.
Posted by: CHC | September 14, 2008 at 12:06 AM