Wednesday digest: green jobs and glad tidings edition

In response to a Post Bulletin column by a local Republican that scolded Governor Pawlenty for touting green jobs, Environment Minnesota's Samantha Chadwick writes Now is the time to invest in clean energy:

In response to the Dec. 1 column by Phil Araoz in opposition to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's green jobs initiative proposal, there has never been a more important time to invest in our future.

As we face a severe economic crisis, solutions that will stimulate the economy and create jobs will also bring long-term sustainability to our environment and economy.

Leaders such as Congressman Tim Walz, who realize that Minnesota is blessed with renewable resources and are pushing for development, deserve our praise and support. . . .

Read the entire, well-documented rebuttal in the PB's op-ed section. We're betting that a significant sub-set of the 62.5% of voters who voted for Walz in the First agree with the 2006 Gustavus grad, since energy policy was a major discussion during the congressional campaign.

Araoz's column, Tax breaks for 'green' jobs are bad deal for Minnesota is still online for those who wish to examine the case that sparked Chadwick's response.

The PB's own Greg Sellnow reports that a representative of Congressman Walz's office was onhand when the CP Christmas choochoo rolled into town in Holiday Train is good sign for Rochester:

The townsfolk, all bundled up in scarves, blankets and down coats on a dark night when the temperature was about 15 degrees, were there to see a 13-car train, facing west. It was lit with the outlines of flashing, brightly colored Christmas trees, ornaments and snowflakes. There in the middle was an open freight car where a band played. Santa stopped by to say hello. Our mayor was there to welcome the train. So was someone from Rep. Tim Walz's office. And a representative from the Channel One Food bank accepted a giant check from the Canadian Pacific Railroad for $2,500.

Sellner continues with a discussion of Rochester railroad politics. Interesting stuff. The train made several stops in Southern Minnesota as it traveled both countries to promote giving to food shelves. The train's blogger notes in Rochester residents embrace CP Holiday Train:

There were literally thousands of people braving the elements, all waiting to see what the CP Holiday Train was about and support the cause, when we pulled in!  Mayor Ardell Brede, Cynthia Schaffer from the Channel One Food Shelf and Rick Howden, representative for Congressman Tim Walz, were on hand to kick things off on a high note.. . .

We applaud all efforts to make sure no one goes hungry, but also hope that Congress will quickly pass President-elect Obama's plan for putting Americans to work rebuilding infrastructure, updating schools, and other public investments that will--we hope--reduce the need for food shelves.

And so all those waiting for the tide to turn, here's a song from Nova Scotia's own Melanie Doane, who was on the train that came to Rochester: