FEATURED BLOG POSTS
Photo by Brian Peterson, Star Tribune.

"People need electricity; we realize this," Florence Minar said. "But it's just a matter of fairness. And if you have to buy a farmer out, give them a fair payment so he can go set up somewhere else without fighting about it, or without telling him he doesn't deserve it."

 

Last week District Court Judge Caroline Lennon sided with Florence and Dave Minar saying that Minnesota's "Buy the Farm" law applied in the circumstances surrounding a 340,000-volt electricity transmission line crossing their 100% grass-fed organic dairy farm near New Prague, MN. Read more...

 

Blog post by Duane Ninneman, Executive Director and the Director of Climate & Energy.
 

SAVE THE DATE

Minnesota River Congress Regional Meeting in Montevideo

 

In June, several dozen people gathered at the Minnesota River Congress in New Ulm to discuss ideas for the future of collaborative efforts to protect and improve land and water resources in the Minnesota River Basin. Now, that discussion is traveling throughout the basin at 5 regional public meetings planned in mid-September. CURE is co-hosting one of these regional meetings on September 10, and we hope that all concerned citizens will be able to attend!

Who: Everyone that wants to meet their neighbors in the Minnesota River Basin

What: Regional Meeting to discuss future of collaborative efforts in the MN River Basin

When: Wednesday, September 10; 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Where: Montevideo Community Center; in Southtown Plaza on the corner of S 1st Street and County Road 42 in downtown Montevideo

Why: Thoughtful conversation, good company, and a vision for the future

If you can't make it to the meeting in Montevideo, try one of the four other regional meetings:

  • September 11; co-hosted by Rural Advantage at the Knights of Columbus Hall (930 E. 10th St.) in Fairmont
  • September 15; at the J.R. Brown Center in Henderson
  • September 16; co-hosted by the Friends of the Minnesota Valley at the National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington
  • September 17; co-hosted by the Lower Sioux Community at Jackpot Junction in Morton

 

For an opportunity to get your hands dirty doing real, honest-to-goodness work on the Minnesota River, join CURE and other river-conscious folks at Kinney Landing on Saturday, September 13th, for a river cleanup and BBQ lunch!          

                                                                                              Read more...  

 

Back by popular demand - Bernard Sietman will come out on Saturday, September 20, to the Upper Minnesota River Watershed for a Field Day that will focus on the Pomme de Terre River Mussels.


Plan to join us at 10 AM and go until 1 PM. Bring a sack lunch, dress for water, bring boots and dry clothes. 

This event is FREE to CURE Members and $10 ($15 per family) for non-CURE members. Registration is REQUIRED and limited to 24 attendees. Reserve your spot today by calling Dixie at 1-877-269-2873.    
TAKE ACTION

"Waters of the US" Public Comment Period Extended

 

On March 24, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers proposed a rule to clarify "waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. According to the Clean Water Act, "waters of the US" are subject to regulation, which means that, among other things, point source polluters must obtain a permit prior to discharge, and that the water body is subject to water quality standards and the measures required to attain them.  Read more...


As a result of opposition pushback, the EPA has extended the public comment period on this rule until October 20, 2014. Now it's more important than ever to enter your own comment in support of protecting one of our precious natural resources. 

 


A draft report about water pollution in portions of the Pomme de Terre River watershed in west-central Minnesota is open for public review and comment from Aug. 18 through Sept. 17. Read more...


Written comments on the draft report must include:

  • a statement of your interest in the draft TMDL report;
  • a statement of the action you wish the MPCA to take, including specific references to sections of the draft TMDL that you believe should be changed; and
  • specific reasons supporting your position.

Written comments should be mailed to Scott MacLean, MPCA, 12 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, MN 56001, or sent by e-mail to [email protected]. They must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 17.

 FEATURED VIDEO
SOIL CARBON COWBOYS
SOIL CARBON COWBOYS

"Meet Allen Williams, Gabe Brown and Neil Dennis - heroes and innovators! These ranchers now know how to regenerate their soils while making their animals healthier and their operations more profitable. They are turning ON their soils, enabling rainwater to sink into the earth rather than run off. And these turned ON soils retain that water, so the ranches are much more resilient in drought. It's an amazing story that has just begun..."

Film directed, produced and filmed by Peter Byck.

NEWS FROM OUR NETWORK

 

"Solar power generates electricity with no global warming pollution, no fuel costs, and no risks of fuel price spikes, and has the potential to help move the country toward cleaner, reliable, and affordable sources of electricity."

 

Did you know that:

  • The US is now home to enough solar to power 2.4 million homes
  • 140,000 is the number of solar jobs in the US
  •  It's never been more affordable to go solar at home
  •  In at least 11 states, you don't need to own your home to share in the benefits of solar
  •  $15 billion is the solar industry's annual investment in US economy

Check out this recently released report from the Union of Concerned Scientists:

 

Solar Power on the Rise: The Technologies and Policies behind a Booming Energy Sector 

 

With the 2013 passage of Minnesota's Solar Energy Standard, the number of installed solar systems in Minnesota is expected to quadruple by 2020, generating 450 megawatts of clean power to Minnesota consumers.

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UPCOMING CURE EVENTS
Date: Wednesday, September 10
Time: 7 PM to 9 PM
Location: Montevideo Community Center in Southtown Plaza

Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 10 AM to 1 PM
Location: Kinney Landing on Hwy. 67 near Granite Falls

 

FIELD DAY: Mussels with Bernard Sietman

Date: Saturday, Sept. 20

Time: 10 AM to 1:30 PM

Location: Pomme de Terre River

IN THE NEWS...
Climate . Energy 
Water . Agriculture 


"State must explain hog farm water permit decision," by Elizabeth Dunbar, MPR News.

"Power surge in Minnesota's solar industry," by David Shaffer, Star Tribune.


"Horseback protest objects to pipeline route," by Elizabeth Dunbar, MPR News.


"Is Healthy Soil the Low-Tech Solution to Climate Change?" by Christopher Intagliata, ScienceFriday.com.

"Shakopee Creek Watershed residents to discuss water cleanup," by Tom Cherveny, West Central Tribune.
EVENTS WITHIN OUR NETWORK 

New Ulm
Fri. & Sat., August 29-30
____________________


Cedar Mountain SNA on Aug. 26, 10 AM to 2 PM
&
Blue Devil Valley SNA on Aug. 27, 10 AM to 2 PM

____________________

Saturday, Aug. 23, 9 AM to 6 PM
St.Paul, MN

ANNUAL CURE MEMBERSHIPS
Become an annual member of CURE today with membership levels starting at $20
CURE
117 South 1st Street
Montevideo, Minnesota 56265
(320) 269-2984
[email protected]