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Ensuring Progress on Minnesota’s Path to a Clean Energy Future
Minnesota's progress on the path towards a clean and renewable energy future will be in danger if we allow more nuclear reactors to be built in our state.
Allowing the construction of new nuclear reactors in Minnesota will lead us off the renewable energy path that has made this state a national leader. Minnesota’s moratorium on the construction of new nuclear reactors was enacted for a good reason – reactors are expensive to build and threaten our precious water resources. Plants being built in Texas and Florida are projected to cost over $17 billion each. The nuclear plants currently operating in Minnesota are allowed to withdraw almost 390 billion gallons of surface and groundwater each year. That’s more than the amount of drinking water allotted to the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Duluth combined!
Ask Senator Klobuchar to protect children’s health from chemicals
Parents of newborn babies are excited about all the new things their children will experience in their lifetime. Unfortunately, many of their experiences will be harmful to their health. In fact, most babies are exposed to chemicals that have the capability to cause severe, long-term health problems before they are even born.
In "The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act", our partners at Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families examine the link between toxic chemical exposure and rising rates of diseases such as cancer, learning and developmental disabilities and reproductive problems.
Ripple Effects
Minnesotan’s Stories on our Environment and Health
How do new threats to our water and health impact Minnesotan’s lives and communities? In Ripple Effects, Minnesotans share their personal stories on how global problems such as climate change, toxic chemicals and polluted waters are being experienced locally.
Below is a sample of the stories covered in this project. To find additional stories about a particular issue, click on the issue links below.
Vicki Hendricksen: Distrust of Drinking Water
Many Minnesotans pour themselves a glass of water from their kitchen faucet without a second thought. However, more and more people are becoming concerned about the safety of their drinking water.
“I don’t trust our water,” states Vicki Hendricksen, a Woodbury mom of three, “we get all our water for drinking and cooking from our fridge because it’s filtered.” When Vicki moved to Woodbury two years ago to be closer to work, she learned the city’s water was contaminated with PFCs— chemicals used in non-stick pans, stain resistant clothing, and thousands of other products. Even though the level of PFCs in Woodbury’s water is considered to be at safe levels according to the state, Vicki has her doubts. “I wonder if the level they set is really acceptable—will this change years later when they learn more?”
Read the full story and see the video here
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To share your story, email us at mncwa@cleanwater.org.
Ensuring Progress on Minnesota’s Path to a Clean Energy Future
Minnesota's progress on the path towards a clean and renewable energy future will be in danger if we allow more nuclear reactors to be built in our state.
Allowing the construction of new nuclear reactors in Minnesota will lead us off the renewable energy path that has made this state a national leader. Minnesota’s moratorium on the construction of new nuclear reactors was enacted for a good reason – reactors are expensive to build and threaten our precious water resources. Plants being built in Texas and Florida are projected to cost over $17 billion each. The nuclear plants currently operating in Minnesota are allowed to withdraw almost 390 billion gallons of surface and groundwater each year. That’s more than the amount of drinking water allotted to the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Duluth combined!
Ask Senator Klobuchar to protect children’s health from chemicals
Parents of newborn babies are excited about all the new things their children will experience in their lifetime. Unfortunately, many of their experiences will be harmful to their health. In fact, most babies are exposed to chemicals that have the capability to cause severe, long-term health problems before they are even born.
In "The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act", our partners at Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families examine the link between toxic chemical exposure and rising rates of diseases such as cancer, learning and developmental disabilities and reproductive problems.
Join the Million Baby Crawl for Reform of Toxic Substances Control
Help send a million babies to Washington, DC, to push for reform of the outdated and ineffective Toxic Substances Control Act, so that we are all protected from harmful toxins. Join the Million Baby Crawl to DC online by creating your own virtual baby.
Chemicals are currently regulated by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a decades-old law that experts say has utterly failed to keep the nation’s environment and its citizens safe from materials that cause cancer and a host of other serious illnesses. In fact, in the 33 years since TCSA was enacted, the EPA has required testing on only 200 of the more than 80,000 chemical compounds now in use.
Tell Congress to Repower, Refuel and Rebuild America
Our country faces unprecedented challenges. In November, unemployment reached the highest level in 14 years. America is still addicted to oil. The global warming crisis goes unabated.
With this election, Americans signaled we are ready to find new, lasting solutions to our energy, economy and global warming challenges.
Now is the time to Repower, Refuel and Rebuild America. By investing in clean energy, we can cut our dependence on oil, get clean electricity and reduce Global Warming pollution.
These investments will create millions of good-paying jobs in the hardest-hit construction and manufacturing sectors and create pathways out of poverty for the most affected communities.
Sign the 1Sky Pledge to do your part against Global Warming
Clean Water Action is working to make a clean, renewable energy economy a reality in Minnesota and on the national level. We advocate for strong, science-based policies both in the State Legislature and Congress.
In the state, Clean Water Action advocates for a variety of clean energy policies, focused primarily on Cap, Auction and Trade legislation - to reduce Global Warming pollution quickly and effectively.
PFC Contamination in Minnesota's Waters
Over 40% of Minnesota waters that have been tested by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are polluted. Many contaminants pollute Minnesota's waters: human and animal waste, algae from too much phosphorus and other pollutants. Now a new group of toxins have contaminated our water system, including our drinking water–perfluorochemicals or PFCs.
Healthy Legacy: Safer Products, Made Safely
Clean Water Action Alliance is determined to help Minnesotans achieve a health legacy. Working with 28 organizations from across the state in the Healthy Legacy coalition, we promote healthy lives by supporting the production and use of everyday products without toxic chemicals. We advocate for consumer education, business leadership, and protective policies to advance safe alternatives in Minnesota.
Clean Energy, Clean Water
Over half of the electricity used in the United States comes from dirty coal-burning power plants. Coal is a major source of two of our most challenging pollution problems– mercury and Global Warming. Polluting power plants also use a lot of water. This is especially true for the large coal and nuclear power plants. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are homegrown, unlimited and produce no pollution. Yet less than 3% of our electricity comes from clean, renewable sources of energy like wind, solar and biofuels. To protect our air, our water and our health, we need to turn this around with a commitment to clean, renewable energy.
Global Warming and a New Energy Economy
Top scientists warn that we must decrease Global Warming pollution 80% by 2050 in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change. We can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, making the switch to clean, renewable energy, increasing efficiency and use of alternative fuels for vehicles, increasing use of public transportation and immediately investing in energy efficiency and conservation measures. Clean Water Action is working to make the new energy economy a reality by advocating for strong, science-based policies in the State Legislature and Congress.
Restoring the Clean Water Act: Protecting Our Water
Minnesotans love our lakes, rivers and streams. We enjoy swimming, fishing and boating on our state’s beautiful waters. But polluters have succeeded in weakening the Clean Water Act, our waters’ best defense against degradation. EPA inaction and pro-polluter Supreme Court rulings have jeopardized the integrity of this landmark law. Without a strong Clean Water Act and strict enforcement our lakes, rivers and streams are at risk. Clean Water Action is fighting to restore the original intent of the Act—making sure all our waters are safe for fishing and swimming.
Great Lakes: Protecting and Restoring Our National Treasure
The Great Lakes are one of America’s–and the world’s–greatest natural wonders. Containing one-fifth of the world’s freshwater the Great Lakes are the foundation of health, economic vitality and recreation for millions of people. But the lakes that shape the way we live are in danger. Raw sewage is fouling our beaches. Development has destroyed wetlands that once protected our clean water. Invasive species are crowding out our Great Lakes fish and wildlife. Clean Water Action, as a leading member of the Healing Our Waters coalition, is working to protect the Great Lakes we love and clean them up for future generations to enjoy.