Pimicikamak Nation protests— Minnesota Legislature takes action
You can help; contact a decision-maker today!

Jenpeg, Manitoba
On April 16, the Canadian Broadcast Company reported that the Pimicikamak Cree Nation of Cross Lake, Manitoba has been protesting at a dam generating station. Pimicikamak members are protesting the lack of implementation of the Northern Flood Agreement (NFA) —an agreement between First Nations, Manitoba Hydro, and the Canadian government that was supposed to resolve issues caused by flooding of native land by dams more than 30 years ago.

Pimicikamak official Mervin Garrick said, “We’ve been very, very patient, but after 30 years of waiting with nothing really concrete happening, people have to take action. We have to try and make the government responsible and get them to recognize and implement the agreements that were signed with First Nations.”

Saint Paul, Minnesota
On April 17, the Minnesota House passed an amendment to the Environment and Energy Omnibus Finance bill that would require Xcel Energy, the largest importer of Manitoba Hydro electricity, to monitor and report on the NFA as part of their resource planning process. Representative Phyllis Kahn authored that amendment.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals considers the NFA to be an appropriate instrument for addressing environmental and socioeconomic impacts of hydropower development, and it considers Xcel Energy responsible for demonstrating the effectiveness of the NFA.

The amendment will require Xcel Energy to include the following in its resource plan for each community that is a signatory to the NFA, including South Indian Lake:

1. median household income and number of residents employed full-time and part-time;
2. the number of outstanding claims filed against Manitoba Hydro by individuals and communities, and the number of claims settled by Manitoba Hydro;
3. the amount of shoreline damaged by flooding and erosion, and the amount of shoreline restored and cleaned.

Requiring Xcel Energy to report the implementation of this agreement is a reasonable and diplomatic approach to creating transparency regarding this highly controversial electricity resource.

We need your help! The amendment was passed by the House, but now it must be included in the final version that the House and Senate send to the Governor. Please call the following Minnesota Legislators with this message:

I urge you to include Representative Kahn’s amendment in the final version of the Environment and Energy Omnibus Finance bill (SF 2096). As a resident of Minnesota, I want to know where my energy comes from and what effects it might have on Indigenous communities. Xcel Energy should be required to include social and economic information in its resource plan when purchasing electricity from Manitoba Hydro.

Senate members to contact:

Senator Ellen Anderson
Chair, Environment and Energy Finance Division
651-296-5537; ellena@senate.mn

Senator Satveer Chaudhary
Chair, Environment and Natural Resources
651-296-4334; sen.satveer.chaudhary@senate.mn

Senator Patricia Torres Ray
651-296-4274; sen.patricia.torres.ray@senate.mn

House members to contact:

Representative Bill Hilty
Chair, Energy Finance and Policy Division
651-296-4308; rep.bill.hilty@house.mn

Representative Jean Wagenius
Chair, Environment and Natural Resources
651-296-4200; rep.jean.wagenius@house.mn

Representative Rick Hansen
651-296-6828; rep.rickhansen@house.mn

Support this service! Become a member of Fresh Energy.

Fresh Energy is a nonprofit organization leading the transition to a clean energy system. One that supports the health of our economies, our people, and our environment while moving us toward energy independence. www.fresh-energy.org