Posts Categorized: Loon Commons blog

MEP Legislative Session Update

Posted by & filed under Loon Commons blog.

It is nearly the end of the 2013 legislative session, and time for an update on MEP’s collaborative legislative priorities:  Clean Water Accountability, Transit for a Stronger Economy, and Clean Energy Jobs bills. The Clean Water Legacy Accountability Act language is contained in the Legacy bills which, with the Senate’s passage last night of Senator… Read more »

Clean Energy & Jobs Legislation Passes the Minnesota House

Posted by & filed under Loon Commons blog, Press Release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2013 CONTACT: Cathy Kennedy 612.309.3951 cathryn@cathrynkennedy.com Clean Energy & Jobs Legislation Passes the Minnesota House Legislation Establishes 40 Percent by 2030 Renewable Electricity Standard, Solar Energy Standard [SAINT PAUL, MN] The Minnesota House of Representatives last night passed clean energy and jobs legislation, establishing a solar standard of 4 percent… Read more »

How Farmworker Wage Theft Bankrupts our Rural Communities

Posted by & filed under agriculture, Food and Sustainable Agriculture, Loon Commons blog.

A few years ago LSP organizer Doug Nopar was told of a southeast Minnesota farm operation that was withholding wages from a worker after he had accidentally damaged a door with a skid steer loader. Nopar called the farm owner and let him know this action was quite illegal. The farmer’s response? “You know, I… Read more »

This Spring: Influence Twin Cities Regional Development for the Next 30 Years

Posted by & filed under Loon Commons blog.

By Dave Van Hattum, Senior Policy Advocate, Transit for Livable Communities     The Metropolitan Council’s new regional development plan, Thrive MSP 2040, will set the framework for how the Twin Cities metro area will grow over the next 30 years.  It will influence the footprint of the developed area, including how much land will… Read more »

Minnesota Clean Energy & Jobs Campaign Holds Earth Day Capitol Rally to Promote Clean Energy and Jobs

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Governor Mark Dayton, Will Steger, Rep. Ellison, Speaker Thissen Join Call for Clean Energy and Jobs Legislation  [SAINT PAUL, MN] On Earth Day, April 22, 2013, Governor Mark Dayton joined hundreds of clean energy advocates for a rally that encouraged legislators to advance groundbreaking legislation that will create jobs for Minnesotans and generate clean, local,… Read more »

Main Street Vs. Eat Street

Posted by & filed under agriculture, Food and Sustainable Agriculture, Loon Commons blog.

I’m not sure I would recommend this, but I recently read two books back-to-back that represent the “how” extremes of today’s food system. I started out with The Town That Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food, and, literally within minutes of finishing it, picked up Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food… Read more »

Minnesota Farmers: CSP is on for 2013

Posted by & filed under agriculture, Food and Sustainable Agriculture, Land Conservation, Loon Commons blog.

By Adam Warthesen, Land Stewardship Project One of the nation’s most innovative working lands farm conservation initiatives has received a financial reprieve, thanks to the continuing resolution signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday. The continuing resolution, which was passed by Congress late last week, appropriates funds to federal government agencies through the remainder of… Read more »