Posted 3/21/01 Has a concern over proposed legislation To the editor: Loren Jennings (DFL-Harris), NSPís long-time representative in the state house is sponsoring legislation to strip both state and local government authority over electric generation and transmission construction. Under this deregulation, utilities will no longer need to prove local need for condemnation of private and public properties. Minnesota will be turned into a production/transmission corridor for the delivery of flooded Cree Nation hydro and coal burning power to eastern markets. Minnesotaís current export surplus will be drained down over night if links are provided to energy-consuming black holes from here to the east coast, as is being attempted by the Chisago and Arrowhead transmission proposals. Local electric rates will rival those of Chisago, Boston and New York under Mr. Jenningís competitive deregulations. The NO BUILD option to construction will be eliminated. A streamlined one-stop shopping permit process will prevent future utility construction denials. Current state and county review and public comment on constructions would be removed by Mr. Jenningsí bills. Instead, a consortium of power companies and an appointed state energy czar will control the process on determination of need for future constructions. Minnesota will be used as the ìsolutionî to Californiaís in the making out east under the proposed legislation. I urge all state residents to call Representative Ken Wolfe (R-Burnsville) at 651-296-5185 and Loren Jennings at 651-296-0518 to voice their opposition if not indignation toward the deregulation bills they are preparing and promoting for the utilities industry. Mark Oberg Lindstrom ©Post Review