Northern Minnesotans passionate about the environment and energy have multiple public engagement opportunities coming up.
The Superior National Forest, Minnesota Environmental Quality Board and Itasca Economic Development Corporation all have public meetings in the coming weeks to discuss topics relevant to each organization.
Superior National Forest hosts land purchase open house
The Superior National Forest may gain an additional 100,000 acres.
Earlier this month, the Forest announced plans to buy 80,000 acres of School Trust land from the Department of Natural Resources and 3,200 acres of tax-forfeited land from St. Louis County, all located in the Boundary Waters. The purchase would end longstanding administrative challenges the agencies have faced, and the land would continue to be managed as wilderness.
The Forest also plans to buy 17,000 acres outside the BWCA but within the Forest boundary from environmental nonprofit The Conservation Fund. Purchasing the land would increase public and tribal access and recreational opportunities on land that is currently for timber production and sales, the Forest said.
Those interested in learning more about the proposed purchases can attend an open at the Forest Supervisor's Office in Duluth from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 28. A virtual open house will be 4-6 p.m. on Aug. 29.
Public comment on the proposed purchases is also open through Sept. 3.
EQB Environmental Congress to start in Brainerd
The first stop of the EQB's annual Environmental Congress will be in Brainerd.
The Congress will take place across four cities Sept. 23-26, with each stop centering around a different environmental issue.
The Brainerd meeting will be focused on climate resiliency and adaptation in key habitats and include a presentation from the DNR.
The other three meetings will be in St. Cloud, St. Paul and Mankato.
The Congress will include small-group discussion of the state’s ongoing efforts to address critical environmental issues. Participants can share their views with each other and then share their common viewpoints with Board members.
Meetings will be from 4-6 p.m. More information will be available after registration closes Sept. 4.
Those interested in attending should fill out a public interest form.
IEDC announces next set of local energy transition meetings
IEDC announced six new community town halls to discuss the local energy transition.
Minnesota Power plans to end coal operations at its Boswell Energy Center by 2035 and ramp up its use of renewable energy.
IEDC’s community task force will share its draft strategic action plan, informed by town halls hosted earlier this year. Meetings will be in September and October in Nashwauk, Grand Rapids, Deer River, Cohasset, Bigfork and Squaw Lake.
The Just Transition Task Force is comprised of a steering committee with representatives from Itasca County, the city of Cohasset, Minnesota Power, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation and IEDC, plus 20-25 individuals representing nearby cities, government organizations and companies. The goal is to develop an action plan to "ensure a thriving economy" throughout the region's energy transition.
Following the second set of town halls, the energy transition team will finalize its plan using the feedback provided.
The meetings are free and food and childcare will be provided. For more information, visit itascadv.org.
Funding for this environmental story was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR