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Edition:
September 02, 2010
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NEWS
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Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Entenza zeroes in on environment, economy
DFL candidate cites advantages of wind energy, biomass at DL meeting
 | | DFL candidate for governor Matt Entenza met last week with area residents during a stop in Detroit Lakes. The former minority leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives has been touring the state as one of several hopefuls in the two major parties. Photo by John W. Dermody
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• by John W. Dermody
"We could be the Silicon Valley of wind turbines."
That was one of the interesting statements made by DFL gubernatorial candidate Matt Entenza during a recent interview with the Frazee-Vergas Forum.
The native of Worthington, who now lives in the Twin Cities, addressed a meeting in Detroit Lakes last week and targeted issues concerning the environment, Minnesota's economy and the "take back" of Local Government Aid (LGA) for small cities, along with such rural hot topics as health care and education.
Raised in a small Southern Minnesota city, Entenza said he is concerned with issues that are on the minds of Greater Minnesota residents. He acknowledged that governmental units in small towns were disproportionately hit by Gov. Tim Pawlenty's unallotment of LGA funds over the past 11 months.
He also noted that the latest budget figures were due to be released Wednesday, which will give rural Minnesota a glimpse concerning the possibility of another unallotment by the lame duck governor.
Jobs needed
Entenza said, "A key issue for Northwest Minnesota is the economy...and manufacturing." He said the production of wind turbines would be a natural for the region because small towns could generate electricity, give jobs to persons needing them, and sell excess electricity.
An advocate of alternative power sources, the candidate decried the fact some turbine manufacturing positions were lost to Grand Forks, N.D.
"The use of wind power would be better than having to buy natural gas from Louisiana or oil from the Middle East," he added.
"One of the things we should do...the state should be in a partnership with cities like Frazee to help put up wind turbines; we've also seen some school districts get into it."
He continued, "The State of Iowa has made it a priority."
"Rural Minnesota needs to be competitive and LGAs are the way we can make sure small communities stay strong," the DFL gubernatorial hopeful explained.
Communities deserve
fair treatment
"The Governor has balanced the budget on the backs of rural cities. And we're facing an additional deficit," he stressed. "It is unfair to rural communities and I'm concerned that it will continue."
Entenza said, "Nobody is expecting a special deal...just fairness."
He said current policies have hurt the economic competitiveness of Northwest Minnesota.
With the environment and energy big issues in his campaign, he said, "We need to work for the next generation of biomass fuels."
He said the University of Minnesota ag campus (St. Paul) and the University of Minnesota-Crookston campus are both working on the issue. Growing of the right grasses could become a billion dollar industry, according to research.
"They have done a good job in the biomass area...a good investment.
"We want America to be dependent on our farmers, not the Middle East for fuels."
Entenza stated that new industries could be created for cities like Frazee, including the manufacture of the afore-mentioned wind turbines.
"And we need to find new industries attracted to rural cities ... which will help us focus on growing the economy," he continued.
Comprehensive plan needed
As one of nearly 20 candidates (in the two major parties) seeking the office of governor, the former minority leader in the house of representatives, he said, "We need to have a plan for rural Minnesota ... that will bring some wealth to rural communities."
The former prosecutor of white collar crime cases handled by the Minnesota Attorney General's office in the legislature gave examples of how he went after scam programs that cheated people out of money.
A big case was one involving funds raised for a little girl in Moorhead who needed a liver transplant. His efforts helped get $400,000 back from persons who had control of the benefit's funds ... for a while.
While he commented extensively on the subject of alternative energy and a need to improve the economy, he also focused on another of his favorite issues - education.
This recession has further proved the importance of our state colleges and universities," Entenza said. The system has record high enrollments and many campuses in rural areas have high enrollments, Entenza explained.
Preserving and enhancing state college and universities can come even with a budget deficit ahead in the future, he said.
"With the deficit, we have to make cuts, but it can also be done by shrinking the number of state agencies and cutting down the size of administration," he emphasized.
Huge economic issue: Health Care
Entenza said, "Health care is one of our most serious economic issues. Right now when someone thinks about starting a business, they think about health care. When someone thinks about changing jobs, they think about health care.
"This doesn't make sense, and it gives an economic edge to countries that guarantee coverage to their whole population.
"Here's something else that doesn't make sense: Conservative ideologues have worked for years to convince us it's wrong to work for health care for all," he pointed out.
"They seem to think it makes sense to guarantee expensive emergency room treatment but not less expensive preventative care. They neglect to mention that when someone who lacks insurance goes to the emergency room for treatment, we all end up paying for it through our property taxes and higher insurance premiums.
"Essentially, these ideologues want us to pay more for less care."
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