State Senator Rich Draheim announced yesterday that he will seek re-election in Senate District 22. Legislative districts have been completely re-drawn following the 2020 Census, and there was some question as to whether Draheim would run again after he was drawn into the same district as Senator Julie Rosen. Rosen is a longtime Republican Senator who is currently the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and one of the most influential people in Minnesota State Government.
Before the new map was introduced, Draheim said he had spoken with some of his colleagues about being drawn in together, and he was prepared to step aside to clear the way for other senators to run. However, after the map was released, Senator Rosen approached him to let him know that she will not be seeking re-election, and told him, as Draheim put it, that she wants him to take over.
“She is the most powerful senator,” he said. “She’s not the majority leader, or the minority leader, she’s the Chair of the Finance Committee. She has been a powerful force in the capitol.
“I’m very happy that she is entrusting me to represent the people in that district, from the Iowa border to Jordan.”
In a statement announcing that she will not be seeking another term, Rosen said that she and Draheim share the same values.
“His reasons for wanting to serve are exactly what we need at the Capitol,” she wrote. “He cares deeply about the people he serves and our great state. He has my complete support and I know he will serve us well.”
For his part, Draheim lamented the loss of Rosen and many other women who are currently serving as Senators.
“We don’t have a lot of females in the Senate, from either party. And almost every female got paired up with another senator. And that’s too bad, because you’re going to have a lot less females in the senate, moving forward, which is very disappointing.”
While Draheim will be seeking a third term in the Senate, he will not represent the City of Northfield, which has now been drawn into District 58. With no incumbent senator in the newly drawn district, the expectation is to see several people announce a candidacy for the seat. Draheim himself said he has spoken with two people that have already expressed interest in running.
Lippert gathering support for Northfield grid modernization
Representative Todd Lippert said his bill seeking $4.5 Million to upgrade and modernize Northfield’s power grid is starting to pick up some momentum and garner some attention.
The growth of solar power in Northfield, both in commercial solar arrays and the use of solar panels on individual homes, has been significant. The City of Northfield’s Climate Action Plan calls for the use of only carbon-free electricity by 2030, and solar power is one of the key components to reaching that goal.
Before that can happen, however, the power grid must be modernized. Right now, Xcel Energy is charging an “Interconnection Fee” of $15,000 for newly installed solar panels to connect to the power grid, which, Representative Lippert said, is “unfair.”
Beyond the obstacles created in connecting to the grid, Lippert said, is the simple fact that Northfield’s power infrastructure is aging and in order for the city to achieve its goals, the grid will have to be completely modernized.
“The upgrade is necessary to just bring more distributed energy online,” he said. “This will deal with that in a comprehensive way.”
Lippert’s bill creates what he calls a pilot project for other communities in the state, who are dealing with the same problems, to follow.
“Northfield likes to be in this position,” he said. “We like to lead.”
He said the bill has support in the House.
“I have some cosigners. And the chair of the [Climate and Energy] Committee is very supportive. My colleagues understand that we have to move toward a smarter grid, and are looking for models, places where that can be showcased. And Northfield can be one of them.”
The money to pay for the upgrade would come from the state’s Renewable Development Account, which among other things was established to encourage grid modernization, including, projects that implement electricity storage, load control, and smart meter technology, all of which are reasons Lippert, and the city, would like to to upgrade.
He said the bill will receive a hearing today in the House Climate and Energy Committee.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Representative Todd Lippert can be heard here
New water treatment plant open houses this week and next
The City of Northfield is hosting two open houses to discuss the results of a recent water system study, its recommendations, and three
location options for an additional drinking water treatment plant.
In 2019, in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Health, the city had water samples taken to be tested for contaminants. Two separate tests revealed high levels of manganese in the water supply, so the city commissioned the water study from the Bolton and Menk engineering firm. The results of the study came back with the recommendation that Northfield build a new drinking water treatment plant at either the Hall Avenue water tower site or off Maple Street south of Meadows Park to fit all the necessary improvements.
One open House will be conducted online this Thursday, February 24, from 5:30-7:00 pm. The second will be in person on March 3rd, also from 5:30-7:00 at City Hall.
Each meeting will begin with a short presentation describing the project. The remainder of the meeting will be an open house setting where residents and property owners will be able to view illustrations and have questions answered by city staff. Attendees will be asked for their preference on the location for the new plant.
Click here for the link to the online meeting
Conference Number: +1(669) 224-3412
Access Code: 476-585-333
For more information on the in-person meeting, click here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
