August/September 1978 RAIN Page 11 about to guarantee upgraded standards for tower co nstruction, larger rights-of-way and ground clearance, the encouragement of more R&D into better transmission technologies such as superconductors, and of course stricter standards on public exposure to electromagnetic fields. But after the eye-opening experiences of the last couple years, most powerlinc groups would find it hard to place much trust in the existing energy system to act so responsibly. Ultimately the public would foot the bill in higher utility rates and the increased loss of good land. And yet such reforms would still ignore the issue of need and the nonsense of shipping electricity hundreds of miles. In fact, marginal improvements in the safety factor will only add to the pressure for more generating capacity and thus more lines. You don't build a superhighway and not expect more traffic. As an effective strategy, such rdorms are a very shorr-term solution. Powerline activists could also begin to focus more strongly on the policy level of decision-making, attempting to move the system of centralized planning towards greater accountability to public participation in energy development issues, including a resolution of problems facing local jurisdictions in the siting of energy related facilities. For some regions of the country like the Northern Great Plains, there is no choice but to effectively and skillfully work in this arena if they are to avoid becoming an energy sacrifice area. In the long run a lot depends on which policies are pushed, and how thoroughly they can be made to restructure the inequities and misguided priorities vested in the system that produces and distribu tes energy illl this country. Farmers in Minnesota know this only too well. mUllit les. What are needed now are ways to translate this hope into workable, region-specific strategies that can be used in all aspects of the political process, from direct action to court suits to demonstration projects. Regional "soft-path" studies that document how conservationlrenewable energy can avoid more expansionism, and the integration of energy alternatives into the local distribution systems are some of the things that will point the way to the good economies of smaller scale. Much of this article is based on articles by or conversations with Louise B. Young, Don Olson, Pat Smith, Marjane Ambler, Skip Laitner and Bill Boly-in addition to those already mentioned. Thanks also to Sierra and Ruralamerica magazines. -SA A Partial Guide to Poweriine Activists PowCl'line groups are forming in dozens of regions across the country. The partial list below focuses on three areas of strongest activity. If you want to locate powerline activists in your area, try contacting a citizens' actioniresource council or a local environmental group. If you want to make contact with other powerline groups, or learn how to better organi7.e one, come to the National Conference at Lowry, Minnesota, in September. Northern Great Plains Powerline activists in the Northern Plains tend to be affiliated with their regional resource councils, who are illvolved in a range of energy development issues. For more informat'ion contact: Northern Plains Resource Council (Jeanne Charter) Stapleton Bldg. Billings, MT 59101 4061248-1154 Dakota Resource Council (John Norton) Box 254 Dickinson, NO 58601 7011227-1851 Powder River Basin Rcsource Council (Sarah Gorin) 724 South 4th St. Douglas, WY 82633 307/358-5558 Northern Colorado Resource Council (Randy Morgan) 137 West College Ave., No. 14 Fort Collins, CO 80524 303/484-9462 Minnesota There are numerous rural powerline groups in Minnesota which are now consolidated into the General Assembly to Stop the Powerlines (GASP). Farmers in Minnesota have also been strongly supported by the urban-based Powerline Taskforce, which is part of the Northern Sun Alliance. For more information contact: GASP-General Assembly to Stop the Powerlines Lowry Town Hall Lowry, MN The Powerline Taskforce/Northern Sun Alliance 1513 East Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55404 Upstate New York Powerline groups in New York are part of a loose network called the KV Alliance. Out-of-region inquiries for general information would best be sent to Upstate People for Safe Energy Technology (UPSET). For more information contact. UPSET-Upstate People for Safe Energy Technology Box 571 Canton, NY 13617 Citizens for Safe Power Transmission Box 351 Red Hook, NY 12571 Lake Shore Alliance c/o Bielemeier Gcncral Delivery Rosc, NY 14541
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