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PAST MEi Events

Economic Prosperity and a Clean Environment: How do we achieve both?
Making the Case for Energy Efficient Management
2008 Legislative Preview Policy Forum
Environmental Contaminants: Assessing the Risk and Shaping Public Health Policy
Water Sustainability: Managing Competing Needs for a Limited Resource
Carbon Sequestration: Looking to the Land for Climate Change Solutions
Farming Our Fuel: Growing a Sustainable Ethanol Industry



economic prosperity and a clean environment: how do we achieve both?
In the past, growing the economy and protecting the environment often have been regarded as separate or even conflicting goals. However, ensuring success for future generations of Minnesotans means that we must promote economic growth while also protecting critical natural resources. This forum on June 13, 2008, featured leaders from diverse perspectives including state and local government, the environmental and business communities, discussing how Minnesota might maintain a vital economy and protect clean water, air, and open spaces.

Michael Grochala, City of Lino Lakes
Tom Luce, Ameregis and UMN Institute on Race and Poverty
Tom Stinson, Minnesota State Economist and UMN Dept. of Applied Economics
Deb Swackhamer, UMN Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Interim Director Institute on the Environment
John Wells, Minnesota Dept. of Administration, Environmental Quality Board



Business and evironment series –
making the case for energy efficient management
This session, held in May 2008, focused on energy efficiency strategies for mid to large-sized businesses and the benefits businesses can realize by improving energy efficiency. Speakers reviewed current legislative requirements and potential regulatory changes, provided an energy service company’s perspective on reducing energy consumption, and gave first-hand accounts of rising to the challenge and reaping the rewards of designing efficient energy management systems.

Gary Connett, Great River Energy
Steve Flagg, Quality Bicycle Products
Doug Fullen and John Rohlf, Medtronic
Steve Schultz, 3M
Ted Stearns, Thrivent Financial
David Thornton, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency


2008 Legislative Preview Policy forum
The Legislative Preview Policy Forum provides a valuable first look at the top environmental priorities for the upcoming legislative session, and gives audience members the opportunity to raise concerns or pose questions to legislative decision-makers. The 2008 Legislative Preview Forum featured three panels of bipartisan legislators: legislative leadership, transportation and transit, and energy and climate change. Key committee members spoke about anticipated action on issues and major environmental issues under consideration in these areas.


ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS: ASSESSING THE RISK AND SHAPING PUBLIC POLICY

Minnesota recently passed new legislation to address environmental contamination by arsenic, mercury, and perfluorochemicals and the potential for risks to human health. Many of us are unsure what this legislation will mean to Minnesotans and how it will affect our businesses, our policies, and our health. The forum focused on gaining a deeper understanding of Minnesota’s new biomonitoring and tracking legislation and the risk assessment of environmental contaminants. The forum also explored the complexities of risk-based decision-making and the impact this has on public health policy.

John Adgate, Ph. D., University of Minnesota School of Public Health

Richard Becker, Ph.D., American Chemistry Council
Tannie Eshenaur, M.P.H., Minnesota Department of Health
Jean Johnson, Ph.D., Minnesota Department of Health
John Linc Stine, Minnesota Department of Health
Michael Sandusky, M.S., Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
David Wallinga, M.D., Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy



WATER SUSTAINABILITY: MANAGING COMPETING NEEDS FOR A LIMITED RESOURCE
On June 20, 2007, this policy forum investigated the growing tension between the increasing demand for water and the constraints of limited ground and surface water resources. The forum focused on current knowledge about Minnesota’s ground and surface water resources and identified areas where information is lacking. Factors such as population growth, agriculture, and large manufacturing, were explored as well as how those factors create a collision course between multiple needs for water and an increasingly limited supply of Minnesota’s trademark natural resource.

Jim Anderson, University of Minnesota

Chris Elvrum, Metropolitan Council
Mark Mason, Natural Resources Group
Laurel Reeves, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Dale Setterholm, Minnesota Geological Survey



Carbon Sequestration: Looking to the Land for climate Change Solutions
On April 20, 2007 the Minnesota Environmental Initiative convened a policy forum exploring the emerging focus on carbon sequestration and climate change. This groundbreaking forum featured experts and practitioners in agriculture, forestry, conservation and environmental policy discussing the latest developments in carbon sequestration, including the benefits, opportunities, risks and trade-offs, and the outlook for sequestration credits in carbon markets. Click below to view two of the presentations given by forum panelists.



farming our fuel: growing a sustainable ethanol industry
November 15, 2006, MEI brought together a diverse group of regional leaders from the ethanol industry, government, environmental organizations, agricultural groups, and academia to explore key questions and issues about the ethanol industry in Minnesota. Click below to view presentations given by forum panelists.