South Dakota citizens crowd commission hearing to object to Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline

On January 15, the topic of permitting for the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline brought hundreds of people to a South Dakota Public Utilities Commission hearing in Sioux Falls. The meeting focused on the permitting of a 2,500–mile carbon capture pipeline that will run across five states, including eastern South Dakota and Minnesota.

Many of the people in attendance expressed concerns with the pipeline, including safety and its impact on property values. The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission rejected Summit’s first permit application in 2023. Learn more here.

Industrial Stormwater Program update

The Industrial Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit is now on public notice and open for public comment. Documents available for review include the draft permit, public notice announcement, and fact sheet.

For more information, visit the MPCA Public Notices webpage and the public comment form here.

Cities of Blaine and Lexington in court over joint water system

The cities of Blaine and Lexington were in Anoka County District Court on January 27, with Blaine arguing it should be able to split from the cities’ shared water system, which they developed over 40 years ago.

Blaine sued Lexington in 2022 to separate from the system, mainly over water quality concerns emanating from Lexington. Lexington wants to maintain the joint system, saying the current system is the most efficient way for them to get to their water. Learn more here.

Minnesota House committee approves bill ending nuclear moratorium

A bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent) would lift the state’s moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants. On January 21, the House Energy Finance and Policy Committee approved the bill and sent it on to the House Taxes Committee.

The bill would also prohibit the demolition of fossil-fuel electric generating plants and make it state policy to support carbon capture and sequestration.

Since the Minnesota Supreme Court has found the 2025 activities of the GOP-led House have occurred without a quorum, this work may need to be revisited for the bill to proceed. Still, the proposed measure represents progress for one of MMUA’s main priorities this legislative session, since the topic of lifting the moratorium is clearly front and center for legislators. Learn more here.

Climate Smart Communities Initiative now accepting grant applications to help communities accelerate climate resilience plans and projects

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative is seeking proposals from communities facing significant climate-related challenges, based on environmental as well as socioeconomic considerations.



For the purposes of the grant program, a community must be represented by a community-based organization and a local, regional, or Tribal government entity working collaboratively, and they must complete the application in partnership with an adaptation professional. Grant applications will be accepted into March of 2025. Learn more here.

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program in Minnesota

This program, offered through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development mission area, affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.

An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings. Public works vehicles and equipment are examples of eligible items. Learn more here.

Emergency Preparedness and Restoration Conference

February 19–20

St. Cloud, MN

Make plans to join other municipal utility professionals at this interactive conference. If your utility is ever in need of receiving mutual aid or interested in traveling, in-state or out-of-state, to assist with mutual aid, this conference can help prepare you and your team to be successful. Leadership and crew personnel will gain valuable insight into the process and help MMUA improve its coordination efforts.

Topics to be covered include:

• Review Hurricane Milton efforts
• Hands-on tabletop exercise
• Mutual aid coordination and strategies
• Florida's new F-ROC billing form

Please click below to register for this valuable training opportunity. Advanced registration closes this week on February 1, 2025.