Minnesota Caucuses Next Tuesday: An Important Step Toward Keeping the Lights On

Minnesotans: We Need Your Help On An Important Issue

In the Minnesota caucus system, party platforms are built bottom-up, not written all at once by national leaders. They emerge through layers of meetings, resolutions, and negotiations that start with ordinary party members and move upward.

This process is used (with variations) by both the DFL Party and the Republican Party, especially in states with strong caucus traditions. I myself once participated in this caucus system which begins at the grassroots local level, the moves to the district level, then to the state and ultimately to federal level. In short, party platforms emerge through layers of meetings, resolutions, and negotiations that start with ordinary party members and move upward.

It's at the precinct level that platform planks (policy statements) are proposed, debated and voted upon. If you attend your local caucus meeting, YOU can make a difference.

When I became (briefly) involved in party politics (1984), I spoke up about an issue which was passed and elevated to the district level. Because I was apparently articulate, I also (unintentionally) got "elected" (chosen) to become part of the district level where I served on the platform committee. In our district we had hundreds, perhaps thousands of of "statements" to review and syntheisize into a workable platform which will be voted on item by item in the district convention. The resolutions that passed in the district convention would be forwarded to the State Convention. The state level committee also has an open ear to activists, experts and party leaders. Ultimately from there these state platform planks are submitted to the National body (GOP, DNC) to become the "official" party platform.

Today's MISO energy mix, Feb 1, 2026.
Once Minnesota eliminates coal and gas, 
nuclear will be essential for steady power
because wind and sun are intermittent.

FOR THE 2026 MINNESOTA CONVENTION there is an especially important platform item to address.

Currently there is a plank on the DFL platform that asserts being opposed to nuclear power. If you are attending a DFL caucus meeting, write a resolution to remove the plank opposing nuclear and to lift the moratorium.

In February 2023, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed the Clean Energy Acceleration Act, mandating 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, with interim targets of 80% by 2030 and 90% by 2035. This ambitious goal, while supported by utilities, faces significant hurdles, including the 1994 moratorium banning new nuclear power plants – a critical source of reliable, carbon-free baseload power.  

With energy demand rising due to data centers, electric vehicles and industrial growth, and with the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) classifying Minnesota’s region as “high risk” for outages under extreme conditions, experts warn that without nuclear energy, the 2040 target may be unattainable. Despite setbacks in the 2024 legislative session, advocates like Generation Atomic have made substantial progress toward lifting the moratorium, laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more reliable energy future.

NERC’s 2024 assessment highlights Minnesota as one of the most vulnerable to outages, especially as coal plants retire faster than replacements are built. The 1994 moratorium prevents utilities from planning new nuclear facilities, limiting options for consistent, carbon-free power.

Nuclear power is clean, safe, and carbon-free. Minnesota has committed to de-carbonizing its electric grid by 2040, but currently prohibits the building of new nuclear plants. Our coalition is working to remove this outdated law.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://mnnuclear.org/
For more information regarding the DFL Party Platform Change, Signup Here.

Nuclear power is clean, safe, and carbon-free. Minnesota has committed to de-carbonizing its electric grid by 2040, but currently prohibits the building of new nuclear plants. Our coalition is working to remove this outdated law.

The Most Recent Cold Snap

On January 24, the electric system across the central U.S. came close to serious trouble during a winter storm. The grid operator for the region issued a warning that means electricity supplies were tight and blackouts were getting closer if conditions worsened.

One major reason was that wind power dropped sharply just when demand was high. During the cold weather, wind speeds fell, and many wind turbines produced very little electricity. Before the storm, wind farms were supplying a strong share of power. By midnight on January 24, they were producing only a small fraction of what planners normally expect in winter.

While living in Puerto Rico for a year in 1979-80, I experience blackouts and brownouts almost weekly. This was disruptive, but not really deadly for the average citizen. Temps are 70 to 90 degrees year 'round there. But this past week while the MISO* grid was stretched to the max, temps were 20 to 30 below zero. Blackouts will have serious consequences for homeowners who have plumbing. (And who doesn't these days?)

* * * 

Groups align to lift Minnesota's nuclear energy ban

https://www.businessnorth.com/businessnorth_exclusives/groups-align-to-lift-minnesotas-nuclear-energy-ban/article_a3a4761d-afa7-4458-bc7a-43df54eb70a7.html

Why Nuclear is Cheaper than Wind and Solar

https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/why-nuclear-is-cheaper-than-wind

Germany's Merz calls nuclear phaseout 'serious strategic mistake'

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germanys-merz-calls-nuclear-phaseout-serious-strategic-mistake/3800545?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Germany shut down its last three nuclear reactors in April 2023, marking the end of more than 60 years of nuclear power generation in Europe's largest economy.

* MISO = Midcontinent Independent System Operator, serving electrical power to 15 states in the center of the country from Manitoba and Minnesota to the Gulf Coast

A Brief Review of Gregory Boyd's "The Myth of a Christian Nation"

I purchased this book after a friend recommended it to me, though I can't recall exactly when. It's been in one or another of my reading piles for quite some time. I purchased the book because of the recommendation, the reviews on Amazon, and the importance of this issue. What is the proper relationship between Christian faith and the State? 

Jacques Ellul addressed this issue in his False Presence of the Kingdom (1963), though he was not writing about American Christianity specifically. In The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church (2005), Gregory A. Boyd critiques Christian nationalism in America in the 21st century. Like Ellul, Boyd, a theologian, pastor, and former Oneness Pentecostal who became an Anabaptist-influenced evangelical, argues that the kingdom of God is fundamentally distinct from earthly political kingdoms. Drawing from Jesus' teachings—especially the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7)—he contends that Christians err when they seek to wield "power over" others through politics, as this mimics the world's coercive methods rather than Christ's "power under" model of sacrificial love and service.

The book was sparked by a 2004 sermon series at Boyd's church (Woodland Hills in St. Paul, Minnesota), where nearly 1,000 members left after he refused to endorse Republican politics or display patriotic symbols. What put him in hot water was his belief that a "significant segment of American evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry." For some, the endgame is "taking America back for God."

When I think of the merger of Church and State, the Crusades testify that this is folly. And when I think of the Inquisition, it brings to mind a maxim that my mother was fond of saying: "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."

Boyd suggests that Christians should engage society through personal ethics, not legislation; vote as informed citizens but avoid conflating faith with party loyalty. Boyd critiques both left and right for using God to justify agendas. 

The author's primary thesis is that political power corrupts the gospel's radical message, turning Christianity into a tool for control rather than transformation. 

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." It would help us much to spend time seriously thinking about what that means. Paul himself wrote, "My citizenship is in heaven," though on one occasion he appealed to Caesar (as a legal Roman citizen) to avoid an unjust trial in Jerusalem. 

Not everyone will agree with Boyd's arguments. Some might suggest he's overly simplistic. As the saying goes, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." This are some who most definitely believe that abstaining from politics will cede ground to evil.

A portion of the book addresses our founding, noteworthy as we prepare to celebrate our 250th birthday. The founders did not revolt from England to form a "Christian nation." Though the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Christians and Deists, they deliberately built a secular republic with no religious test for office. 

* * * 

Returning to False Presence of the Kingdom (1963) Ellul critiqued the modern tendency—especially among well-intentioned Christians—to confuse human social action with the work of God’s Kingdom. Ellul warned that when Christians look for the Kingdom in their own accomplishments, they mistake activism for revelation, effectiveness for faithfulness, and political wins for spiritual reality—thus obscuring the true Kingdom that only God can bring.

Related Links 

The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

False Presence of the Kingdom
Imaginary Interviews: My Visit with Leo Tolstoy

What Do Data Centers Do and Why Are They Necessary?

Data centers play an important function in our modern digital world. The problem is that they are physical entities in the real world, and though nearly everyone uses this technology, it's no surprise that many people ascribe to the NIMBY view: Not In My Back Yard.

So, what is a data center? Data centers are specialized facilities that house the computing infrastructure powering our digital world. They're essential because modern society relies on massive, reliable, and scalable data processing that can't be handled by individual devices or homes. Here's a break down the key reasons, with real-world context.

Centralized Power for Massive Scale
Everyday apps (like streaming Netflix, searching Google, or running AI ) generate trillions of data requests daily. A single smartphone can't process this—it's like asking one ant to lift a mountain.

In contrast to the limited capabilities of our laptops, iPads, desktop devices and smartphones, DCs pack thousands of servers into one secure building, providing the raw computing power (CPU/GPU) and storage needed. For example, Google's data centers handle 8.5 billion daily searches, using energy equivalent to a small city. Without DCs, the internet would grind to a halt; loading a webpage could take minutes. 

24/7 Reliability and Uptime

My year in Puerto Rico (1978-79) gave me many memories and taught me many lessons. One of them was the importance of our energy grid, hence my desire to see Minnesota lift its nuclear moratorium. 

In Puerto Rico we had blackouts or brownouts nearly every week. Sometimes they lasted hours and occasionally all day. Power outages, hardware failuility res, or internet glitches happen everywhere. Although it is only an inconvenience for most of us, for businesses downtime can be costly—for example, Amazon loses $66,000 per minute during outages. 

This is what data centers are all about. They include redundant systems: backup generators, cooling (to prevent server meltdowns), and failover tech. Tier IV data centers guarantee 99.995% uptime (less than 30 minutes of downtime per year).

Security and Compliance

Data Security is also an important attribute of DCs. Breaches cost $4.45 million on average (IBM, 2023). Storing sensitive info (health records, financials) on personal devices invites hacks.

DCs offer physical security (guards, biometrics), encryption, and compliance with laws like GDPR or HIPAA. Servers are in locked vaults, monitored 24/7 and protect against cyber threats.

Efficiency and Cost Savings

Running servers at home is wasteful—your PC uses 10x more energy per task than a data center server which optimizes with shared resources, economies of scale, and green tech (e.g., Microsoft's underwater data centers for natural cooling). One center can serve millions, slashing costs by 80% vs. on-premise setups. As a result cloud services are affordable for all; AWS powers 33% of the web for pennies per use.

Enabling Innovation and the Future

Emerging tech like AI, IoT (50 billion devices by 2030), and VR needs exascale computing—far beyond consumer hardware. Data centers fuel breakthroughs in technology. NVIDIA's AI training for self-driving cars requires 100,000+ GPUs in centers. Hyperscalers (Google, Meta) build them to handle exponential data growth (90% of all data created in the last 2 years). This is where the power comes for ChatGPT, autonomous vehicles, and personalized medicine. Without data centers, AI wouldn't exist at scale.

In short, data centers are the "electric grid" of the digital age—unseen but indispensable. Global demand is exploding (expected to consume 8% of world electricity by 2030), driving innovations like edge computing to bring them closer to users. If we didn't have them, we'd revert to a pre-internet world. 

Do you have questions on specifics, like sustainability? Fire away!

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus: The Roman Ideal of Civic Virtue

The significance of George Washington's inspirational career can't be overstated. As the first U.S. President, Washington lead the nation’s formation, setting an example for governance, and commanding the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War, thereby securing independence from Britain. He was self-aware regarding his preeminent leadership position in that he knew he was setting precedents in nearly every decision he made. One of his most consequential was establishing a tradition when he chose to relinquish power rather than maintain it after his second term as president. 

Where this idea stem from? From the prominent Roman statesman, consul and twice-appointed dictator Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (c. 519–c. 430 BCE). Cincinnatus is celebrated in Roman tradition as a model of selfless leadership, humility, and devotion to the republic over personal power.

Cincinnatus lived during a turbulent period shortly after the overthrow of Rome's monarchy in 509 BCE, when the young republic faced threats from neighboring Italic tribes like the Aequi and Volsci. As an upper-crust aristocrat, he served as consul in 460 BCE but later retired to a modest farm following financial hardships (possibly due to the death of his son Caeso in exile). 

His legendary story centers on his appointment as dictator in 458 BCE during a military crisis. A Roman consular army, led by Lucius Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus, was trapped and besieged by the Aequi on Mount Algidus near Rome. With the city in peril, the Senate offered Cincinnatus—then in his 80s—the extraordinary powers of dictator (magister populi), a temporary office granting absolute authority for up to six months to resolve emergencies. 

Statue of Cincinnatus in Vienna

According to the ancient historian Livy, Roman envoys found Cincinnatus plowing his small farm (some accounts say digging a ditch) when they arrived with the summons. He reportedly donned his toga, accepted the role without hesitation, and led a swift campaign that defeated the Aequi in a single day, liberating the trapped legions. Upon returning to Rome in triumph, Cincinnatus disbanded his army, relinquished his dictatorship after just 15–16 days (well short of the six-month limit), and famously returned to his plow, rejecting any rewards or prolonged power. 

A second tradition, less corroborated, claims he was reappointed dictator in 439 BCE to investigate and suppress a potential coup by the wealthy plebeian Spurius Maelius, who was accused of using grain distributions to amass monarchical ambitions. Cincinnatus again resolved the crisis quickly and stepped down. 

How did George Washington come to be familiar with these and other stories from ancient times? They were readers. I believe it was David McCullough's biography of John Adams that told a story about the leading book store in London in the 1770s. He wrote that more than half of the sales there had been to the American Colonies. Adams, Jefferson, Washington and others were dedicated students of philosophy, economics, history and the accumulated wisdom of the ages.

Cincinnatus himself became a symbol of the ideal citizen-soldier and republican leader, embodying humility and civic responsibility. In Roman lore, he represented the virtues of an agrarian past over urban corruption. 

His story profoundly influenced the American Founding Fathers, who saw parallels in their own republican experiment. George Washington was dubbed the "American Cincinnatus" for resigning his military commission after the Revolutionary War and declining kingship, prioritizing civilian rule. 

The title "American Cincinnatus" was first applied to George Washington by his contemporaries, notably during and after the Revolutionary War. The nickname is most commonly attributed to Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, who, in his eulogy for Washington in 1799, praised him as a modern embodiment of the Roman leader Cincinnatus— a farmer who reluctantly took power to save his country and then returned to private life.

This led to the naming of the Society of the Cincinnati (1783), a fraternal order of Revolutionary War officers, after him. The city of Cincinnati, Ohio, also derives its name from the society.  Today, Cincinnatus remains invoked in discussions of ethical leadership, contrasting with figures who cling to power, and underscores themes of temporary authority in democratic systems. 

There are lessons about power to be gleaned from this story.

EdNote: U.S. Grant's favorite horse was name Cincinnati. There is also a statue of Cincinnati to this day.

Thinking about Power, Plus 14 Thought-Provoking Quotes

"Ecce Homo"--Cigoli. Who's got the power?

Power shapes human history, relationships, and societies. It can inspire progress or breed corruption. At its best, power enables leadership, justice, and protection; at its worst, it produces arrogance, abuse, and tyranny. Thinkers from Plato to Martin Luther King Jr. have reflected on its nature, warning of its dangers while pointing to its potential for good. 

On a personal level, however, our sense of freedom is narrower than it seems. Beyond genetics and habits, we are bound by inner forces we rarely notice. Cognitive biases shape our thinking, emotions override reason, and early conditioning imprints patterns we struggle to escape. Addictions and cravings further erode self-control, while culture and language limit what we can imagine. Biology—through hunger, fatigue, or aging—also restrains us, as does our tendency toward self-deception. "The heart is deceitful above all things." (Jeremiah 17:9) These internal boundaries remind us that freedom is not absolute, but rather a continual negotiation with forces within ourselves, both conscious and unconscious.

The following quotes explore the complexity of power—how it is gained, tested, misused, and restrained—and why understanding it remains essential for anyone who seeks to influence others or navigate a world built upon it.

14 Quotes on Power

1. “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
   — Lord Acton
2. “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
   — Abraham Lincoln
3. “Knowledge itself is power.”
   — Francis Bacon
4. “When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.”
   — Thomas Jefferson (attributed)
5. “The measure of a man is what he does with power.”
   — Plato
6. “Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true.”
   — Honoré de Balzac
7. “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”
   — Mahatma Gandhi
8. “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.”
   — Martin Luther King Jr.
9. “Power is like being a lady… if you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.”
   — Margaret Thatcher
10. “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
    — Sun Tzu
11. “The object of power is power.”
    — George Orwell, 1984*
12. “With great power there must also come great responsibility.”
    — Stan Lee (Spider-Man comics, 1962)
13. “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
    — Alice Walker
14. “Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.”
    — George Bernard Shaw

Related Link

Yesterday's blog post about the benefits and dangers of police power.

How Much Land Does It Take? Wndmills and Solar Farms

PUTTING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE DEPT. 

click to enlarge

Population of Minnesota: 5.7 million

Amount of land needed to power Minnesota with Wind: 4,223.7 km sq.*

Problem: Sometimes the wind doesn't blow. Check out this story from Business Insider.

Wind Energy's Summer Slump Bolsters Natural Gas Dominance

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/wind-energys-summer-slump-bolsters-natural-gas-dominance-1033614255

Last week, U.S. wind power output slumped to the lowest in almost three years, and generators ramped up natural gas use to keep the lights on. This is not a glitch or a one-time occurrence. It is simply the reality and highlights the difference between reliability and climate ambitions. And the former will always trump the latter.

—Business Insider

* * * * * 

* I doubt this is entirely accurate once you factor in the amount of energy required to operate the mines. A friend told me 25 years ago (if I remember correctly) that Minnesota Power had six power plants. Each of the five mines had a dedicated plant and the sixth provided electricity to all the homes in Northern Minnesota. If we factor in the mines and industral needs, the amount of area for wind farms might be double the above.

** FWIW: The typical life span of a wind turbine is 20 years, with routine maintenance required every six months. Wind turbine power output is variable due to the fluctuation in wind speed.

An Important Conversation about Global Energy

“Energy won’t end poverty, but you can’t end poverty without energy.”
--Scott Tinker

This past winter while working on an article for Business North (titled Is Our Energy Grid At Risk?) I stumbled across this talk which I conisdered so imortant that I felt compelled to share it. It is titled An Honest & Sensible Conversation about Global Energy by Scott Tinker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTfwqvNuk44

What does the future look like for those opposed to nuclear energy? 
What I've learned in reading and talking with people about these matters is that most people take it all for granted. In America, energy is not "top of mind" as a major concern. 

It's become apparent that in this year's election cycle many people are motivated by fear. For many, their perceptions are driven by news media and online social platforms. On the list of top fears we see cyber-terrorism, gun violence, crime, financial instability, personal health issues, environmental pollution, World War, identity theft, government surveillance, climate change and public speaking. 

On my own personal short list, the collapse of our energy grid is right near the top, which I did not see it on any list. Perhaps it's because most Americans are unaware of the fragility of the grid. And why? In part, because mainstream media has been hyping the bright future of solar and wind, EVs and the end of dependency on fossil fuels.

Whle discussing this issue recently with my brother-in-law, he compared our situation to the same illogical thinking as the folks on the Titanic. "Well no, we don't have enough life boats to accommodate everyone but don't worry, that's in our 10 year plan. By the way, the designers say there isn't room for any more life boats anyways, but don't worry, the engineers say it's unsinkable. Now just take your seat and enjoy the ride. We've got this."

Should we ignore the red flags, or get serious about addressing the need for reliable, affordable and safe energy? 

* * * 

Related Links 

Top Issues Americans Are Anxious About

Is Our Energy Grid At Risk? 

Interview with David Watson: Putting Nuclear Power in Perspective

Grid Fragility and a Book by Meredith Angwin

Small Reactors, Big Potential Impact