Nuclear Power Plants: Development & Controversy: Newspapers

Newspaper Clippings Regarding Northern States Power Company, 1970-1974, collected by Kenneth Meter.
Photocopied clippings from Minnesota and national sources regarding nuclear power activities and opposition. There is information on the construction and operation of nuclear plants at Becker, Henderson, and Prairie Island in Minnesota and in Tyrone, Wisconsin, and of a coal storage facility at Pig's Eye Island, St. Paul. The stories detail opposition to the plants, their construction, and give considerable information on various aspects of nuclear energy including pollution, waste storage, and human cost as opposed to economic gain. There is also information on natural gas, solar energy, utility rates, and the effects of nuclear plants on rural life.
MNHS call number: See the finding aid in the library (Meter, Kenneth).

Newspapers:

• St. Paul, Minn.: St. Paul Pioneer Press
• St. Paul, Minn.: St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch (an index for articles published in 1967 or after is located in the Hubbs Microfilm Room)
• Minneapolis, Minn.: Minneapolis Star Tribune (an index for articles published after 1970 is located in the Hubbs Microfilm Room)
• Minneapolis, Minn.: Minneapolis Star
• Red Wing, Minn.: Red Wing Republican Eagle
• Monticello, Minn.: The Monticello Times
• Elk River, Minn.: The Star News

Dates:

• July 1, 1964: The Elk River plant become opperational.
• June 19, 1967: Construction begins on Unit One of the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant.
• June 25, 1968: Construction begins on Unit One of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant.
• June 25, 1969: Construction begins on Unit Two of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant.
• December 10,1970: Criticality is achieved on Unit One of the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant.
• March 5,1971: Grid connection on Unit One of the Monticello Power Plant is completed.
• June 30, 1971: Unit One of the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant enters commercial service. 
• December 1, 1973: Criticality is achieved on Unit One of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant.
• December 4, 1973: Grid connection on Unit One of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant is completed.
• December 16, 1973: Unit One of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant enters commercial service. 
• December 17, 1974: Criticality is achieved on Unit Two of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant.
• December 21,1974: Grid connection on Unit Two of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant is completed.
• December 21, 1974: Unit Two of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant enters commercial service.
• May 1977: Minnesota Radioactive Waste Management Act is adopted by state legislature.
• 1991: Northern States Power files a certificate of need with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for additional “temporary” storage of nuclear waste in dry casks outside of its Prairie Island power plant.
• 1994: Northern States Power seeks authorization from the Minnesota Legislature to permanently store radioactive waste at the site of its Prairie Island nuclear plant.
• 1994: Minnesota enacts a moratorium on new nuclear power plants.

The Minnesota Historical Society holds the world's largest collection of Minnesota newspapers, with dates ranging from 1849 to the present day.

Past issues of most newspaper titles are available on microfilm in the MNHS library, but there is also digital access to select newspapers. 

Use the links to the left to search for newspapers available at MNHS and to search within digitized newspaper collections.   

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