Indigenous tribes urge federal officials to deny loan request for Superior natural gas plant

By TODD RICHMOND
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Indigenous tribes in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are asking federal officials to deny a utility’s request for a loan to cover its share of a natural gas-fired power plant on the shores of Lake Superior. Dairyland Power Cooperative, Minnesota Power and Basin Electric Cooperative are seeking to build the $700 million Nemadji Trail Energy Center.  Chippewa tribes in the three states sent the U.S. Department of Agriculture a letter Sunday asking the agency to deny Dairyland Power’s request for a $350 million loan to fund its share of the project. They say the plant is unconscionable given escalating climate change.