Miscellaneous

•One of the strengths of the Becker community is the Faith-based foundation carried forward by our many churches.  I will seek regular meetings with our Pastoral Council to see where we can partner on important initiatives such as the Becker Food Shelf.

•Now that Xcel Energy is decommissioning the Sherco coal plants, we are left behind with a huge pile of ash.  There are also ash ponds on the east side of Xcel's property which will likely be required to be filled and capped, but what to do with the giant ash pile near County Road 8?  Fly ash contains heavy metals and one concerning pollutant is hexavalent chromium, the same chemical made famous by Erin Brockovich.  In 2022, I organized a video call with New A.G.E. Energy from Texas who expressed an interest in "mining" the ash for the metals and also recycling it for uses such as producing electricity from Hydrogen.  Unfortunately, this opportunity was not pursued by either the city or Xcel.  We must persuade Xcel Energy to do something with the ash pile that is left over at the plant.  We owe it to our residents to explore all options and I call upon Xcel Energy to remediate that site or publicly disclose what can be done to reduce the potential liability to our water aquifer.

•Freedom is always the best choice.  I will respect landowner rights, and be a staunch defender of individual liberties and the Constitution. 

•Most people's biggest asset is their home, and therefore I will vote in a way that protects the value of your home and will oppose projects, policies and initiatives that may jeopardize your investment.