Drill Here, Drill Now… for Wind Power!

No, Scott’s not looking for oil: those big drills are digging holes for a new wind turbine at Sanborn Central School!

Scott Parsley spoke at Sanborn Central School in Forestburg Monday at the groundbreaking for the “Wind for Schools Project”, the first of its kind in South Dakota. The project’s goals are to engage rural school teachers and students in wind energy, to educate college students in wind energy applications and to introduce wind energy to rural communities to initiate discussion of wind energy benefits and challenges.

Sanborn Central is one of eight schools in South Dakota that will receive wind turbines through Wind for Schools. Sponsors of the project include East River Electric Power Cooperative, the local distribution cooperative (in this case, Central Electric), the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, and South Dakota State University.

Vote Now in Online Poll… and For Real!

KJAM is conducting an online poll this week on the District 8 Senate race. So far, the results look good:

Parsley Leads 58-42

You can join the fun and cast your vote at KJAM’s website — the radio station usually leaves polls up for a week or so, so this one will probably be up for another couple days.

Of course, while they are fun, online polls aren’t worth a warm bucket of statistical spit. And we all know that the only poll that really matters is the one we all participate in on November 4th.

If you’d like to vote sooner, absentee ballots are in at the courthouses and elsewhere. If you want to get an absentee ballot and vote early, you can contact any of the following:

• County auditor’s office
• City finance office
• Driver’s license station
• Public assistance agencies providing food stamps, TANF or WIC
• Department of Human Services offices which provide assistance to the disabled
• Military recruitment offices
• Mail-in registration with cards from the county auditor’s office or from the Secretary of State’s website

Campaign Update: Walking Ramona Saturday!

The Scott Parsley for Senate campaign marches on… literally! Scott was joined by fellow candidate Gerry Lange Monday night for some door-to-door in Madison. Just like in Chester and Wentworth, at one door after another, folks told Scott they’re itching for a change in Pierre. And that’s what Scott is all about!

On Saturday (that’s tomorrow!) Scott and friends will venture up to Ramona, then over to Miner County to make house calls on voters in Carthage and (time permitting) Canova. Anyone who’s like to come help, be at Scott’s house Saturday morning at 11 a.m.

Scott Committed to Working for the Wind Energy We Want and Need

South Dakota Magazine recently reported on a Yankton meeting where Scott addressed the need for action–not just talk–on developing wind energy in the state:

The main speakers were Frank James of Dakota Rural Action in Brookings and Scott Parsley of East River Electric. Their message was that South Dakota is falling behind other states in development, and to become more aggressive we may need to change public policies. James said all South Dakota’s leaders proclaim their support for wind energy, but it’s been more talk than action.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Chester and Wentworth Ready for Change

A big part of running for office is walking, and Scott and I had a great time walking Chester and Wentworth Saturday. We knocked on doors at almost every house in each town and got a friendly reception from lots of the folks we met. Surprising even to Scott was the frequency with which we heard folks say, “We need a change in Pierre.” That’s exciting for us, because that’s exactly what Scott’s saying: the one-party system has been sitting on its hands in Pierre. Instead of settling for last place in state support for education and lagging behind our neighbors in renewable energy development, we need to send to new faces to Pierre to make things happen.

Scott will be pounding the pavement again Monday evening, knocking on doors in northwest Madison from 5:45 to 8:00 or 8:30. If you’d like come along to help Scott, visit with your neighbors about Scott’s candidacy, and get some exercise to boot, drop by base camp — i.e., Scott’s house at 103 N. Liberty — around 5:30 Monday evening (that’s August 18).

Parsley Applauds EPA Decision Supporting Ethanol

The EPA recently rejected a request from Texas Governor Rick Perry to cut the Renewable Fuels Standard ethanol requirement by 50%. That’s good news for South Dakota’s farmers and ethanol industry, not to mention our efforts to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Here’s what Scott Parsley has to say about this decision and the role of the American Coalition for Ethanol in helping the EPA see the light on this issue:

Monday, Aug. 11, 2008- Madison, SD

Parsley Applauds ACE’s Role in EPA Denial to Waive Renewable Fuels Standard

Scott Parsley, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) board member, defended the recent EPA decision to deny a waiver request of the Renewable Fuels Standard. The request was made by Texas governor Rick Perry, who wanted to cut the federal ethanol mandate in half for a year.

South Dakota Has Best Wind Power in U.S.

Why does Scott make wind power a central part of his conversations about South Dakota’s future? Because he knows we can do wind power better here than any other state in the Union:

A power company official says a wind farm near Highmore in central South Dakota is the most productive in the entire nation.

Scott Parsley of East River Electric says the Hyde County wind farm operates at 42 percent efficiency — meaning it has enough wind for maximum generation 42 percent of the time.

Parsley made the comment at a meeting in Yankton to gauge area interest in wind farms.

["State Wind Farm Tops in Nation," AP via KELOLand.com, 2008.08.08]

That high efficiency means South Dakota offers wind power companies the best potential for production and revenue. Scott will work in Pierre to turn that potential into clean, green power.

Parsley Helps Distribute Seed to Nicaraguan Farmers

Why wasn’t Scott campaigning much in April? Well, for one thing, it’s only April! For another, he was in Nicaragua with fellow members of St. John Lutheran Church of Madison, distributing much-needed seed to farmers flooded out by last year’s hurricane.

Friday’s Madison Daily Leader tells more:

Scott Parsley of Madison traveled to Central America with the group that observed the distribution of about 500 pounds of rice and bean seed. The seed will help farmers from the town of El Bonete get back on their feet after their fields were ruined last September by flooding caused by Hurricane Felix.

“Aid went to Nicaraguans hurt by the hurricane, but these people didn’t have much hurricane damage,” Parsley said. “The rainfall from the storm flooded their fields and ruined their crops. We provided some food and some seed for when they plant in May.”

The Madison group — consisting of Parsley, Lynn Graves, Ed Hansen, Jane Schubert, and Barry and Gayle Cole — left on April 4 for an eight-day Central American trip… [Chuck Clement, "Madison Group Distributes Seed to Nicaraguan Farmers," Madison Daily Leader, April 25, 2008].

Read the full story about Scott’s trip, Nicaragua, and the ELCA’s mission work here.

Parsley: We Need Reliable, Affordable Energy

Scott is all about clean energy for South Dakota. He’s a strong supporter of wind energy and other renewable alternatives that will provide South Dakota with the energy it needs for its continued economic growth. But he also knows that energy has to be affordable for South Dakota’s working families. That’s why he opposes the extreme climate change regulations being considered by Congress. The Lieberman-Warner bill has good intentions, but its carbon-credit trading scheme could triple our electric rates, and nobody in District 8 can afford that.

See what Scott has to say about sensible energy policy on KELO in the report by Kelli Grant, “Bill in Congress Could Triple Electric Bills,” KELOLand.com, April 24, 2008. The video is online here.