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are on the scene and ready for action when an important opportunity presents itself. MMUA staff is at the Capitol when the legislature is in session or whenever relevant committees meet. We do our best to provide clear, ac- curate, and reliable information to legislators and other policy makers on the issues that impact our member- ship. Our consistent presence at the Capitol pays large dividends in recognition, respect, and effectiveness. Policy Management A key element of MMUA's government relations pro- gram is identifying emerging issues and influencing the development of policy relating to those issues at the earliest available opportunity. Policy Meetings To identify and gain clear knowledge about issues that may affect municipal utilities, Government Relations staff interacts with many groups that have related and sometimes conflicting interests. Some of the interactions that shed light on policy issues in 2010 included: • Legislative Energy Commission meetings held by chairs of the legislative energy committees. • Legal seminars hosted by the heads of the state agen- cies responsible for energy, telecommunications, pol- lution control, natural resources and environmental quality as well as Minnesota Senate legal counsel and Minnesota Public Utilities Commission executive staff. • Electric regulatory restructuring stakeholder meeting held by Rep. Jeremy Kalin (DFL-North Branch). • Discussion of proposed legislation with electric utility representatives regarding public housing and utility bill ing problems held by legal aid representatives. • Energy efficiency summit at the University of Minne- sota held by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. • Legislative issue previews held by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Environmental Ini- tiative and the Minnesota State Bar Association. Policy Action Among the many issues of MMUA's interest at the legis- lature in 2010, new eminent domain law changes clearly stood out. Work done by LMC and MMUA staff helped cities and their utilities avoid detrimental impacts of the legislation as it was proposed. In other areas, MMUA successfully worked to block changes that would have unreasonably limited the ability of municipalities to pro- vide telecommunications service to their citizens and se- cured recognition of municipal utility wind developments of any size as "Community-Based Energy Development." Staff also participated in discussions at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce regarding sulfate levels in water discharged to water bodies in which protected wild rice grows. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's planned action on the "Wild Rice Rule" could significant- ly affect Minnesota's wastewater utilities. Preparing for 2011 In preparation for the 2011 legislative session, staff has begun exploring the likelihood and potential effects of legislation relating to state agency fee increases, repeal of the state's bans on electricity from new coal-fired and nuclear plants, revisions to the state's Renewable Devel- opment Fund, environmental permit streamlining and utility-related tax issues. Federal Legislative Activity The 111th Congress was busy: climate change legisla- tion from Day One; an energy bill passed by the Senate committee; rail reform; EPA regulation; renewable en- ergy standards; cyber security; RICE rule; FERC over- sight; CFTC regulation; and PMAs. On all these issues MMUA played a role, working with and educating the Minnesota congressional delegation, remaining active all the way to the final days of the lame-duck session, hop- ing for positive tax legislation. Here are just four issues where MMUA was active: Climate change/clean air The 111'" Congress was the scene of great legislative ac- tivity on climate change issues. The House, under Demo- cratic leadership, passed a major, comprehensive bill seeking mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reductions and addressing global warming (Waxman-Markey cap and trade bill); that measure, however, languished in the Senate during much of the 2d session. In the end no climate change bill cleared Congress. The electric utility industry, including the public power community, gener- ally opposed these legislative initiatives and focused on several key issues: potential rate increases to custom- 2010 Year In Review - 7 U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann talks with SMMPA's Larry Johnson and Delano's Hal Becker (facing camera).