Greening and Xcel Energy will plant natural landscapeat its new natural gas-fired High Bridge Plant

Volunteer event honors the first Xcel Energy (NSP) forest planting 11 years ago

September 8, 2008

To Partners and Friends of Great River Greening:

This fall, October 18, 2008, over 300 Great River Greening volunteers will join Xcel Energy volunteers in planting nearly 1,000 trees and shrubs at the new High Bridge generating plant in order to close the gap in the Mississippi River forest canopy. The planting will help improve what is a globally significant flyway for 40 percent of North America’s migratory birds, including the endangered Cerulean warbler and Louisiana waterthrush. 

The riparian forest project also helps protect the water quality of the Mississippi River. Since 1850, our region has cleared about two-thirds of the forestland, drained 95% of the wetlands, and replaced 99% of the native prairies. Such drastic change in land cover is bound to influence water quality. Reforestation helps prevent soil erosion, buffers critical habitat for shoreland species, and replaces lost biodiversity.

The new natural gas-fired combined cycle High Bridge generating plant, which replaces the original coal-powered plant, was installed as part of Xcel Energy's voluntary Metro Emissions Reduction Project (MERP) to significantly reduce air emissions while increasing electricity output from the generating site. Xcel Energy officials say that they will virtually eliminate some emissions, like mercury, into the air. A second phase of the plant’s landscape development is planned for late 2010. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Event Registration Volunteers and Lunch Serves Needed
Great River Greening is seeking volunteers to assist with registration and serving lunch at our fall restoration events. To learn how to get involved, contact Mark Turbak, Volunteer Programs Manager, at 651.665.9500, ext. 11 or e-mail mturbak@greatrivergreening.org.

Don’t forget two other fall events: The Healthy Waters Fair September 27-28 and the September 26 Go Green breakfast, which is almost sold out. For information on these and other Great River Greening programs, visit www.greatrivergreening.org. Major operating support for all Great River Greening programs is provided by McKnight Foundation.