Minnesota is the only state in the US that has a complete ban on new nuclear energy projects. Nuclear power is statistically the safest form of producing energy, but longstanding myths about the risks of nuclear persist. Lifting the ban on new nuclear projects can help us meet our energy goals while fostering economic growth and energy security. The goals of this project are:
Build community awareness about the safety of nuclear power and benefits of new nuclear technology.
Send a message to Minnesota residents and State Legislators that it is time to lift the ban on new nuclear projects.
Get LTEs published in Minnesota's largest newspapers as well as smaller newspapers throughout the state.
Our timeline is short: complete the project by before the current session of the Minnesota State Legislature is adjourned on May 19, 2025.
Decide on a newspaper for your LTE. The Minnesota Newspapers Directory is a great resource. You can use it to browse newspapers by city or search newspapers by county to find papers in your area. The newspaper can be a print publication, a newspaper that has both print and online editions, or an online-only newspaper. See list of larger newspapers by congressional district.
Optional: Create a GOOGLE ALERT to find articles or letters about the nuclear moratorium that you could respond to with your LTE. Suggested alert terms: Nuclear Moratorium Minnesota.
Write your letter. See LTE Resources for Lifting the Nuclear Moratorium and Nuclear Moratorium LTEs for topic ideas, suggestions for effective LTEs, and examples of published LTEs. Pay attention to editor guidelines for LTEs (deadlines, maximum words, residency guidelines).
Submit your letter. You can submit to more than one newspaper at once.
Check to see if your letter is published. If you are not a subscriber, you can check the paper at the local library or call the newspaper to check on the status of your letter. An easy way to keep track of publication is to set up a google alert for yourself.
When you are published--HURRAH! Please send an email to Pat Fettes pafettes@gmail.com with the following information:
Name of Publication
Date of the edition in which your letter appeared
The complete text of your letter (can include as attachment)
A link to the online version of your letter if available
Record your LTE in the Action Tracker on the CCL Community website.
Start your next LTE!
Paul Thompson. Letter: As far as climate solutions go, let’s start local. Minneapolis Star Tribune, January 7, 2025.
Katya Gordon. Op-Ed: Nuclear energy: the best imperfect solution yet. Lake County Press, March 15, 2025.
Largest MN Papers by Circulation (Volunteers)
Minneapolis Star Tribune – 211,322 (Paul Thompson, Gregg Kelley)
St. Paul Pioneer Press – 110,192 (Mary Haltvick)
Rochester Post Bulletin – 40,902 (needed)
Duluth News Tribune – 30,606 (needed)
Sun Current – 28,207 (Paul Thompson)
Elk River Star News – 25,000 (needed)
Winona Post – 24,390 (needed)
Mankato Free Press – 20.481 (needed)
Smaller Papers (Volunteers)
Anoka County Union Herald – 4,233 (needed)
Bemidji Pioneer – 3,850 (needed)
Forest Lake Times – 13,029 (Pat Fettes)
Forum of Fargo Moorhead – 19,860 (needed)
Hugo The Citizen - 14,500 (needed)
Maplewood Ramsey County Review - 15,125 (needed)
Mesabi Tribune – 7,952 (needed)
Northfield News – 5,014 (needed)
Prior Lake American – 7,500 (needed)
SC Times – 8,598 (needed)
Stillwater Gazette – 11,066 (needed)
Sun Sailor – 6,360 (needed)
Sun This Week – 12,452 (needed)
West Central Tribune – 13,714 (needed)
White Bear Lake Press – 19,331 (needed)
Mark Cannon • Cheryl Campbell • Richard Dahl • Roger Day • Claudia Egelhoff • Dave Ellison • Ronald Erickson • Pat Fettes • Erika Gilsdorf • Katya Gordon • Ed Hahn • Mary Haltvick • Laura Haule • Dave Homans • Earl Knutson and the Willmar Area Climate Action Group • Polly Merhar • Beth Monke • Michael Overend • Judith Thimke • Paul Thompson • Mark Wasson • Patrick Welle • Susan Wehrenberg • Howard White • MN West Suburbs Chapter