Molly Woehrlin, Former County Commissioner, Northfield
Interview - May 9, 2003.
Project Characteristics
- A strength of the wind project is that it is "a new effort, not a
repeat of an old effort." As a result, the project faces little "predisposed
opposition."
- RENew Northfield is a "well organized, skilled" group.
- In creating this project, "RENew has tapped into something that's
already there." Mrs. Woehrlin refers to the significant amount of interest
and "good will" that has been shown to wind energy efforts in the state.
- Mrs. Woehrlin has "never seen a grassroots initiative as successful
as this is."
Elements of Community Pride
- "There is a civic pride in having the town look nice, having a certain
quality of life."
- Focal points of community pride include: Bridge Square, the Cannon
River, multi-generational stores downtown, the urban/rural interface at the
city's edges, and community parks. Bridge Square in particular "symbolizes
pride in the community."
- Northfield citizens like to see "people doing their things and enjoying
it as a community."
Importance of Education
- "Schools are the core" of the community. They are the places
where citizens meet, exchange information and become involved.
- There is civic pride in having good schools and a high level of education.
Mrs. Woehrlin cites sports events as well as the Northfield Children's Chorus.
- The city's educational institutions attract "a pool of talented, capable
people."
Civic Activism and Environmental Consciousness
- Mrs. Woehrlin believes that "Northfield has always been an environmentally
conscious community."
- Mrs. Woehrlin sites a range of environmental activist groups that
have found strong support in Northfield. The list includes the Nature Conservancy
and the Cannon River Watershed Partnership, and goes back to the 1960's with
Housewive's Alert to Pollution In Northfield (HATPIN). HATPIN activities ranged
from campaigns to use non-phosphorous soap to the purchase of marshland for
educational purposes.
- Speaking from her experience as County Commissioner, Mrs. Woehrlin
states that "it's very clear that at the county level, Northfield is the seedbed
of willingness to change and desire to help others."