In 1964, the Northern States Power Company (NSP) announced its intention to build a coal-powered generating plant on the St. Croix River at Oak Park Heights, Minnesota. The announcement was both applauded for the economic benefits it would provide and opposed for the ecological and recreational damage it might cause. Some opponents of the plan formed the Save the St. Croix Committee to fight location of the plant on that river. Carl Pemble, a chemical engineer in River Falls, Wisconsin, was president of Save the St. Croix and co-chairman of its technical committee.
Activities of the Committee began with arousing public concern and circulating petitions opposing plant construction. A major development occurred in October, 1964, when Wisconsin Governor John Reynolds appointed a task force to study the issue and invited Minnesota and federal agencies to join in the study. Before their report was in, hearings took place before both federal and Minnesota state agencies. On December 10-11, the U.S. Senate subcommittee on public works held hearings in Stillwater, Minnesota. Chaired by Senator Gaylord Nelson, these hearings brought widespread attention to the area. However, the decision-making power lay with the Minnesota agencies, whose hearings were held from January 13 through March, 1965, before the Water Pollution Control Commission and the Department of Conservation.
At these hearings, the Save the St. Croix Committee contended that the plant would cause both air and water pollution, would be a blight on the esthetic qualities of the area, and would present hazards to water recreation on the river. NSP denied these charges and pointed out the economic benefits the plant would provide. On May 12, 1965, the Minnesota agencies granted NSP the needed permits but imposed conditions aimed at preventing water and air pollution. This was a defeat for the Save the St. Croix Committee.
The controversy had a significance beyond this decision however. It was influential in arousing support for national wild rivers and scenic waterway legislation. In its aftermath the Minnesota Water Pollution Control Commission was strengthened, and the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission was created. The establishment of state parks was encouraged, and the public became more aware of ecology and the need for planning. The Save the St. Croix Committee became a permanent organization devoted to continued promotion of the river's ecological well-being and recreational use.
