The plant also means a cleaner Minnesota River for everyone living downstream from Le Sueur to New Orleans.

For Anderson, one of the Legislature’s biggest environmentalists, that’s the key. The plant in St. Peter provides clear evidence, literally, that there’s a flip side to all of the complaints she’s heard from cities about how difficult it will be to meet the stricter pollution rules.

“Ultimately, this is where we need our state to be,” she said. “But it will cost a lot of money to get there.”

To persuade her 200 colleagues in the Minnesota House and Senate to spend that money might require her to organize a few more visits to St. Peter.

Even with her own committee, however, the day-trip didn’t prove to be an irresistible getaway. Just four of the 12 senators on the committee participated.

Anderson said most of them had legitimate excuses/reasons for not being there, including commitments with other touring committees they serve on. She thinks they missed a great tour, though.

“It’s not a beautiful process,” she said, “but it’s very impressive how clean and professionally it’s run.”