Leading the Climate Charge: Student to be S. Dakota's voice at U.N. conference Jamie Horter is in love with the world - it's an infatuation on a molecular level, the adoration for the overall masterpiece.

In less than a month, the Augustana College senior - she's a dual major in chemistry and art - will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, to be part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. As a member of the Will Steger Foundation's Expedition Copenhagen delegation, she will attend meetings and then disseminate information about what climate change will mean to South Dakotans.

The conference is Dec. 7-18.

"Being chosen has become a way for me to share the voice of South Dakota with the world," the 22-year-old said. "It's not often that South Dakota gets put on a global basis, or mentioned, I should say. Since really, we're the lungs of the nation. We're fourth in wind energy potential, and it's something I plan on taking with me to discuss. And I hope to bring back the ideas of others that I interact with and share."

Contentious debate
Like the weather itself, climate change is an issue that remains up for interpretation by scientists, politicians and the public. For every person who thinks man has changed the planet for the worse, there are those who think it's nothing but a bunch of hot air.

The issue has grown ever contentious in the U.S., as Congress debates legislation that would change how Americans deal with greenhouse gas emissions. Last Thursday, Senate Democrats moved their version of the bill out of committee - while the meeting was boycotted by Republicans. The move came a day after a trio of senators with differing viewpoints began working to formulate a bill that could pass the Senate.

The committee action, experts said, could make it difficult for the measure to find the 60 votes needed to pass.

"If environmental policy is not good business policy, you will not get 60 votes," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
The House, without the support of Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., passed its version of the bill in late June.

United in opposition
In South Dakota, the four Republican candidates for governor issued a rare, joint news release announcing their opposition to climate legislation, based on cap-and-trade issues. A major piece of the bill, cap-and-trade would raise the cost of carbon-based energy such as coal, thus forcing people to conserve.

Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard, Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson, former Brookings Mayor Scott Munsterman and rancher Ken Knuppe all said the bill would be bad for the state.

"This legislation would burden U.S. farmers and ranchers; consumers will be forced to pay more for the same goods and services they are getting now," Knuppe said.

Rising costs are at the heart of the cap-and-trade debate. The estimates for price increases swing wildly - from the cost of a postage stamp a day to $1,300 a year for a typical household.

South Dakotans could see their monthly electric bill rise from $80 to $118.40, or 48 percent, by 2015, according to a South Dakota Public Utilities Commission study. The state relies heavily on coal for power.

Midwest's big role
"I'm still hopeful (the legislation) will pass, since it will make things much easier when we get to Copenhagen," Horter said. "It shows we're serious about being leaders, especially being out in front of other countries. But if it doesn't go through, it will just show how important the legislation is to pass when we get back."

With the U.S. struggling to come to consensus, European officials have begun work on a nonbinding agreement framework, which would allow richer nations to make climate commitments that are not legally binding.

Despite he churn, climate issues are important, proponents said. Especially to South Dakotans.

"A lot of what happens with climate change is stirred up on both coasts - that's where the action is," said Abby Fenton, education program manager for the Will Steger Foundation. "But we hold a lot of the solutions - Middle America will lead the climate charge - and our young people are really active."

Up to the challenge
Enter Horter, summer intern at the Sioux Falls Green Project, president of Augustana's Green Group and a member of the Augustana Coalition for Social Justice, the Sioux Falls Transportation Committee and Trash Initiative Focus Group.

"I can't really pinpoint when, all of a sudden, I became an environmentalist," she said. "Just the experiences in college and meeting people who were environmentally savvy and into the sciences, I think that made the biggest difference. It just opened up a whole new dialogue about the environment and what's going on, on a global basis and a regional basis."

Those who know her say Horter is up to the task to represent South Dakotans in Denmark.

"Two things pop out about Jamie - she's so passionate about this, and she's wicked smart," said Joe Bartmann, executive director of the Sioux Falls Green Project. "She listens to people and she understands the issues, so that's who I want to represent us in Copenhagen. And, she's fearless to the core."

Her fearlessness - and art background - helped get the Bristol native on Steger's 12-member Copenhagen expedition. The students hail from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, North Dakota, Iowa and South Dakota.

She put her application in a ski pole, with a note saying, "If you want the other one, meet me in Copenhagen." Steger, famous for his dogsled expeditions of both poles, is a Minnesota native.

"We were just shrieking with laughter," Fenton said. "It really could have backfired, too. But it gave us some insight into Jamie, and it showed us how creative and brave she really is."

"I was hanging out in the art department, as usual, and decided to play around with packaging," Horter said. "We found this groovy old ski pole from the '50s and worked on getting it open. We even got the janitor involved. We got a lot of people involved.

"But my reasons (to apply) had to do with the environment concerning the Midwest and the future generations in South Dakota, which I'm very concerned about."

Understanding issue
While in Copenhagen, Horter's area of interest will be environmental justice. To help her navigate the complexities of the issues, she's been paired with a mentor, Frank James, director of Dakota Rural Action in Brookings. While in Denmark, Horter will converse with James via e-mail.

James said it is important for her, and all South Dakotans, to understand that climate legislation is important to the state, the nation and the world.

"The bill that's out there, there's parts we have to support, parts that need to be changed and parts that we'll have to move off to the wayside," James said. "But with South Dakota being so energy dependent as we are with the travel-distance disadvantage, this is a conversation that needs to happen."

Past Copenhagen, even past her studies at Augustana, Horter said she'd like to remain in South Dakota.

"I think it's important for future generations to stay in the state, and I think if we can open up our clean energy jobs, there's hope for all of us," she said.

Reach Thom Gabrukiewicz at 331-2320. The Associated Press contributed to this report