The West Side looked into the true economic impact of frac sand mining. Host Rich Kremer was joined by Dr. Tom Power, who in partnership with the Wisconsin Farmer's Union and the Wisconsin Towns Association released a study highlighting the benefits and costs of frac sand mining on western Wisconsin. Then Kremer introduced Pepin County Board Supervisor Bill Mavity, who worries that frac sand mining will destroy the tourism industry along Lake Pepin and has introduced an ordinance banning the practice there. Finally, Kremer was joined by Rich Budinger, General Manager with Fairmont Minerals and President of the Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association who argues that sand mining has been in Wisconsin for more than 100 years and this new sand rush is spurring economic development and jobs in a down economy.
