MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Indigenous tribes in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have asked federal officials to deny a utility's request for a loan to help build a natural gas-fired power plant on the shores of Lake Superior, calling the project unthinkable in the face of climate change. Chippewa tribes located across the northern third of the three states sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture officials on Sunday asking them to deny Dairyland Power Cooperative's request for a $350 million public loan. The request is intended to cover the utility's share of the cost of building the Nemadji Trail Energy Center power plant. Dairyland Power Cooperative, Minnesota Power and Basin Electric Cooperative have been working to gain permission to build the $700 million power plant for more than three years. The tribes also noted that the new plant would be situated near a cemetery where about 180 Fond du Lac tribal members are buried in a mass grave.

---

Persons: Red Cliff, Wisconsin —, didn't, Dairyland, Katie Thomson Organizations: U.S . Department of Agriculture, Sunday, Energy, Power Cooperative, Cooperative, Minnesota Power, Basin Electric, Bands of Michigan, USDA, Associated Press Locations: MADISON, Wis, Michigan , Minnesota, Wisconsin, Lake Superior, Chippewa, Superior , Wisconsin, Lac, Minnesota