FRIDLEY, MINN.- Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today toured the Cummins Power Generation Plant in Minneapolis, Minn., to accept five Onan Generators donated by Cummins to help in recovery efforts taking place in hurricane-torn Florida.

Norton accepted the power generators on behalf of Take Pride in America to use in current volunteer efforts on Florida's public lands. Following efforts in Florida, Take Pride in America will use the generators as necessary at other volunteer project sites across the country.

"The five generators that you have agreed to donate to Take Pride in America. . . will serve the Floridians who have been struck so cruelly by the string of hurricanes that devastated the state," Norton told officials and workers at Cummins.

The Secretary was joined by U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Cummins Chief Executive Officer Tim Solso and Bob Sonntag, Vice President of Worldwide Power Generation Operations for Cummins.

Each generator will be placed in a trailer along with other tools to help assist volunteer projects across the state beginning on October 23. Each of the five trailers will be designated to a section of the Florida park service with the intention that they will be accessible to volunteer efforts in the state.

Norton said it is estimated that the hurricanes left more than 40 million cubic yards of debris behind them. "Florida's beaches are a mess; its trails are often impassable due to downed trees and severe erosion," she noted.

Cummins Power Generation Division is a world leader in the design and manufacture of pre-integrated Power Command generator sets, transfer switches, paralleling equipment, and controls for use in standby and prime rated systems.

Take Pride in America is a national partnership that encourages, supports and recognizes volunteers who work to improve our public parks, forests, grasslands, reservoirs, wildlife refuges, cultural and historic sites, local playgrounds, and other recreation areas. With 100 Charter Partners, Take Pride involves federal, state and local governments; conservation, youth and recreation groups; and top national corporations and organizations.

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