Minnesota law (the Next Generation Energy Act passed in 2007 and signed by Governor Pawlenty) requires carbon dioxide reduction offsets for all new large energy facilities that burn coal. The Next Generation Energy Act establishes greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals for the state. In keeping with the intent to reduce emissions economy-wide, the law also requires that a company proposing a new coal-fired power plant, for example, must obtain Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approval for a carbon dioxide reduction project to offset the increased greenhouse gas emissions from the power plant. The electric utility Great River Energy (GRE), is building the coal-fired Spiritwood Station facility in North Dakota and intends to import some that power to supply into Minnesota to serve customers here. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, working with Fresh Energy and the Izaak Walton League of America-Midwest Office, submitted joint comments on February 1 to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on legal issues in GRE's intended import of electricity to Minnesota from their Spiritwood, North Dakota coal-fired power plant.
Posted by: Linda Taylor in news, coal, Big Stone II on
Sep 16, 2009
The proposed Big Stone II coal-fired power plant lost its lead partner last Friday. Otter Tail Power Company announced that it was withdrawing both as a participant and the lead developer in the project citing the economic downturn and the uncertainty of future environmental regulation.
Posted by: Kate Ellis in policy, coal, Big Stone II on
Jul 14, 2009
Last night, the Elk River City Council came to the consensus that the municipal utility should not become a part owner of the proposed Big Stone II coal-fired power plant near Milbank, SD. The city council was acting on a recommendation from the municipal utility not to invest into the facility, largely due to the many unknown financial risks associated with the plant, including pending carbon legislation. The city council and municipal utility felt that there was too much risk associated with the plant to justify investing ratepayers' money. Elk River joins Great River Energy and the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency as entities who have opted not to invest in Big Stone II.
Posted by: Kate Ellis in policy, news, coal, Big Stone II on
Jul 9, 2009
In a special meeting last night, Elk River's Utility Commission voted unanimously last night to recommend NOT investing in the new Big Stone II coal plant. Kudos to the commission for protection the ratepayers of Elk River and rejecting a new coal plant that would pollute for another 50 years! The commission's recommendation will be passed on to the city council for a final vote on Monday, July 13. If voted down then, Elk River would join Great River Energy and the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency in deciding not to invest in this new coal plant. Stay posted to this blog for the latest developments in the Big Stone II project.
After their meeting on June 29, the Elk River City Council decided to table a vote on investment in Big Stone II until their meeting on July 13 (for more information about this important vote read our action alert). We have just learned that the Elk River Utilities Commission has called a special meeting tomorrow (July 8) at 4:00PM at the Elk River Utilities Office in the Lowertown Conference Room. The Commission is going to pass a recommendation for or against investment in Big Stone II to the city council for a vote at their meeting on July 13.
This week, eminent climate scientist Dr. James Hansen was arrested. At Massey Coal company in West Virginia, Dr. Hansen was arrested along with other protesters calling for an end of the egregious mining practices of blowing up mountain tops in rural Appalachia. Hansen writes "A Plea to President Obama: End Mountaintop Removal" today in the Yale 360 Journal.
Posted by: Kate Ellis in event, coal, clean energy, action on
Jun 25, 2009
The Elk River Municipal Utility is considering buying into the Big Stone II coal-fired power plant proposed to be built near Milbank, South Dakota (learn more about Big Stone II). Even though utilities and states across the nation are abandoning plans for coal plants--power plants that will pollute and create unstable rates for consumers for 40-50 years-backers of Big Stone II continue down this uneconomic and environmentally irresponsible path.
Elk River took an early lead in seeking better energy options by earning an Energy City designation in 1997. This progress should not be undermined by buying into this backward-looking, obsolete form of energy.
In late April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdrew the air quality permit it issued last summer for the Desert Rock coal-fired power plant, which is supposed to be built on the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners region just southwest of Farmington, New Mexico.
The federal government of Canada has set a target of getting to 90 percent emission-free electricity by 2025. On April 28, Canada's environment minister, Jim Prentice, said that in the next few months the government will release new regulations that will impose absolute emissions caps or limits on coal-fired power plants.
Check the date. It's not April fool's. It's about a week after. So imagine the surprise on many faces when they heard that Big Stone II coal plant investor, Otter Tail Power (OTP), wants a new hearing on its certificate of need for transmission lines for the plant.
Fresh Energy Blog