Xcel Energy sues EPA

The lawsuit aims to help the utility garner more credit for their efforts in atmospheric pollution reduction

Author:
BMTN Staff
Updated:
Mar 8, 2018
Original:
Oct 7, 2011

The Minneapolis-based utility filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington D.C. today. Xcel Energy says the EPA's new regulations - which set the air-pollution standards for transport - fail to credit the improvements the utility has already made. Xcel is asking an appeals court to review the agency's regulations under the Clean Air Act from July.

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The victim is in her 20s.

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The driver of the BMW led police on a chase, driving the wrong way on state highways.

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The Minnesota BCA has identified the four deputies who fired weapons.

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The man originally lied and claimed someone else shot the victim.

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Police said the man's blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

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The man was declared dead at the scene.

Higher rates helped boost the electric and natural-gas utility company. However, Xcel is concerned the mild winter weather could hurt its bottom line. The Minneapolis-based company operates in eight states.

The deal still needs approval by the state Public Utilities Commission. If approved, the average Xcel residential customer would see a 2.7 percent rate increase -- or an additional $2.30 a month.

The recommendation is 63 percent lower than Xcel Energy's original request. A spokeswoman told the Pioneer Press residential customers would see their monthly bill increase by about $2. If the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission agrees with the judge, customers would receive a refund of about $24.

Xcel Energy will soon need to purchase new pollution control equipment if the company wants to keep burning coal at its largest Minnesota power plant in Becker. Environmental groups want the state to order the utility to study alternatives to coal, especially solar and wind power.

The Minneapolis-based utility reports first-quarter earnings of $184 million compared to $204 million in 2011. Xcel says the drop was expected because we had one of the warmest winters on record.

Federal officials on Tuesday are announcing the end of a seven-year effort to clean up arsenic contamination in several South Minneapolis neighborhoods, which included tearing up more than 600 yards. The $28 million project aimed to remove the toxic chemical left by a former pesticide plant.

The Minneapolis-based utility is asking Minnesota regulators to confirm the $310 million upgrade will benefit customers. Xcel says the project will take more time to complete and produce less power than originally thought. The company also says generating electricity with natural gas is more financially attractive because prices are at 10 year lows.

Reduced operating expenses over the summer months helped boost Xcel Energy Inc.'s third-quarter earnings, Dow Jones News reports. The Minneapolis-based utility earned $398 million, up nearly 18 percent from $338.3 million a year earlier.

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