The Commerce Department urged the Public Utilities Commission to order the three northern Minnesota plants closed by 2017 and replaced with energy from wind or natural gas. Instead, the commission ordered Minnesota Power, which owns the plants, to study the effects of closing them and report back next spring. The average age of the plants is more than 50 years.
U of M-barrassed: Gophers shocked by Bowling Green
The Falcons snapped a 21-game non-conference winning streak in front of a homecoming crowd.
Andrew Wiggins applies for exemption to COVID vaccine, is rejected
Wiggins could miss a large chunk of the season without the vaccine.
Minnesota couple sentenced in 2020 murder of 8-year-old daughter
Autumn Hallow died at her home last summer.
Vikings-Seahawks: 5 things you can count on happening
Can the Vikings finally beat Russell Wilson?
Residents asked to be on the lookout for at-large suspect in Sauk Rapids
The suspect was last seen near the intersection of Garden Brook Drive Northeast and Strawberry Court Northeast.
Ben Simmons rumor mill running hot and Wolves still connected
Can the Timberwolves still land the 76ers star?
Aquifer energy storage project wins financial backing of Mpls city council
It'll be used to power the Towerside Innovation District near the U of M.
Bomb threat prompts school evacuation in central Minnesota
A search of the building did not find any suspicious items.
Double shooting leaves 1 dead, 1 'critically wounded' in St. Paul
It's the city's 29th homicide this year.
Brewery, taproom moving into former Twin Cities newspaper space
Loons Landing officially signed the lease this week.
Police: Car with dog inside stolen from outside Twin Cities liquor store
They're asking people to be on the lookout for the vehicle.
Murder charge filed over inmate's death at Chisago Co. Jail
The man suddenly became unresponsive and died while in a holding cell.
State officials push to shutdown coal plants
Minnesota's Department of Commerce recommends closing Minnesota Power’s five oldest coal-fired power plants by 2020 to save consumers money. The Duluth News Tribune reports environmental groups have also sent letters urging the Public Utilities Commission to close the plants to reduce emissions.
State orders Xcel to study alternatives to coal-fired plants near Becker
The Public Utilities Commission ordered Xcel Energy to study the cost of new pollution control equipment at two of its coal-burning units in Sherburne County and compare that with the cost of replacing them with a cleaner alternative. Environmental groups consider the order a victory, but Xcel says it was planning something similar. The study is due next summer.
Activists prod regulators on Xcel's retiring coal plants
Clean-energy supporters are demanding that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission order Xcel Energy to better plan how it will retire the two oldest and dirtiest coal-fired power plants at its Sherco Generating Station, which produces electricity for the Upper Midwest, the Pioneer Press reports. Renewable advocates packed an all-day hearing Thursday at the commission. They say Xcel has failed to study how wind- and solar-generated energy might replace the Sherco units.
Duluth-based utility not ready to shut down old coal plants
Minnesota Power says it wants to further study the environmental benefits and economic impacts. The Department of Commerce recommends closing at least three of utility's coal-burning plants by 2016. Each unit is more than 50 years old. Environmental groups have also urged closing the coal power plants, while industrial users want state regulators to disregard the advice.
Environmental groups want Minnesota to prod Xcel Energy away from coal
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.
North Dakota leaders renew push against Minnesota coal regulations
Gov. Dalrymple says if Minnesota energy regulators require utilities to pay more to burn coal it will hamper North Dakota's growing lignite industry, which already provides a large share of Minnesota's electric power. Regulators here imposed higher costs on coal-burners as part of a plan to require utilities to generate a quarter of their energy from renewable sources by 2024.
Great River Energy shuts down brand new coal plant as economy drags
Spiritwood Station, 85 miles west of Fargo, cost $437 million to build, but now Minnesota's Great River Energy is shutting it down just after starting it up. One executive tells the Star Tribune that running it would mean losing money half the time. The utility plans to keep the plant offline until at least 2013.
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