Coal: forward or back to square one on October 11?
by Fresh Energyby Rick Fuentes, media relations specialist, Fresh Energy
On Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will hear from the remaining owners of the Big Stone II power plant (Otter Tail Power, et al). After the pullout of two major investors–Great River Energy (GRE) and Southern Minnesota Municipal Power–the big question is, does the expansion of the 600-megawatt coal-burning power plant go on, or do the investors go back to the drawing board?
At a recent Conservation Minnesota event, the head of GRE’s Environmental Stewardship program said that the company doesn’t know the cost of a coal plant right now. He was referring to the future regulations of carbon capture that will drive up the cost of future coal plants.
Publicly, Otter Tail Power’s spokesman has said the plant will be downsized to a 500-megawatt plant with remaining investors holding a bigger share of the pot. We’ll soon learn if that’s the plan or if other changes are in the works.
If a smaller plant is planned, does that mean that the previous application is legally null and void? One would certainly think so. It makes sense that all the applications and permissions would have to be obtained for a new project, including a new look at whether the plant is needed or not.
What will the PUC decide? Nobody seems to know. Sadly, the public input period is over. Only the industry, government, and environmental parties will be able to address the PUC on the issue on October 11. Stay tuned.
