Great River Energy

Great River Energy is the second largest electric company in the U.S. state of Minnesota, behind Xcel Energy. Located in Maple Grove, Minnesota, Great River Energy provides electricity to 28 member cooperatives throughout Minnesota. The company moved to its new headquarters in April 2008, a building which is expected to be certified as LEED Platinum in late 2008.

Power portfolio
Out of its total 2,576 megawatts (MW) of electric generating capacity in 2005 (0.24% of the U.S. total), Great River Energy produces 54.4% from coal, 38.7% from natural gas, 5.4% from oil, and 1.5% from biomass. Great River Energy owns power plants in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Coal lobbying
Great River Energy is a member of the American Coal Ash Association (ACAA), an umbrella lobbying group for all coal ash interests that includes major coal burners Duke Energy, Southern Company and American Electric Power as well as dozens of other companies. The group argues that the so-called "beneficial-use industry" would be eliminated if a "hazardous" designation was given for coal ash waste.

ACAA set up by a front group called Citizens for Recycling First, which argues that using toxic coal ash as fill in other products is safe, despite evidence to the contrary.

Existing coal-fired power plants
Great River Energy owned 3 coal-fired generating stations in 2005, with 1,400 MW of capacity. Here is a list of Great River's coal power plants:

In 2006, Great River Energy's 2 coal-fired power plants emitted 12.3 million tons of CO2 and 40,000 tons of SO2.

Proposed Coal Plants

 * Spiritwood Industrial Park

Great River's Coal Creek Plant eighth in 2009 mercury emissions
The 2011 Environmental Defense Fund report, "Mercury Alert: Cleaning up Coal Plants for Healthier Lives" found that 25 plants alone are responsible for nearly a third of all mercury emissions in the power sector, while providing only eight percent of U.S. electricity. The findings are based on 2009 U.S. Department of Energy data. The plant with the eighth highest mercury emissions was Coal Creek Station, releasing 862 lbs in 2009.

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * North Dakota and coal
 * United States and coal
 * Global warming