Minnesota and coal

Introduction
Minnesota had 46 coal-fired generating stations in 2005, with 5,676 MW of capacity, representing 43.8% of the state's total electric generating capacity; Minnesota ranks 22nd out of the 50 states in terms of coal-fired electric generating capacity. In 2006, Minnesota's coal-fired power plants produced 34.9 million tons of CO2, more than 80,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 76,000 tons of nitrogen oxide; coal-fired power plants were responsible for 34.1% of the state's total CO2 emissions. In 2005, Minnesota emitted 19.9 tons of CO2 per person, roughly equal to the U.S. average.

There was no coal mining in Minnesota in 2006.

History
There is no history of coal mining in Minnesota, as the state has little or no coal reserves. The coal power industry is fairly strong in the state, however: a large proportion of the state's power plants are coal-fired, and coal giant Xcel Energy is headquartered in Minneapolis. However, in the mid-1990's, Minnesota state regulators began to demonstrate stronger opposition to the construction of new coal-fired power plants, based to a large extent on concerns about global warming.

The battle over the future of coal in Minnesota in 2009 was focused on the Big Stone II proposed coal plant in South Dakota, several miles from the Minnesota border; that project, which was canceled in late 2009, would have depended on the construction of transmission lines through Minnesota.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency finds mercury increase in fish from state lakes
In February 2009, the MPCA released a study showing that methylmercury levels in large Minnesota fish including northern pike and walleye had increased unexpectedly. Mercury levels had declined by 37 percent between 1982 and the mid-1990s, but have since increased by 15 percent. The analysis, which was based on tissue samples from fish collected from over 800 state lakes, concerns scientists because the mercury is toxic to humans and wildlife. The agency said that a local source of mercury is not likely to be responsible. Instead, mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants outside the state and factors related to global climate change are probably to blame.

Legislative issues
In 2007 Minnesota announced that it would add a "carbon fee" to electricity imports from North Dakota (similar to a tax or tariff) of between $4 to $32 per ton of carbon dioxide emitted by the state's coal-fired power plants, to begin in 2012. In early January 2010 North Dakota announced it was in the process of taking legal action against Minnesota, arguing that the law would unfairly tax electricity imports from North Dakota's coal-fired power plants. .

In early 2011 Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee) introduced HF72, which would lift the ban on new coal plants, and he also introduced HF509 to repeal the 2007 plan to curb greenhouse gasses and build Minnesota’s renewable energy infrastructure.

Minnesota Senate votes to lift coal plant restrictions
On April 14, 2011 Minnesota senators voted to lift restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions from coal production, with supporters of the bill calling it a necessary step to keep up with growing energy demand in the state.

The Minnesota Senate voted 42-18 in favor of scrapping what supporters said has amounted to a moratorium on both new coal plants in the state and purchase of energy produced by new coal plants in neighboring states such as North Dakota. A few Democrats joined all the Minnesota chamber's Republicans in voting to lift the restrictions.

The bill, if signed by the Governor, will undo key provision from a package of bills the Legislature passed in 2007 that was intended to boost the state's investment in renewable energy.

Coal groups to pay chunk of North Dakota state lawsuit against Minnesota
It was reported in December 2011 that North Dakota utilities as well as coal interests agreed to pay up to $500,000 of the state's cost in challenging a Minnesota law that restricts imports of coal-generated electricity. However, the state of North Dakota will carry most expense.

North Dakota sued Minnesota in federal court, saying that a law enacted in 2007, which bars utilities from buying power from new plants that would raise carbon dioxide emissions, illegally restricts business between states. They also claim that the law encroaches on Congress' power to regulate interstate power sales and CO2 emissions.

Active

 * Mesaba Energy Project, Taconite, MN

Cancelled

 * Rosemount Project, Rosemount, MN
 * Big Stone II, Milbank, SD (several miles from MN border, and depends on regulatory approval for construction of transmission lines through MN)

Coal power companies

 * Xcel Energy
 * Headquarters in Minneapolis, MN
 * 8th biggest coal energy company in U.S.
 * Owner of Northern States Power Company
 * Controls 30 coal-fired generating stations with 8961 MW total capacity
 * Active proposals: Comanche Generating Station Unit 3
 * ALLETE
 * Headquarters in Duluth, MI
 * Owner of Minnesota Power
 * Controls 9 coal-fired generating stations with 1441 MW total capacity
 * Active proposals: Milton Young 3
 * Great River Energy
 * Headquarters in Maple Grove, MN
 * Controls 3 coal-fired generating stations with 1400 MW total capacity
 * Active proposals: Spiritwood Industrial Park
 * Otter Tail Power
 * Headquarters in Fergus Falls, MN
 * Controls 4 coal-fired generating stations with 1035 MW total capacity
 * Active proposals: Big Stone II
 * Excelsior Energy
 * Headquarters in Minnetonka, MN
 * Active proposals: Mesaba Energy Project

Existing coal plants
Minnesota had 46 coal-fired generating units at 21 locations in 2005, with 5,676 MW of capacity - representing 43.8% of the state's total electric generating capacity.

Here is a list of coal power plants in Minnesota with capacity over 400 MW: These 4 plants represent 74.1% of Minnesota's coal energy generating capacity, 30.5% of the state's total CO2 emissions, and 51.0% of its total SO2 emissions.

For a map of existing coal plants in the state, see the bottom of this page.

Xcel to complete conversion of coal power plant to natural gas
In August 2011 Xcel Energy said it was to complete the conversion of one of its Minnesota power plants from coal to natural gas. It was reported that Xcel is seeking permission from state officials to switch the remaining Black Dog Generating Station units in Burnsville to natural gas.

Drinking water found contaminated with toxic hexavalent chromium from coal
A report released by EarthJustice and the Sierra Club in early February 2011 stated that there are many health threats associated a toxic cancer-causing chemical found in coal ash waste called hexavalent chromium. The report specifically cited 29 sites in 17 states where the contamination was found. The information was gathered from existing EPA data on coal ash and included locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Massachusetts, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virgina and Wisconsin. In Minnesota, the Sherburne County Plant in Becker was reported as having high levels of chromium seeping into groundwater.

As a press release about the report read:


 * Hexavalent chromium first made headlines after Erin Brockovich sued Pacific Gas & Electric because of poisoned drinking water from hexavalent chromium. Now new information indicates that the chemical has readily leaked from coal ash sites across the U.S. This is likely the tip of the iceberg because most coal ash dump sites are not adequately monitored.

Elevated mercury levels in infants
Between 2008 and 2010, researchers at the Minnesota Department of Health randomly checked blood samples taken from infants born around the Lake Superior Basin, the majority from Minnesota, to examine mercury levels. In all, 8 percent of the babies had blood concentrations above the EPA health standard for mercury -- up to a thousand times higher. In Minnesota, 10 percent of the blood samples had mercury levels above the healthy standard. Babies born in the summer months, when local fish consumption is highest, had more mercury than those born in winter.

Scrubbers
As of 2009, the following Minnesota generating units did not have sulfur scrubbers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency:
 * Black Dog Units 1, 2, 3, 4
 * Boswell Energy Center Units 1, 2, 3
 * High Bridge Units 3, 4, 5, 6
 * Hoot Lake Units 2, 3
 * Laskin Energy Center Units 1, 2
 * Minnesota Valley Unit 4
 * Northeast Station NEPP
 * Northshore Mining Silver Bay Power, PB1 and PB2
 * Riverside Units 6, 7, 8
 * Silver Lake Unit 4

Major coal mines
There are no major coal mines in Minnesota.

Citizen groups

 * Citizens Against the Mesaba Project
 * Clean Energy Minnesota
 * Fresh Energy
 * Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
 * Sierra Club North Star Chapter

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Richard C. Kelly
 * Existing U.S. Coal Plants
 * Existing U.S. Coal Mines
 * US proposed coal plants (both active and cancelled)
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2007
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2008
 * EPA Coal Plant Settlements
 * Profiles of other states (or click on the map)