Minnesota and coal
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Contents
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.[1] In 2006, Minnesota's coal-fired power plants produced 34.9 million tons of CO2, 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.[2] In 2005, Minnesota emitted 19.9 tons of CO2 per person, roughly equal to the U.S. average.[3]
There was no coal mining in Minnesota in 2006.[4]
Citizen activism
History
There is no history of coal mining in Nevada, as the state has little or no coal reserves.[5][6] 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 is currently focused on the Big Stone II proposed coal plant in South Dakota, several miles from the Minnesota border; that project depends on the construction of transmission lines through Minnesota, and state regulators are currently balking at granting approval for those lines' construction.[7]
Legislative issues
Proposed coal plants
Active
Cancelled
Coal lobbying groups
Coal power companies
Existing coal plants
Major coal mines
Citizen groups
Resources
References
- ↑ Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2005, Energy Information Administration, accessed April 2008.
- ↑ Estimated Emissions for U.S. Electric Power Industry by State, 1990-2006, Energy Information Administration, 2007.
- ↑ Minnesota Energy Consumption Information, eRedux website, accessed June 2008.
- ↑ Coal Production and Number of Mines by State and Mine Type, Energy Information Administration, accessed June 2008.
- ↑ State Coal Profiles, Energy Information Administration, 1994.
- ↑ Recoverable Coal Reserves at Producing Mines, Estimated Recoverable Reserves, and Demonstrated Reserve Base by Mining Method, 2006, Energy Information Administration, 2007.
- ↑ The End of Coal?, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, May 19, 2008.
Related SourceWatch articles
- Existing U.S. Coal Plants
- US proposed coal plants (both active and cancelled)
- Cancelled coal plant proposals
- Coal plants cancelled in 2007
- Coal plants cancelled in 2008
- Active coal plant proposals
