Minnesota and coal

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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 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.

Proposed coal plants

Active

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

Cancelled

• Rosemount Project, Rosemount, MN

Coal power companies

• Xcel Energy
  • Headquarters in Minneapolis, MN
  • 8th biggest coal energy company in U.S.
  • Owner of Northern States Power
  • 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 stations 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:

Plant Name	County	Owner	Year(s) Built	Capacity	2007 CO2 Emissions	2006 SO2 Emissions	SO2/MW Rank
Sherburne County	Sherburne	Xcel Energy	1976, 1977, 1987	2129 MW	17,900,000 tons	24,742 tons	212
Clay Boswell	Itasca	ALLETE	1958, 1960, 1973, 1980	1073 MW	7,150,000 tons	20,407 tons	165
Allen S. King	Washington	Xcel Energy	1958	598 MW	3,402,000 tons	26,181 tons	N/A
Riverside	Hennepin	Xcel Energy	1964, 1987	404 MW	2,738,000 tons	8,538 tons	N/A

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.

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

Resources

Related SourceWatch articles

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

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