| Side Note: Right after the election, I am starting a series of original research articles on community policing, foreclosures and local economics. This includes information not published elsewhere, so stay tuned after the election! - Kelly
A big announcement today of dropped plans for a giant Big Stone II coal-energy plant, planned for our South Dakota border, where the prevailing east wind would have dropped most of pollution right into Minnesota.
A power plant ran out of steam Monday as developers announced that they have decided not to build the $1.6 billion Big Stone II project near South Dakota's border with Minnesota. The joint announcement by four utilities brings to an end one of the larger environmental debates in the state in recent years because of mounting public concerns about global warming and energy policy.
Seven utilities were partners when the 500- to 600-megawatt coal-fired plant was announced in 2004, but three dropped out.
(Star Tribune)
62% of Minnesota's energy comes from coal! Minnesota still has 13 coal-fired plants . These plants tend to be older plants grandfathered out of complying with the clean air act. In other words, these plants are dirtier polluters. Our heavy reliance on coal in Minnesota is one of the invisible media stories never told. These dropped plans might actually indicate a change in direction! |
