Precious Brady-Davis, Sierra Club, precious.brady-davis@sierraclub.org
Saint Paul, Minnesota -- Today, Administrative Law Judge Jeanne Cochran recommended that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MNPUC) deny Minnesota Power’s petition to co-own a natural gas power plant in Superior, Wisconsin because Minnesota Power failed to show that the proposed plant would be in the public interest.
The question in front of Judge Cochran was whether Minnesota Power’s proposed natural gas power plant was needed and reasonable compared to alternatives including wind and solar resources, energy storage, and additional energy efficiency programs. Cochran found that Minnesota Power had not met its burden, and had therefore failed to establish that approving the plant was “consistent with the public interest.”
Minnesota Power has asked the MNPUC to approve ownership of half of the proposed 250-megawatt Nemadji Trail Energy Center gas plant, to be located in Superior, Wisconsin. A coalition of environmental and clean energy organizations - made up of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Fresh Energy, Sierra Club, and Wind on the Wires (“Clean Energy Organizations”) - put forward expert testimony during the proceeding showing that the proposed gas plant is unnecessary and a waste of consumer dollars, and emphasized that consumers would be better served if Minnesota Power were to instead pursue low cost, common-sense energy efficiency and renewable, home-grown energy.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is expected to deliberate on Minnesota Power’s petition this fall.
In response to the decision, Sierra Club, Fresh Energy, and Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) released the following statements:
"Administrative Law Judge Cochran’s decision makes it clear that an expensive natural gas plant isn’t needed and there are better and cheaper ways to provide reliable electricity for Minnesota Power customers," said Leigh Currie, Energy Program Director and Senior Staff Attorney at MCEA. “It doesn’t make sense to lock in a decision to burn fossil fuels for decades when clean, renewable energy gets cheaper every year. We believe the MNPUC should take a hard look at this proposal in light of Judge Cochran’s thoughtful analysis.”
"Approval of this fossil fuel plant would make it difficult, if not impossible, for Minnesota to meet its emissions reductions targets set in state law,” said J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director at Fresh Energy. “The judge determined from the evidence that the proposed plant is not needed or reasonable. We urge Minnesota to continue to move forward on a clean energy path that addresses climate change.”
“The ALJ got it right: Minnesota Power’s proposed gas plant is not in the public interest. The Company does not need this plant, and could better serve consumers by instead investing in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency. We urge Minnesota Power to withdraw its wasteful proposal and instead focus on a common-sense clean energy future that protects customers, our health, our climate, and our environment.” said Jessica Tritsch, Senior Campaign Representative, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.