ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a meeting this morning, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) delayed a decision that would protect Minnesota Power customers from higher bills tied to the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) gas plant project. Instead of rescinding approval of Minnesota Power’s affiliated interest agreements—a move that would have cut the utility’s ties to building and operating the project—the PUC requested more information on Minnesota Power’s role, if any, in the construction or operation of NTEC, as well as status updates on negotiations and agreements with the project’s other owners.
In December, Minnesota Power announced through a PUC filing that it no longer planned to purchase power from NTEC. Although Minnesota Power exited the project, the remaining co-owners may still move forward, which could leave ratepayers on the hook for construction and operation costs.
Minnesota Power has until June 18 to make a compliance filing providing the PUC with the requested information. Meanwhile, the ongoing delays leave uncertainty for ratepayers and the Superior, WI community.
Environmental groups, including Clean Wisconsin, the Sierra Club, Healthy Climate Wisconsin, and Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, have long opposed NTEC, citing high costs, threats to public health, and contributions to climate change.
Environmental organizations against NTEC released the following comments:
“For nearly a decade, Clean Wisconsin has worked with partners and community members to show decisionmakers that NTEC’s environmental risks are simply too high to accept. It is clear that Minnesota Power and the PUC recognize that NTEC is the wrong path forward, and today’s decision only forestalls the inevitable. Clean Wisconsin will keep fighting to protect public health, Lake Superior, and the Nemadji River until this project is permanently off the table and NTEC is just a bad memory,” said Brett Korte, Staff Attorney at Clean Wisconsin.
“Over two years ago, health professionals from across Wisconsin spoke up in opposition to NTEC, elevating the many preventable health risks. Residents living next to these gas plants are exposed to toxic air pollution that harms the health of our lungs, heart, brain, and fetal development. In response, local leaders rejected the development, repeatedly stating that the health risks were a top concern. It’s time that regulators and utilities prioritize public health, respect local leadership, and fully abandon this project,” said Dr. Brittany Keyes, DPT, Clean Air Policy Manager at Healthy Climate Wisconsin.
“MCEA and our allies have been fighting for a decade to stop this fracked gas plant from being built on the Nemadji River in Superior, Wisconsin. We will continue to track this proposal and we will not rest until it has been cancelled completely and the land and the riverbank are safe from destruction,” said Evan Mulholland, Healthy Communities Program Director, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
“We’re disappointed to see the Commission’s decision to delay the public’s certainty about NTEC and require Minnesota Power to move on. We’ve shared longstanding concerns about the proposal and Minnesota Power’s clear departure from the project was a promising step forward. No community should have to deal with harmful air pollution from a gas plant or increased rates to pay for outdated energy plans. We can provide energy for our communities that’s safe, clean and resilient and we’re now looking to Dairyland to cancel the NTEC project entirely and plan for an energy future that makes sense,” said Jenna Yeakle, Campaign Manager with Sierra Club.
