Saturday afternoon, Mike Hughlett reported in the Star Tribune story, Even Great River's coal plant — next to a coal mine — is hurting financially:
Even coal-fired plants with a coal mine next door can have economic woes these days.
Maple Grove-based Great River Energy — Minnesota’s second-largest electricity provider — is mulling the future of its big Coal Creek power plant, with early closure among several alternatives. The North Dakota plant is increasingly being undercut in wholesale markets by lower cost electricity from natural gas generators and wind power.
“We are studying our options, and we have many of them,” said Jon Brekke, vice president and chief power-supply officer for Great River.
Coal generates nearly 60% of Great Energy’s electricity, and Coal Creek has long been a low-cost operation.
“Coal Creek is a very efficient coal plant and it’s very reliable,” Brekke said, “but it still faces the same pressure as other coal plants.”
Read the rest at the Strib. Pitched for a Minnesota audience, the article may help explain why the Lignite Energy Council set up MN political fund.
In that post, we noted earlier coverage in the Bismarck Tribune of rumors about the Coal Creek plant (and by extension the nearby Falkirk lignite mine):
We read this development in the light of articles and commentary in the Bismarck Tribune about the fate of Great River Energy's Coal Creek power plant and the North American Coal Company lignite Falkirk Mine. There's Decision about changes at troubled coal plant to come this year.
There's last week's editorial Tribune editorial: State can’t ignore coal warning signs.
Earlier in February, the Tribune posted the Associated Press short followup,North Dakota power plant mulls solutions amid financial woes, after publishing Coal Creek power plant looking for solutions to financial woes.
The first of the Bismarck Tribune stories was used in UCS: MN's electricity sector transitioning but electric coops remain tied to coal-fired plants, a post about a Union of Concerned Scientists' report about the larger dilemma. With the Star Tribune article, the report is even more worth a read.
Related posts:
- UCS: MN's electricity sector transitioning but electric coops remain tied to coal-fired plants
- Lignite Energy Council set up MN political fund
- CURE & allies' report: Rural electric coops’ loyalty to coal holds rural America back.
- Did thousands of people coming to Capitol to demand climate action change Bakk's heart?
- MN Senate Majority Leader Gazelka embraces the gospel of Minnesotans for Global Warming
- ND state/lignite industry partnership continues funding for Coalition for Secure Energy Future
- In Minnesota, coal still has its defenders — funded by North Dakota (Energy News Network)
- Horse hockey: who's pushing the puck for new Coalition for a Secure Energy Future TV ad?
- MPCA schedules 4 Clean Power Plan community listening sessions around state in February
Photo: The Coal Creek plant.
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