The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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November 9, 2009

Our View: Better off without Big Stone II

When the final stake was driven into the heart of the proposed Big Stone II power plant near the source of the Minnesota River, there were cheers from those worried about its environmental impact and dire warnings about power shortages by those who supply electricity.

Those concerned about the environmental impacts were right to be concerned. The added mercury carried by prevailing winds would have wafted down the river valley. Enormous amounts of water would have been drawn to cool the plant. Air pollution would have increased.

As for meeting future electricity demands, there are viable options beyond more big coal plants.

Big Stone II, proposed by several utilities, was battled over for five years. The 550-megawatt plant would have been built for nearly $2 billion near Milbank, S.D.

The plant — perplexingly — was eventually given unanimous go-ahead by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. This in spite of the fact the PUC’s own consultant and two administrative law judges said the project was financially unsound.

Big Stone II backers said the plan only became too risky because of the recession and related decline in energy use, as well as pending climate legislation that could increase the cost of coal plant operations. In fact, the financial underpinnings of Big Stone II were always shaky.

Two years ago — before the recession or the Obama administration’s push for a climate bill — one of the major partners in Big Stone II pulled out. Great River Energy decided then it was not a financially feasible project.

It’s almost certain no large coal plants will be built in the near future in the Midwest, and likely it will never happen.

One major option to coal is cleaner burning natural gas. While deposits were once considered limited, new technology has opened up vast fields of North American natural gas.

The remaining need can be met with sustainable powers such as solar and wind and by increased energy efficiency.

The demise of Big Stone II has not created a looming energy crisis. It was an ill-planned attempt to build an outdated power source in a state with lax environmental regulations.

There are better ways.

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