Minnesota

An administrative law judge (ALJ) has recommended that regulators deny Minnesota Power’s proposal to develop the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC), a 525 MW combined-cycle natural gas-fired power plant in Superior, WI.

Enbridge Inc. set a second half 2019 target for completing the replacement of its aging Line 3 oil export pipeline after winning a hotly contested approval on Thursday from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

Enbridge Inc. has vowed to try again for state approval of a partial new route across Minnesota for the proposed replacement of its half century-old Line 3 oil export pipeline that runs from Alberta to the Midwest.

Beleaguered Canadian exporters won a verdict Monday that favors new pipeline construction across Minnesota, as long as sponsor Enbridge Inc. confines the work to replacing a half-century-old conduit inside its original route.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce has recommended the state shut down and not approve a pending oil pipeline replacement project by Enbridge Inc.

Minnesota Power plans to idle its Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder, MN, next year, cease coal operations there in 2020, and add 200-300 MW of natural gas-fired generation to its portfolio within the next decade, all as part of a long-term plan to reduce carbon emissions.

Minnesota Power plans to idle its Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder, MN, next year, cease coal operations there in 2020, and add 200-300 MW of natural gas-fired generation to its portfolio within the next decade, all as part of a long-term plan to reduce carbon emissions.

The mining and transport of proppant sand are drawing controversy similar to that related to the content and handling of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluids if recent events are an indication.

Natural gas prices trending up nationally were cited by Minnesota-based Xcel Energy for its latest higher retail gas charges at its Colorado combination utility as part of its quarterly price adjustments for retail electric and gas rates. Overall, Xcel said total utility bills in Colorado will be lower in the third quarter compared to the second quarter, but on an annual basis, “a national trend in higher natural gas commodity prices” will continue to put upward pressure on utility bills. Under the quarterly gas cost adjustment, the cost of natural gas in the third quarter will be slightly higher than the second quarter, but because of a “significant drop” in use expected in the summer quarter, residential bills will be about $8 lower/month, compared to the current quarter, Xcel said. Residential gas bills in the third quarter will still be $3.15 more than they were in the third quarter last year. “Much of 2012 was marked by historically low gas prices,” Xcel said. Typical monthly residential and small business gas bills during the third quarter are expected to be $21.98 and $81.73, respectively, compared to average bills of $18.83 and $68.81, respectively, in the third quarter of 2012.