Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(117,231 posts)
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 04:30 PM Jun 2017

Minnesota Power plans natural gas plant in Superior

Minnesota Power is partnering with another utility to build a $700 million natural gas power plant in Superior as part of a suite of renewable energy proposals that include new wind and solar generation.

“It’s really about giving customers affordable, reliable, less carbon-intensive energy,” Julie Pierce, Minnesota Power vice president of strategy and planning, told the News Tribune this week. “What we’re doing with this is bringing in flexible generation … to back us up.”

Dubbed the Nemadji Trail Energy Center, Minnesota Power will split the cost and ownership of the natural gas plant with Dairyland Power Cooperative. The 550-megawatt plant, to be located near the Calumet refinery, will employ up to 25 people long-term and require a peak of 260 construction workers while it is built.

“We scanned the entire Midwest — the Superior site is shovel-ready, with access to gas and transmission lines,” Minnesota Power spokeswoman Amy Rutledge said. “At the highest level, this is the next step for moving from primarily coal to more than 40 percent renewables.”

Read more: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/energy/4279704-minnesota-power-plans-natural-gas-plant-superior

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Minnesota Power plans natural gas plant in Superior (Original Post) TexasTowelie Jun 2017 OP
You know, this all may seem well and good... Kleveland Jun 2017 #1
Natural gas is not renewable and burning it emits CO2 -- not as much as coal per KWH, but it is progree Jun 2017 #2

Kleveland

(1,257 posts)
1. You know, this all may seem well and good...
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 04:37 PM
Jun 2017

But I am not liking fracking at all for the production of natural gas. I believe that it is very harmful in several ways.

And one also needs to realize, that burning natural gas may have a reduced carbon footprint compared with coal, but if I remember my High School Science, it still has a CO2 byproduct, and probably others.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, I am open to learning about truth as opposed to how our current administration lives.

I am much more enthused by Solar, although I have seen some here question its viability.
There are also fuel cells technologies, hydrogen gas, wave power, wind power, and hell, I may get criticized for this but if you put all of the overweight people in this country on bikes connected to generators a lot of electricity could be produced when aggregated!

progree

(11,463 posts)
2. Natural gas is not renewable and burning it emits CO2 -- not as much as coal per KWH, but it is
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 04:59 PM
Jun 2017

not a "green" fuel. Well, I suppose it is renewable over geological time scales if we don't kill off all life before then. And if we are willing to wait that long -- after all, we are a patient, long-range-oriented species, aren't we?

https://www.google.com/search?q=natural+gas+and+carbon+emissions&oq=natural+gas+and+carbon+emissions&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.5624j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Minnesota»Minnesota Power plans nat...