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Energy Business
Joe Deely
Joe Deely
Top Contributor
 · Posted in Energy Business

Minnesota approves Xcel request to operate 2 coal plants seasonally

I like this idea... Instead of losing money for 6 months of the year coal plants will sit idle.

  • Minnesota regulators on Wednesday approved Xcel Energy's December request to operate its last two coal plants in the state seasonally.

  • The Allen S. King plant and unit 2 of the Sherco facility will now sit idle six months out of the year, according to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). From June to August and December to February, the utility can operate the plants, unless they are otherwise needed for reliability needs. Xcel's move is expected to save customers millions in dollars and in tons of carbon dioxide annually.

  • "Xcel, like most utilities, was initially reluctant to recognize the costliness of uneconomic self-commitment. But now, both the utility and the state commission have codified a path forward that will save Xcel's customers millions of dollars, not to mention the public health benefits of reduced pollution," Daniel said in a statement. "Unfortunately, other utilities in Minnesota remain reticent when it comes to changing their operations."

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