In the News
2021 Winter Storm Uri Repercussions Still Felt – in Minnesota
February 14, 2022 Public News Service Roz Brown The grid failure in Texas this time last year went far beyond the state’s border, and consumer advocates say it means the country needs to shore up its energy infrastructure. Brian Edstrom, senior regulatory advocate for the nonprofit Citizens Utility Board in Minnesota, said the infrastructure bill recently signed into law…
State regulators approve Xcel plan that shifts from coal to nuclear energy, renewables
February 8, 2022 Star Tribune Mike Hughlett Minnesota utility regulators on Tuesday unanimously approved Xcel Energy’s long-term plans for power generation, which are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining reliable and affordable electricity. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) gave the go-ahead for Minneapolis-based Xcel to close its coal plants by 2030, extend the…
Energy costs rising, a double whammy for Twin Cities homeowners already behind due to the pandemic
February 3, 2022 Twin Cities Pioneer Press Deanna Weniger Minnesotans turned down the thermostat, wrapped themselves in electric blankets, put plastic over their windows and updated their furnaces to cut costs this winter, but in many cases saw no change on their heating bills. “I’ve been a homeowner for eight years. This is the highest…
Xcel’s long-range plan faces pushback over role of fossil peaking plants
January 21, 2022 Energy News Network Frank Jossi Xcel Energy’s proposal to potentially build two new natural gas peaking plants has become a key point of contention in the utility’s long-term resource plan currently before Minnesota utility regulators. The two natural gas combustion turbine plants are part of Xcel’s integrated resource plan, a document utilities…
Minnesota House DFL proposes spending $1B of surplus on climate plan
January 20, 2022 Duluth News Tribune Alex Derosier ST. PAUL — Minnesota House Democrats are proposing the state use $1 billion of its projected, record-breaking $7.7 billion budget surplus for a wide range of legislation aimed at curbing the effects of human-caused climate change. At a news conference Wednesday, Jan. 19, the House Climate Action…