5
things to
know about
EnergyForward
How we are moving
EnergyForward:
For more information, check out
mnpower.com/EnergyForward
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EnergyForward is how Minnesota Power is doing
its part to change the way energy is produced
and used in the U.S. We’re generating more
power from wind, water and the sun and less
from coal. We’re improving existing thermal
power plants to further reduce air emissions. And
we’re helping customers find ways to use less
energy to run their homes and businesses. Our
road map to a cleaner energy future is based on
a generation mix of one-third renewable energy,
one-third natural gas and one-third coal.
Beginning in 2020, we plan to move more than
350 megawatts of hydropower a year from
Manitoba Hydro to our customers in Minnesota.
5 things to know about
EnergyForward
Boswell 4 is the largest and newest
of the four generators at our Boswell
Energy Center. At 585 megawatts,
Boswell 4 provides a big portion of the electricity
our customers need. To keep it running, we need
to meet requirements of the Minnesota Mercury
Emission Reduction Act and the federal Mercury
Air Toxics Standards Rule. That means installing
new emissions-control technology.
1. Adds renewable sources of energy.
About 25 percent of the electricity we generate
comes from renewable sources. By about 2026,
we expect one-third of the power we produce
to come from wind, water, wood and the sun.
Wind: The 500-megawatt Bison
Wind Energy Center in wind-rich
North Dakota generates power for
our customers in northeastern Minnesota. Our
Taconite Ridge Wind Energy Center is the first
commercial wind energy center in northeastern
Minnesota. The 25-megawatt installation began
operating in 2008.
Hydro: Minnesota Power is the
largest hydroelectricity producer in
Minnesota. A series of upgrades have
made our hydro stations even more efficient.
Solar: We’re adding more than 30
megawatts of solar power to meet
Minnesota’s solar energy standard. That
includes a 10-megawatt solar installation at Camp
Ripley in central Minnesota as well as community
solar gardens elsewhere in our service area.
2. Reduces emissions and increases efficiency.
The more than $300 million investment at Boswell
4 follows a similar emission-control project at
Boswell 3. Completion of the Boswell 4 project will
reduce mercury emissions 90 percent and overall
air emissions 70 percent compared with 2005.
We’re using increasing amounts of biomass (up
to 90 percent) to reduce emissions at two power
plants in Duluth and Grand Rapids, Minn., that
generate steam and efficient electricity for nearby
paper customers.
3. Cuts carbon dioxide emissions.
4. Enriches a successful conservation program.
Minnesota has set a goal of reducing statewide
carbon dioxide emissions 15 percent compared to
2005 levels by 2015. Minnesota Power expects to
reduce its CO2 emissions 20 percent by 2020 and
30 percent by 2025. How are we doing that?
Our energy efficiency and conservation
programs provide homeowners,
businesses and communities with tools
for saving energy. These programs have exceeded
state energy conservation goals for the past five
years, and we plan to offer additional options and
ideas to help customers be even more energy
efficient.
• We’ve retired one of the three coal units at
Taconite Harbor and will idle the other two
units in 2016. Coal operations at the power
plant will cease in 2020.
• We’ve added more wind power at the Bison
Wind Energy Center in North Dakota.
• We’re helping customers save energy in their
homes and businesses through our energy
efficiency and conservation programs.
• We’ve converted Laskin Energy Center
from coal to a natural gas peaking
facility.
CO2 emissions will decrease even more
when the Great Northern Transmission
Line begins delivering carbon-free
hydroelectricity from Manitoba to Minnesota
beginning in 2020. We also plan to add 200 to 300
megawatts of natural gas generation by 2025.
Natural gas has about half the emissions of coal.
5. Keeps electricity reliable and rates
reasonable.
We’re balancing the needs to preserve reliability,
improve environmental performance and
minimize cost increases. Our total average retail
electric rate is among the lowest in the nation,
according to an Edison Electric Institute survey
of 169 providers. (January 2015)
While we’re moving toward a more diverse energy
supply, we also need to be realistic about how
we provide power 24/7 to keep the lights on,
businesses running and communities thriving.
Using a balanced mix of renewable fuels, coal
and natural gas to generate electricity ensures
customers will have the power they need when
they need it at a reasonable cost.
24/7/365