SUMMER 2012
Energizer News Doing the job as cleanly as possible Mercury found in air and water comes from natural and manmade causes, and mercury at higher concentrations can be harmful to human health and the environment. One source of mercury is the production of electricity from coal-fired power plants, and Minnesota Power has a long history of working to minimize emissions from the plants we operate. In May, we announced plans to further reduce emissions of mercury, sulfur dioxide and particulates through a $350-$400 million technology upgrade at Boswell Energy Center in Cohasset. The technology solutions that Minnesota Power uses vary by power plant, based on operating characteristics, to get the most reduction in emissions for the least cost to customers. Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far: • Boswell Energy Center Unit 3 has been removing more than 90 percent of its mercury air emissions since 2009 when a massive emissions control project was completed; Boswell Unit 4 is on track for a similar reduction by 2016. Boswell 3 and 4 are Minnesota Power’s largest coal-fired units. • Two units at Boswell and one unit at Taconite Harbor Energy Center are removing mercury at rates ranging from 60-80 percent. Two units at Taconite Harbor are expected to be at about a 90 percent removal rate by the end of 2012. continued on page 2
Published by MP Corporate Communications, Kelley Eldien , Editor | 30 W. Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802 | mnpower.com
Six peregrine falcon chicks are being raised in the nesting boxes at Boswell Energy Center in Cohasset and the Hibbard Renewable Energy Center in Duluth. The youngsters hatched in early May at Boswell and several weeks later at Hibbard. The nesting boxes are more than 200 feet up stacks at the two power plants and are part of a partnership with the Raptor Resource Project in Decorah, Iowa. Peregrines usually make their first flight when they are about five or six weeks old. Get a peek into their world via our Falcon Cam at mnpower.com/ falconcam/index.htm.
Emissions reduction
(Continued from page 1)
• We’re testing technology at Laskin Energy Center to increase its mercury air emission removal to 70 percent or more from 20 percent. • Mercury air emissions across the generation fleet have been reduced by 39 percent since 2005. By 2016 it’s expected that mercury emissions will be reduced by 86 percent. • Minnesota Power’s overall air emissions, including mercury, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and particulates, have dropped about 70 percent since 2005. • Mercury water emissions at Boswell have been reduced by more than 50 percent. Mercury water emissions have been nearly eliminated at Laskin and Taconite Harbor.
Mercury Air Emissions 400 350 300
Mercury lbs./year
Falcons raise families at Boswell, Hibbard
250 200 150 100 50
• Minnesota Power has 0 2005 2010 invested more than $350 million in its coal-fired units since 2005 to reduce mercury and other emissions and improve their efficiency.
2016
Estimated
• Minnesota Power is optimizing the use of biomass (wood waste) and reducing dependence on coal at the Hibbard Renewable and Rapids Energy Centers. Mercury concentrations in biomass are lower than in coal. Welcome to our redesigned Energizer News. We’ve changed the size and format of our quarterly newsletter to make it easier to read. Each season, you’ll find it filled with information about Minnesota Power, energy conservation tips, community activities as well as other news. You can also read the Energizer News online at mnpower.com/customer_service/energizer/.
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Make electric service part of building, remodeling plans Are you preparing to remodel, replace an existing structure or build a new one? Make a call to Annette Kiehn in the Minnesota Power Construction Center a part of your building plan. We need four to six weeks notice before the date you want electric service at your construction site or before upgrading service. You’ll need to fill out an electric service application, available online at mnpower.com/customer_service/ConstructionGuide. Questions? You can reach Annette at 218-720-2644 or 1-877-535-0394 or email her at newconstruction@mnpower.com.
50 area students receive $110,000 in scholarships The Minnesota Power Foundation awarded 50 scholarships totaling more than $110,000 to area high school and college students this spring. Twenty high school students received $2,500 Community Involvement Scholarships in recognition of their dedication in giving back to the communities where they live as well as their good academic record. Twenty-five New Generation Scholarships were awarded to students who will graduate in fields that align with our region’s workforce needs. Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree received $2,500 and those pursuing an associate’s degree received $1,000. Find a list of the recipients at mnpower.com/community/education/ scholarships/index.htm. The Foundation also awarded several other scholarships to students attending Itasca Community College, the College of St. Thomas and UMD Engineering.
Download the outage app Be prepared in the event of a service interruption by downloading the Minnesota Power outage app. You’ll be able to check on the location of outages and get estimated power restoration times. You can also find outage information at mnpower.com/outage_ center/index.htm. Report an outage online or call 1-800-307-6937.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle with a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) Take advantage of Minnesota Power’s GSHP incentive package, and you could qualify for up to
$1,500
in rebates + 30% tax credit
Visit www.mnpower.com/gshp, call 218-355-2843, or talk with a program participating GSHP contractor listed at www.mnpower.com/HVACcontractors for more information on this rebate offer and to determine if a ground source heat pump is right for you. 3
Bison wind projects moving ahead on North Dakota plains With foundations poured, roads in and collector cable installed, construction on Minnesota Power’s Bison 2 and Bison 3 wind projects is on track for completion by Thanksgiving. The renewable energy project is in central North Dakota near New Salem. An ambitious timetable for Bison 2 and 3 benefitted from a mild winter and early
spring. Depending on the day, more than 250 workers may be on-site. The cost of each project is $157 million and each includes 35 3-megawatt direct-drive turbines. Together, Bison 2 and 3 will produce 210 megawatts of wind energy. They will join the adjacent Bison 1 wind farm and its 31 turbine-topped towers capable of producing 82 megawatts. The last Bison 1 turbine was commissioned in January. Hubs, nacelles, power units and other wind energy equipment for Bison are being manufactured at Siemens plants in Denmark. Turbine blades are being manufactured in Iowa and towers are being built in North Dakota. The first of four shipments of components from Europe arrived in Duluth in May. Other shipments are scheduled for this summer. The energy from all three Bison projects will be delivered to Minnesota Power customers via our DC Line that stretches 465 miles from the Square Butte Substation in Center, N.D., to the Arrowhead substation near Duluth.
Delivering reliable, affordable energy to enhance your security, comfort and quality of life. Minnesota Power ... Powering the Pace of Life.
mnpower.com
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And check out our new YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/MinnesotaPowerVideo. We’ll be posting a variety of how-to and informational videos.
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