Minnesota Power has reached an agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to submit information that demonstrates that its Taconite Harbor Energy Center coal-burning power plant is in compliance with the 1-hour sulfur dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) standards.
Minnesota Power agreed to turn in its 1-hour sulfur dioxide modeling results by early summer, said Kurt Anderson, Manager-Environmental and Land Management for Minnesota Power.
MPCA asked Minnesota Power for the testing after it had received results from the Sierra Club who had hired a firm to conduct air emission modeling of its own near the Taconite Harbor power plant. Those models concluded that the coal-fired electrical generators were emitting higher than EPA/MPCA allowed sulfur dioxide emissions.
“We have a solid working relationship with MPCA, and that relationship will continue as we evaluate this issue,” said Anderson. “Their [Sierra Club] air emissions computer model [and it’s important to note these are computer estimates and not actual concentrations] hasn’t been approved by the state. This type of modeling is fairly complicated, and it’s critical to ensure the right methods and data are used before coming to any conclusions.”
Minnesota Power provides electric service to 144,000 customers—including some of the businesses, which are among the top users of electricity in the country—in 16 municipalities within a 26,000-square-mle area in northeastern Minnesota. When running at full capacity the Taconite Harbor power plant provides electricity for about 120,000 residential customers.
MPCA Assistant Commissioner David Thorton said, “Our expectations for submission take into consideration the need to complete re-issuance of the permit for the facility and the benefit the modeling information would have for decision makers relative to Minnesota Power’s Integrated Resource Plan, which is due to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on September 1, 2015.”
Should the modeling demonstrate Minnesota Power is out of compliance, MPCA will work with Minnesota Power and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop an appropriate plan to ensure Taconite Harbor compliance with the sulfur dioxide NAAQS.
Although it’s not the only particulate pollutant coming from the plant, sulfur dioxide is particularly worrisome. Exposure to sulfur dioxide pollution from a coal-fired power plant (and other sources) can cause lung function impacts, asthma attacks, and respiratory and cardiovascular disease. According to the Federal Public Health Agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Register, Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, children and adults with asthmas are particularly at risk for adverse health effects from short-term exposure to high doses of sulfur dioxide exposure.
However, a high dose is considered 100 parts of sulfur dioxide per million parts in the air and these levels [nor anything remotely close] have ever been recorded at Taconite Harbor. Still, long-term exposure to low emissions of sulfur dioxide can also present potential problems, which might be borne out by the Minnesota Department of Health, which stated that northeastern Minnesota has the highest rate per capita of asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations in the state.
However, Anderson noted that the MPCA website indicates northern Minnesota has some of the cleanest air in the state, especially when compared to the Twin Cities.
“The latest air quality indexes reported by the MPCA show that northern Minnesota continues to have some of the best air quality in the state,” said Anderson.
Minnesota Power’s Taconite Harbor Energy Center air pollution permit, said Sierra Club representative Jessica, Tritsch, is more than a decade overdue.
But Anderson said the new request to check air emissions at Taconite Harbor has nothing to do with the plant being out of compliance with either the MPCA or EPA air emissions standards.
“All this request by MPCA does is set a schedule for submittal of a modeling protocol, which the state will review. Then, based off the approved protocol, we’ll be able to model emissions in a meaningful way, using approved methods and the highest quality available.
“Despite Sierra Club’s press release, this has nothing to do with the agreement we reached with the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] in 2014. This request is a separate issue, which we will work through following the standard regulatory process,” said Anderson.
The EPA agreement covered Minnesota Power’s Rapid Energy Centers, Clay Boswell, Laskin, and its Taconite Harbor plant, and included more stringent emissions limits than in current air permits at all affected units. It also allowed for the option of refueling, retrofitting and retirements of some units. Minnesota Power also agreed to acquire 200 megawatts of wind energy in the agreement, which brings its wind energy capabilities to 600 megawatts.
According to Sierra Club Beyond Coal to Clean Energy Campaign Senior Organizing Representative Jessica Tritsch, “Minnesota Power needs to address the ongoing health and air quality concerns associated with its coal plants. There’s so much at stake—our health, our natural legacy and our growing clean energy economy. Rather than throwing good money after bad retrofitting and propping up these dirty, obsolete facilities, it’s time for Minnesota Power to do more than the minimum, and clean up our air for the long haul.”
Since 2006, Minnesota Power has invested or will invest more than $600 million to reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury and particulate matter emissions at its thermal generation facilities, and the company is 10 years ahead of schedule to meet the state’s renewable standard of 25 percent power generation.
Anderson said emissions would also decrease when Minnesota Power takes down Unit 3 at Taconite Harbor this May. This will reduce Minnesota Power’s electrical producing capability from 225 megawatts to 150 megawatts.
Anderson also said working relationships between MPCA and Minnesota Power are good, but environmental groups like the Sierra Club won’t be happy until all coal fired plants are closed down.
Echoing Anderson’s comments was Amy Rutledge, Manager-Corporate Communication for Minnesota Power/ ALLETE. “One thing I might add regarding small coal…. there are groups in Minnesota that certainly believe there is no room for coal and would like to see all coal plants shut down in the state. We believe we have a better plan. Our Energy Forward strategy is about lowering our carbon footprint by diversifying our energy mix to 1/3 coal, 1/3 renewable energy, and 1/3 natural gas.
“We believe this balanced approach will ensure we can continue to provide the affordable, reliable and sustainable power our customers expect.”
The Sierra Club and Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Fresh Energy took the lead in this push to have air emissions checked.
According to Thorton, the MPCA will require Minnesota Power to submit a plan that describes “with specificity and with a proposed implementation schedule, the steps Minnesota Power will take to ensure timely compliance with the 1-hour sulfur dioxide NAAQS. MPCA will then include steps and schedules described in the plan in the permit that the MPCA intends to put on public notice no later than 2016.”
Minnesota Power will submit final modeling demonstrating compliance [or non-compliance] with the 1-hour sulfur dioxide NAAQS, as well as all emission limits needed to demonstrate compliance with the NAAQS by July 1, 2015.
This latest ruling falls on a recent settlement the Environmental Pollution Control Agency (EPA) reached with Cliffs Natural Resources and ArcelorMittal that calls for each to develop and install new air pollution controls that will reduce pollutants at their Minnesota and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula sites.
MPCA manager Frank Kohlasch said the air quality goals come from the Regional Haze Plan, which strives to reduce the number of poor visibility days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Voyageurs National Park.
The Sierra Club is hosting a public meeting: Health & Environmental Costs of Burning Coal – Air Pollution Impacts on the North Shore on Tuesday, May 12 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Cook County Community Center. Speakers include Sierra Club Senior Organizing Representative Jessica Tritsch and Schroeder homeowner, Dr. Gordy Dodge.
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