My Sunday column described the arrival of the last train hauling coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin to Xcel Energy's Black Dog power plant in Burnsville, ahead of its conversion to a natural gas burning operation. The change will mean 4 to 8 fewer trains each month rolling through Dakota County.
I should mention here that an earlier version of the story described these as "boxcars." They are hopper cars. This I have learned.
James Eli Shiffer is the topics team leader for the Star Tribune, supervising coverage of climate and the environment as well as human services. Previously he was the cities team leader, watchdog and data editor and wrote the Full Disclosure and Whistleblower columns.
james.shiffer@startribune.com612-673-4116
