Recent content from Walker Orenstein
Minnesota wants to be carbon-free by 2040, but it still hasn't decided what that means
The Public Utilities Commission must decide what counts as carbon-free as utilities move to a clean grid.
PUC approves Xcel plan to replace retiring Minnesota coal plant with mega solar farm
Utility regulators on Thursday granted a key permit for the third large Xcel solar project in Becker, the last in a trio that together will be one of the country's largest farms. The power will help replace the outgoing Sherco coal plant.
A million gallons of coal ash wastewater spills at Minnesota Power coal plant
The Duluth-based electric utility said an unknown amount of polluted water had reached a nearby lake after a pipe leaked.
Minnesota dams mostly held up in June flooding, but old structures need repair
The Rapidan Dam near Mankato drew a national spotlight to what is a common problem in the state: old and creaky dams that are costly to fix, replace or remove.
Minnesota Power parent company explored sale starting in 2022 ahead of $6.2 billion deal
That revelation and others — like how the company CEO would cash in on the sale — came as part of disclosures ahead of an August stockholder vote to take Allete private.
Bridge next to Rapidan Dam at risk of failure a week after major flooding
Blue Earth County attempted an emergency operation to stabilize the bridge last week.
Xcel agrees to smaller Minnesota gas rate hike in deal for 7.5% increase
A settlement with state officials and others would result in an extra $4.20 per month on the bills of residential customers if utility regulators approve. The money would partly pay for maintenance and upgrades to Xcel's gas distribution and transmission infrastructure.
Xcel seeks $1.9 billion from Colorado customers to fund wildfire mitigation after 2021 blaze
The Minneapolis-based company is facing an onslaught of lawsuits from two destructive fires in Colorado and Texas. The plan would raise residential bills in Colorado by 9.56% but would not affect Minnesota rates.
House collapses into river near Rapidan Dam in southern Minn.
Blue Earth County authorities "monitoring for downstream impacts" after house falls into water.
The Rapidan Dam near Mankato will likely survive this flood. But what about the next?
Destructive flooding in 2019 and 2020 had previously left the 114-year-old hydroelectric plant inoperable and county officials grappling with the choice of spending at least $15 million to repair it — with little hope of making enough money from selling power — or shelling out $82 million to remove it.