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on June 05, 2019
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Electric Bills in Minnesota Reach Record Highs in 2018

Written by Mitchell Rolling
in Energy

According to new information provided by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), monthly residential electric bills in Minnesota reached record highs in 2018, exceeding $103 per month for the first time. This is an increase of more than 26 percent, in inflation-adjusted dollars, since 2004, before the first utility in the state (Xcel Energy) was mandated to include renewable energy into its portfolio in 2005....

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on June 04, 2019
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Appeals Court Ruling Will Delay Line 3 Replacement, Again

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy

On Monday the Minnesota Court of Appeals stated an environmental review of Enbridge’s controversial Line 3 oil pipeline was “inadequate” because it did not consider the effects of an oil spill in Lake Superior’s watershed, according to the Duluth News Tribune. The ruling is the latest delay in replacing aging oil pipeline, which is operating at half of its potential capacity due to safety concerns. The ruling is bizarre because new pipelines, like new cars, are much safer than their older counterparts. In fact, according to data from the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), since 2010 there have been 1,300...

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on June 03, 2019
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Duluth News Tribune: In Response: Judging Twin Metals Now is Premature, Purely Speculative

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy

Last weekend the Duluth News Tribune ran an editorial from Dean DeBeltz of Twin Metals which argued that anti-mining groups who say Twin Metals cannot operate responsibly are basing these claims on speculation and not science. He could not be more correct. Twin Metals has yet to submit a mining plan, which means anyone who opposes the mine now is not objecting to any potential technical shortcoming in the design of the project, but rather they are opposed to mining in general, and are projecting this opposition onto the Twin Metals project. Unfortunately, this is par for the course. Anti-mining groups like Friends...

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on June 02, 2019
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Sam Rockwell is Incorrect on Cars, Climate

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy

Sam Rockwell, who is the President of the Minneapolis Planning Commission, recently wrote an oped in the Star Tribune entitled "To Save the Planet, We Have To Get Over Cars," where he espoused his vision for a future where we must give up our cars and drastically reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled in order to save the planet. Fortunately, I firmly believe Mr. Rockwell's vision of the future is one which few others will find desirable. Mr. Rockwell's article was actually a response to another article, which advocated for more Minnesotans to switch to electric cars. I think this is...

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on June 01, 2019
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In the Tank Ep 193, ICCC13, Automation, and THE FUTURE

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy

Before getting to the content, Donald talks about the future portrayed in the blockbuster movie Ready Player One. In this depiction of the future, trailers are stacked five or six high. It is yet another example of the pessimistic view of the society in the future. The group contrasts this dreary outlook with the reality that prosperity and the quality of life on the planet is getting better. In the first real segment of the show, Jim talks about The Heartland Institute's upcoming 13th International Conference on Climate Change. In addition to the information about the conference, the group talks about the...

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on May 31, 2019
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Senator Osmek Unloaded on House DFL Energy Proposals, and It Was Glorious

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy

Senator David Osmek (R-Mound), who is the head of the Minnesota Senate energy committee, recently unloaded on the incredibly bad proposals brought forth by the DFL-led House of Representatives, and it was glorious. Soon after the video starts, Senator Osmek calls the energy section an abomination and an absolute failure. The video gives us a glimpse into the negotiations that occurred as the House and Senate attempted to reconcile the differences between their energy priorities. Throughout the negotiation process, both the House and Senate had the opportunity name legislation that would be a "non-starter" to be taken out, but it turns out...

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on May 30, 2019
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Xcel’s Plan to Close Coal Plants Early Is Bad News for Minnesota Families and Businesses

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy

Last week, Xcel Energy announced their desire to shutter the last of their coal-fired power plants a decade earlier than previously planned. If approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the plan would increase electricity costs for Minnesota families and businesses and produce zero measurable reductions in global temperatures. It would, however, result in handsome corporate profits for Xcel Energy, which would be a direct wealth transfer from everyday Minnesotans, who are forced by the government to buy their electricity from Xcel, to the company's shareholders. Minnesota's coal plants provide some of the lowest-cost electricity in the state. The graph below...

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on May 29, 2019
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Fears Over Nuclear Energy Are Overblown

Written by Mitchell Rolling
in Energy

Climate change activists have an identity problem – they simply don’t know what they want. On one hand, they cry out for the need for a radical transformation in the electricity markets that would witness the transition away from coal and natural gas electricity generation forever. But with the other hand, they attempt to blind the public with fear concerning the only energy source capable of bringing this transition to life: nuclear. Nuclear energy has long been side-stepped as a viable alternative to CO2-emitting electricity generators like natural gas and coal, as renewable energy sources like wind and solar have become the champion...

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on May 27, 2019
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In The Tank (ep192) – “Debanking” Conservatives, Socialism, Sanders “Berns” Charter Schools

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy

Heartland's Donald Kendal, and Justin Haskins are joined by Jim Lakely in episode #192 of the In The Tank Podcast. This weekly podcast features (as always) interviews, debates, and roundtable discussions that explore the work of think tanks across the country. The show is available for download as part of the Heartland Daily Podcast every Friday. Today's episode features work from Gallup, the National Center for Public Policy Research, and the National Review Institute. In the first segment, Donald and Jim talk about HBO's Chernobyl and how it takes jabs at the Soviet Union. However, Jim laments the fact that some younger viewers fail to...

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