China Built the Equivalent of 40 Minnesota Coal Plants in 2020

Written by Isaac Orr

China constructed an enormous amount of coal-fired electricity capacity in 2020, according to new international research. In total, China added 38,400 megawatts (MW) worth of new facilities, the equivalent of 40 Minnesota coal plants, specifically the Boswell Energy Center, which serves as the backbone to the Iron Range's mines and paper mills. These new coal plants will emit more carbon dioxide than the entire state of Minnesota, and it also shows that China's pledge to be carbon neutral before 2060 was cheap theater for progressives who want to shut down our reliable, affordable Minnesota coal plants. Actions speak louder than words. Wipe...

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on August 07, 2020

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Anti-Mining Special Interest Groups Are Trying to Kill Coal To Stop Mining in Minnesota

Written by Isaac Orr

in Economy, Energy

Yesterday the Minneapolis Star Tribune featured an article discussing how Minnesota Power, an investor owned electric utility in northern Minnesota, was relieved that the state's iron ore mines were starting production back up after being idled due to low demand as a result of the pandemic. The families of 1,700 miners are also relieved the mines are reopening because the wages paid by Minnesota's iron mines are some of the highest in the state. But these jobs are at risk of leaving if it becomes too expensive to mine in Minnesota, and affordable electricity plays a big part in that equation. As...

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on September 18, 2019

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Statewide View Column: Closing Down Coal Gives China’s, India’s Iron Industries An Edge

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

The following article was written by me, and it originally appeared in the Duluth News Tribune. Xcel Energy recently made headlines by announcing it wished to close down its coal-fired power plants 10 years before they were previously scheduled to retire. However, it would be nothing short of a disaster for Minnesota’s mining industry, both present and future, if Minnesota Power pursued a similar path by closing the coal-fired Boswell Energy Center at a time when China and India are greatly expanding their use of coal. Mining requires an enormous amount of energy. In fact, the MinnTac mine in Mountain Iron reportedly...

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on May 14, 2019

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100 Percent of Minnesota Coal is Lower Cost than Wind or Solar

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

100 percent of Minnesota's existing coal plants generate electricity at a lower cost than new wind, even using BNEF's assumptions- which are likely unrealistic. Looks like claims that Minnesota can close coal plants, build more wind, and reduce costs are dead wrong....

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on October 10, 2018

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Minnesota Keeps Shutting Down Inexpensive Power Plants: Why Not Expensive Renewable Energy Centers?

Written by Isaac Orr and Mitchell Rolling

in Energy

In recent years, Minnesota has retired some of the most efficient power plants in the state, including Black Dog, High Bridge, Riverside, Taconite Harbor, Syl Laskin, and Hoot Lake – all of which provided electricity for under $35 per MWh, according to data collected from the United States Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC). By closing these plants, Minnesota is shutting down power plants that can produce a lot of affordable electricity and replacing them with incredibly inefficient power plants that are far more expensive. ...

Latest Posts

China Built the Equivalent of 40 Minnesota Coal Plants in 2020

Anti-Mining Special Interest Groups Are Trying to Kill Coal To Stop Mining in Minnesota

Statewide View Column: Closing Down Coal Gives China’s, India’s Iron Industries An Edge

100 Percent of Minnesota Coal is Lower Cost than Wind or Solar

Minnesota Keeps Shutting Down Inexpensive Power Plants: Why Not Expensive Renewable Energy Centers?