Bad for human health
A study commissioned by MCEA and our partners details the harmful, deadly, and disproportionate impacts caused by air pollution from Minnesota Power’s coal and biomass plants. The pollution - in particular the fine particulate matter emitted from the plants - causes respiratory illness, hospital admissions, heart attacks and even premature death. While the health effects from fossil gas plants are not identical, we know that, if built, NTEC will pollute the air with enormous amounts of nitrogen oxides (NOx )as well as other pollutants, so much so that the industry’s own consultants admit that NOx levels in communities near the plant will come very close to exceeding national air quality standards. The plant’s asthma-aggravating NOx pollution, together with the other toxic emissions from the plant, is expected to cause $107 million dollars worth of harm to the lives and health of our friends and neighbors over the plant’s expected 40-year lifetime.
Bad for the climate
The latest science makes clear that the global community must cut greenhouse gas pollution in half by 2030 to be on track to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and it’s well-known and widely accepted that the energy sector needs to lead the way. If built, NTEC would burn enormous volumes of fossil gas and emit 2.24 million tons of CO2 a year - that’s equal to the emissions of 483,000 gasoline-powered vehicles annually.
New research presented by MCEA and our partners estimates the plant’s real climate impact over a twenty-year time span would more than double when nitrous oxide and upstream methane emissions associated with gas production, processing and transmission are taken into account.
Not necessary
Relying on the same modeling software used by the utility companies, MCEA and our clean energy partners partners found that NTEC is not needed to meet Minnesota Power’s future energy nor capacity needs. Instead, the modeling shows future power needs can be reliably met with increased investments in significantly cleaner and safer renewable energy, such as wind, solar and battery storage.
Bad investment
The science is clear and leaders across the state, country and world recognize that our changing climate requires the retirement of fossil fuel infrastructure, not additions to it. Building a new $700 million fossil-fuel power plant with a 40-year life span that we know will be rendered obsolete in the coming decades is a bad investment of both ratepayer and shareholders’ money.
Opponents of NTEC
By speaking out against NTEC, you join a long list of organizations, agencies, and local businesses who have voiced opposition to this dangerous proposal, including:
- The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Fresh Energy
- Sierra Club
- Clean Grid Alliance
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, Residential Utilities Division
- Atlas Infrastructure Partners, a major shareholder of Minnesota Power’s parent company, Allete
- Clean Wisconsin
- Honor the Earth
- Sara’s Table/Chester Creek Cafe, Duluth
- Amity Coffee, Duluth
- Zenith Bookstore, Duluth
- Duluth Pottery, Duluth
- Green New Deal Homes, Duluth
- Svalja Yoga, Duluth
- Thirsty Pagan Brewing, Superior, Wisc.
- Siivis Gallery, Duluth
- Doulas of Duluth, Duluth
- Vikre Distillery, Duluth
- Dovetail Cafe, Duluth
- Positively Third Street, Duluth
- Wild State Cider, Duluth
- Rainbow Collective, Duluth
- Adeline, Duluth
- Peach Tattoo, Duluth
- Heart Berry, Duluth