This op-ed by Mayor Rybak on the conversion of the Riverside Coal Plant was published
yesterday (Dec. 7) in the Star Tribune. I've posted information on upcoming hearings
at the end of this e-mail. Mayor Rybak will open the testimony on December 16.
This month Minnesota's Public Utilities Commission will have the chance to make a
significant improvement in the quality of the air we breathe. The commission will
decide whether to convert the Minneapolis Riverside and St. Paul High Bridge coal
plants to cleaner natural gas and put modern pollution control equipment on the King
plant near Stillwater.
We know how important this decision is in Minneapolis, because the Riverside plant, on
the banks of the Mississippi River, is the single worst source of air pollution in the
city. Emissions from the plant have been documented to cause significant health
hazards, including asthma, lung and heart disease and child acute bronchitis. A recent
study prepared for the city of Minneapolis and validated by the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency found that total annual health costs of the Riverside coal plant exceed
$57 million. It is also a source of mercury, which causes brain damage and has
contaminated fish in our lakes and river. Similar health hazards are seen in the areas
around the plants in St. Paul and Stillwater.
Converting these plants to cleaner technology will leave a lasting legacy for
generations, but it comes with a cost. The price of conversion will be paid by a rate
increase. Some businesses and other large consumers of electricity have questioned
whether the rate increase is too high a price to pay for the conversion.
I find it difficult to put a price on saving the lungs of a kid. But even if we look
at this issue in solely monetary terms, conversion is worth the price if large
consumers follow the example of Minneapolis. We believe we can absorb a rate increase
and dramatically improve the air we breathe by embarking on a broad-scale program to
use less energy.
The city of Minneapolis spends $11 million a year on electricity for buildings and
parking ramps, but we are putting systems in place to increase energy efficiency by 10
percent. We are also exploring the use of more renewable energy with a goal of no net
cost as the dirty Riverside coal plant is converted to natural gas. We have already
saved $750,000 per year. We want to get cheaper energy from conservation, not by
putting community health at risk.
We must also consider the very serious economic consequences of not taking aggressive
steps to clean our air. As we experience more air alert days for ozone and
fine-particle pollution, the region is coming close to violating federal air quality
standards. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has calculated that the yearly cost of
violating federal ozone standards could exceed $260 million.
The city of Minneapolis is working aggressively on many fronts to improve air quality,
from being the first in the state to mandate cutting gasoline-station vapors to
pioneering innovative ways to reduce energy consumption. But the most important step
we could take to improve our children's health and prevent future air alerts is to
approve the plan to clean up three dirty old coal plants.
R.T. Rybak is mayor of Minneapolis.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
In the Matter of Xcel Energy Proposed Selection of Emissions Reductions
Projects, Docket Number E-002/M-02-633. PUC Staff: Susan Mackenzie
(651-296-8994)
Tuesday, December 9, 2003 - 9:30 a.m. Informational Meeting - Minnesota
Public Utilities Commission, Large Hearing Room, 121 7th Place East, Suite
350, St. Paul, MN 55101.
Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 9:30 a.m. Oral Arguments on Merits - Minnesota
Public Utilities Commission, Large Hearing Room, 121 7th Place East, Suite
350, St. Paul, MN 55101.
Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 9:30 a.m. Deliberations and Decisions -
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Small Hearing Room, 121 7th Place
East, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101.
Laura Sether
Office of Mayor Rybak
Standish-Ericsson
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