The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission must reconsider if an environmental review is needed for a $700-million, 525-MW natural gas plant proposed for construction in neighboring Wisconsin, a Minnesota appeals court said in a Dec. 23 decision.
Nemadji Trail Energy Center would be built and operated by Minnesota Power in Superior, Wis., about 2.5 miles from its neighboring state. The utility would purchase about half of the plant’s capacity through agreements with its Wisconsin affiliates. Wisconsin’s Dairyland Power Cooperative is a project partner and also would take half the output.