{"id":400658,"date":"2020-12-16T06:33:30","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T11:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=400658"},"modified":"2020-12-16T06:33:30","modified_gmt":"2020-12-16T11:33:30","slug":"minnesota-power-reaches-50-percent-renewable-energy-milestone-to-lead-minnesota-utilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/minnesota-power-reaches-50-percent-renewable-energy-milestone-to-lead-minnesota-utilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Power Reaches 50 Percent Renewable Energy Milestone to Lead Minnesota Utilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Minnesota Power Reaches 50 Percent Renewable Energy Milestone to Lead Minnesota Utilities <\/b><\/p>\n

DULUTH, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)–
\nMinnesota Power customers are now receiving half of their energy from renewable sources as the company becomes the first Minnesota utility to deliver 50 percent renewable energy to customers.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe achievement highlights the success of Minnesota Power\u2019s EnergyForward<\/b><\/i> strategy to transition to cleaner energy sources while meeting customer expectations for reliable and affordable electricity. The company reached this milestone when the Nobles 2 wind project in southwestern Minnesota came online this month.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWe are committed to advancing a sustainable future of reliable, affordable and increasingly lower-carbon energy for our customers and our communities and this is an important milestone in our clean energy transformation from relying almost completely on coal to delivering 50 percent renewable energy, accomplished while keeping our residential rates the lowest in the state of Minnesota and improving the reliability of our system,\u201d said ALLETE President and CEO Bethany Owen. \u201cWe are proud of how far we have come in this transformation, but we know we have more work to do.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Nobles 2 wind project will supply renewable energy to Minnesota Power through a 20-year power purchase agreement. The project also is an investment for ALLETE; it is owned by Nobles 2 Power Partners LLC, whose investors include an ALLETE subsidiary, energy company Tenaska and Bright Canyon Energy.\n<\/p>\n

\nWith Nobles 2 operational, Minnesota Power\u2019s wind portfolio has grown to approximately 870 megawatts of owned and contracted wind capacity. The Nobles 2 wind addition also adds geographic diversity to Minnesota Power\u2019s wind portfolio, complementing its North Dakota wind sites and contracts.\n<\/p>\n

\nNobles 2 is the second 2020 project to help Minnesota Power reach 50 percent renewable. The first was the Great Northern Transmission line, energized this past June. This 500 kV line delivers 250 megawatts of carbon-free hydropower from Manitoba Hydro to Minnesota Power customers. Innovative power purchase agreements with Manitoba Hydro include a unique wind provision that allows Minnesota Power the flexibility to balance its intermittent wind energy in North Dakota with hydroelectric power that is available on demand.\n<\/p>\n

\nBeyond this milestone, Minnesota Power is making additional plans to further transform its energy supply.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cMinnesota Power\u2019s next biennial Integrated Resource Plan is scheduled to be submitted to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in February,\u201d said Julie Pierce, Minnesota Power Vice President of Strategy and Planning. \u201cThat plan will outline scenarios for the thoughtful transition of our coal units at Boswell 3 and 4, the next steps for the transition to even more renewable energy, and more investments in the grid to enhance reliability, all while working to ensure affordability, the health of our communities, and opportunities for our employees.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nUnder Minnesota Power\u2019s EnergyForward<\/b><\/i> strategy, the company has:\n<\/p>\n