Minnesota Power on Friday released its 2013 Resource Plan, which covers a period until 2027 and is required by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

The utility proposes to:

• Request proposals for up to 200 megawatts of additional wind energy following the

extension of the federal production tax credit to be brought online in 2014-2015.

• Continue and enhance its Power of One conservation program to meet or exceed state conservation goals of 1.5 percent.

• Invest $350 million in additional environmental control technology at Boswell Unit 4, the

company’s newest, largest and most efficient generating unit, to retain reliability and reduce

mercury emissions by 90 percent. The upgrades will comply with the Minnesota Mercury

Emission Reduction Act and the EPA Mercury Air Toxics Standard (MATS).

• Reduce coal fired generation by 185 megawatts through the conversion of Laskin Energy Center in Hoyt Lakes to a natural gas peaking station and the retirement of one of three units at Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder.

• Further transition the company’s energy supply mix toward one-third natural gas and other

market resources, one-third coal, and one-third renewable energy in the long term through

hydro and wind energy additions and a post-2020 natural gas generation resource.

• Leverage surplus energy market conditions to maintain competitive electric service rates.

• Deliver 250 megawatts of hydropower under contract from Manitoba Hydro by 2020 through a proposed 500-kilovolt transmission line – the Great Northern Transmission Line.

The plan is designed to meet substantial energy demand growth from large scale mining projects, ALLETE Chairman, President and CEO Al Hodnik said in a news release.

“Our resource strategy will provide the necessary power to cost effectively meet increasing customer needs; at the same time we are moving forward in a socially responsible manner and will reduce carbon emissions 30 percent by 2015 compared to 2005, well ahead of Minnesota’s carbon goals,” he said.

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