Off the Publisher’s Desk 4-16-25

Keep burning coal!

Xcel Energy in proposing to construct a large solar panel generating project in the middle of St. Croix County on some 5,000 acres of farmland. Electricity generated from that facility would be carried over a new transmission line to the site of the Allen S. King coal burning plant. They call it the “Ten Mile Creek/King Transmission Connection” solar energy project.

This project would generate electricity that needs to be on line to replace the power generated by the Allen S. King coal-fired plant on the St. Croix River at Oak Park Heights, Minnesota. The King plant has been in operation since 1968 and is visible by its 785 feet high smokestack which towers over the St. Croix River Valley and the plan is that it will be taken out of service in 2028.

Of all the reports that I have read about the solar panel project, it does not have much support from the public. At a public meeting about the project held in New Richmond on March 26th, Dave Dalton, a local famer/business owner summed up the feelings of many by saying, “This is St. Croix County’s pristine crop land, and it’s not just standard land, it’s some of the best and Xcel is taking it.”

So, I would like to propose a plan for the power company, update the King Plant and continue to burn coal and that should keep us in electricity for the next 60 years.

The King Plant can burn some 300 tons of coal an hour and I would question if 5000 acres of solar panels could produce enough energy to replace what is now being generated at the King Plant?

This idea comes on the heels of President Trump’s three executive orders about coal that he issued on April 8th. Trump said at the news conference, “I call it beautiful, clean coal. I told my people never use the word coal unless you put beautiful, clean before it.”

The following is the stated purpose of the President’s Executive Order.

“In order to secure America’s economic prosperity and national security, lower the cost of living, and provide for increases in electrical demand from emerging technologies, we must increase domestic energy production, including coal. Coal is abundant and cost effective, and can be used in any weather condition. Moreover, the industry has historically employed hundreds of thousands of Americans. America’s coal resources are vast, with current estimated value in the trillions of dollars, and are more than capable of substantially contributing to American energy independence with excess to export to support allies and our economic competitiveness. Our Nation’s beautiful clean coal resources will be critical to meeting the rise in electricity demand due to the resurgence of domestic manufacturing and the construction of artificial intelligence data processing centers. We must encourage and support our Nation’s coal industry to increase our energy supply, lower electricity costs, stabilized our grid, create high-paying jobs, support burgeoning industries and assist our allies.”

Thanks for reading!     ~Carlton