Thursday, June 05, 2008

BULLETIN: BIG STONE II DECISION DELAYED TODAY


Following up on Tuesday Oread Daily article "THE LAWSON FILE: DADGUMMIT ALL, LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE FOR ONCE" Minnesota regulators today decided not to decide about a proposed coal power plant in South Dakota.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the delay came after a representative for the five utilities wanting to build Big Stone II said deferring the decision wouldn't necessarily kill the project.

Two members of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission were ready to approve transmission lines that would connect to the plant to west-central Minnesota. Three others have said they aren't ready to approve the lines.

Approval of the lines is necessary for the project to move forward.

The vote was 3-2 to defer a decision until the commission can hear from an outside independent expert about the cost of carbon emissions and natural gas.

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