Minnesota Power to request additional wind, solar and natural gas as part of EnergyForward plan

Minnesota Power, a utility division of ALLETE, recently announced that the next step in its
EnergyForward initiative is to file for regulatory approval of over 500 megawatts (MW) of additional
wind, solar and natural gas generation.

The utility is requesting the addition of 250 megawatts of wind power capacity, 10 megawatts of solar power and 250 megawatts of combined-cycle natural gas generation to meet growing demand.

“For the past four years, EnergyForward has been exceeding expectations for how an energy company can transform the way it produces and delivers energy,” Brad Oachs, president of regulated operations for Minnesota Power, said. “We look forward to working with our customers and regulators to continue down the path toward a safe, reliable, cleaner and affordable energy future.”

If approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC), the added renewable generation would bring the company’s share of renewables to 44 percent of its energy supply by 2025. The new resources would expand the company’s current wind portfolio of 620 megawatts and double its solar generation.

Minnesota Power’s long-term goal is an energy mix of two-thirds renewable energy and natural gas, and one-third environmentally compliant baseload coal.

Minnesota Power plans to file the request with the MPUC later this summer. After filing, state regulators will begin a formal review process of the request that will include input from stakeholders and the public. A final determination is expected in the second half of 2018.