“Two large purple circles cover much of Minnesota on a new map from Bloomberg Research. The circles represent gas-fired power plants proposed by Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power that will last 40 years, despite pledges from both utilities to produce all carbon-free energy by 2050. The utilities are trying to square a circle, asking state regulators for permission to build a power plant that will be obsolete long before the end of its useful life, generate millions of tons of carbon and methane pollution, and cost their customers millions of dollars in higher electric bills than clean-energy options.
If shape-changing geometry seems as fruitless as paying more for dirty energy, it’s only because the utility companies operate by a different kind of math. A century ago, Minnesota lawmakers artificially turned the electricity business from a competitive one into a game of Monopoly. Industry leaders convinced lawmakers that it would be more efficient if a single company strung the new electric lines to each home and business, rather than a Wild West of wiring. As a result, Minnesota Power and Xcel Energy don’t compete for your business. If you live within a prescribed geographic area, you are their customer — no marketplace, no options, no choice.”
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Farrell, John. Star Tribune6 June 2021.