The bill, Senate File 85, authorizes Xcel Energy to build a natural gas combined cycle electric generation plant on the site of the current Sherco plant in Becker.

 

 “I am very pleased that this legislation has the bipartisan support of fellow lawmakers,” said Sen. Andrew Mathews (R-Milaca), the chief author of the bill. “The Public Utilities Commission has been dragging its feet on this, bowing to environmentalist agendas instead of acting in the best interests of the citizens of our communities.”

 

Rep. Jim Newberger, R-Becker, is co-author of the bill. He has sought out and received bipartisan support for the bill and he sees the gas plant as the best scenario for the community of Becker rather than not build anything in the coal plant's place.

 

Mathews says the bill is essential for the future needs of energy consumers.

 

“The bill has built-in protections for consumers and ratepayers and is an important step in ensuring the stability of our baseload energy grid for all of Central Minnesota,” Sen. Mathews said. “Not to mention the fact that the community is relying on the continued investment of Xcel Energy, which is currently responsible for roughly three-fourths of the city’s property taxes, and which provides good-paying jobs to hundreds of area people.”

 

Clean energy advocates still have their concerns and  want to know if the natural gas plant in that location is really the cleanest, cheapest option for Xcel. Electricity ratepayers have also been skeptical, more because of the costs and whether they will cause utility bills to go up.

 

On the environmental side, natural gas power plants emit far less carbon than coal, but the process of extracting natural gas can lead to methane leaks, and methane is a powerful greenhouse gas linked to climate change. There's a national debate over to what extent the county needs to use natural gas as a bridge fuel between coal and all renewable energy.

 

Following Thursday’s passage of the Newberger/Mathews bill, the legislation now awaits a vote by the full Senate. The companion legislation, House File 113, has passed out of its committee process and awaits a full vote on the House floor.

 

Sen. Mathews is serving his first term in the Minnesota Senate. He represents Senate District 15, which includes communities in Benton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne, and Wright counties.

 

Rep. Newberger has been the GOP, 15B representative since 2012 and is a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance, a member of the Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance and a member of the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance committees.