City-Owned Utilities Face Challenge Meeting ‘Carbon-Free’ Electricity Standard

City-owned utilities are trying to figure out how to meet Minnesota’s new carbon-free electricity standard by 2040.  Willmar Municipal Utilities G-M John Harren says the law does not allow new nuclear facilities which could be vital after coal and natural gas plants are retired:

“So when the wind quits blowing or the sun isn’t shining you can rely on nuclear. We need some form of long-term, reliability-based load generation in order to meet these mandates.”

Harren says he does not envision municipal power providers building solar arrays or putting up wind turbines, but rather buying electric credits from large operations.  Xcel Energy says it plans to extend use of its Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant to at least 2040.