The anticipated shortage in electricity in Minnesota because of a shortage of power plants and transmission lines signals a needed shift in the relationship between government and private industry.

Monday, January 15, 2001

The anticipated shortage in electricity in Minnesota because of a shortage of power plants and transmission lines signals a needed shift in the relationship between government and private industry.

A recent report says that Minnesota will need more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity – the equivalent of five new nuclear plants the size of Prairie Island in Red Wing – by 2006. Yet, no new power plants have been constructed in Minnesota since the mid-1980s, and no transmission lines since the mid-1970s.

While it isn’t likely the only reason, the state’s stringent environmental standards and aggressive tactics in enforcing those standards, evidenced by recent stories pointing out the plans of state and federal agencies to shut down coal-burning plants, certainly hasn’t encouraged power plants to expand, according to one Otter Tail Power official.

As a state, protecting the environment has been a high priority. We all want clean air, clean water, and land that is undisturbed.

However, at the same time, Minnesotans want cheap electricity. Until now, both have been possible, thanks to a surplus of power.

In the future, however, it appears the state will have to work harder to achieve both. It does not necessarily mean reducing environmental standards. But it may mean devoting time, energy and money to help power companies build plants that meet the state’s environmental standards, and to find land and create a plan to build distribution lines.

In other words, the Legislature – and the state agencies who enforce the Legislature’s laws – will need to spend less energy finding ways to shut power plants down, and more energy helping them build new ones.

Unless, of course, everyone plans on giving up their computers, faxes and cellular phones.