If the power plant receives all necessary permits, it could become operational by 2013, generating 500 megawatts (MW) to 580 MW of electricity.
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and other environmentalist groups have been against the power project for many years as its carbon dioxide emissions would harm the environment and add to global warming.
Otter Tail Power and various other utilities need the power station to fulfill increasing regional demand. The transmission lines are vital to the project, as nearly 50% of the plant’s power would be allocated to Minnesota.
The PUC also rebuffed a plea from Otter Tail Power to modify a stipulation the commission attached to its authorization of the transmission lines.
The PUC had cautioned Otter Tail Power that if the project became too expensive owning to growing construction costs or rules on carbon dioxide emissions, the utilities themselves would have to pay the cost, instead of their ratepayers. Otter Tail Power had maintained that such a stipulation might make it tougher for the project to attain funds.
