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» Frequently Asked Questions
Key Areas of Concern:
The proposed location of the Coal Gasification Plant is now Scenic Highway 7 in Itasca County, NOT HOYT LAKES. The Scenic Highway 7 site is virgin land with natural lakes, not reclaimed mine land.
This particular area lacks sufficient infrastructure to support the plant and will require the construction of railroad lines, roads, power lines, natural gas pipelines, water intake and waste water discharge lines. The plant will require a water supply rate of 5000 gallons per minute, and the waste will be discharged into the local water shed and ultimately the Mississippi River.
Key Points:
The proposed site does not have adequate infrastructure in place to support the plant. Itasca County has submitted a request for a 40 - 50 million dollar State Bond for the construction of a road and rail infrastructure. Please do not approve this bond request.
Express concern for contamination of the local water shed. The plant will use 5000 gallons of water per minute. The waste water will be discharged where and how?
Why did the State legislature pass a bill granting Excelsior Energy extensive eminent domain powers? To construct the road and rail infrastructure will require the taking of homes and property by eminent domain by a private corporation.
Why was the requirement for a Certificate of Need waived? Excelsior Energy is not a power company. It is a group of 5 Lobbyists.
Enormous cost to the taxpayers, 1.97 billion to build, 50 million dollar bond, 50 million dollar grant to Excelsior Energy to find sites, and 10 million dollars from the Renewable Energy Fund. All this for no expected profitability.
Plant in Indiana closed for one year because it could not pay its own electric bill and routinely violated water contamination permits.
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