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Coal delivery issues are causing fuel shortage at Minnesota electricity generator (not enough rail)
http://www.startribune.com/local/269682291.htmlLA CROSSE, Wis. — Coal delivery issues are causing a fuel shortage at one of Minnesota's largest electricity generators.
Xcel Energy's Chief Executive Officer Ben Fowke wrote in a July 23 letter to the federal Surface Transportation Board that rail carrier BNSF has fallen behind on coal deliveries to the 2,500-megawatt Sherco plant, according to the La Crosse Tribune (http://bit.ly/1zI7oks ). The plant, about 45 miles northwest of Minneapolis, generates nearly a quarter of the electricity Xcel delivers in a five-state Midwest region.
Xcel Energy is urging the board to focus on getting railroads to reduce a shipping backlog that could "impact the reliability of our electric grid."
BNSF is the sole rail service to the plant, which can serve some 1.9 million homes, according to Xcel.
Xcel Energy's Chief Executive Officer Ben Fowke wrote in a July 23 letter to the federal Surface Transportation Board that rail carrier BNSF has fallen behind on coal deliveries to the 2,500-megawatt Sherco plant, according to the La Crosse Tribune (http://bit.ly/1zI7oks ). The plant, about 45 miles northwest of Minneapolis, generates nearly a quarter of the electricity Xcel delivers in a five-state Midwest region.
Xcel Energy is urging the board to focus on getting railroads to reduce a shipping backlog that could "impact the reliability of our electric grid."
BNSF is the sole rail service to the plant, which can serve some 1.9 million homes, according to Xcel.
Also: http://www.utilitydive.com/news/problems-with-coal-deliveries-threaten-grid-reliability-in-midwest/293967/
Xcel Energy has formally complained to the federal Surface Transportation Board that, by not keeping up with scheduled coal deliveries, rail carrier BNSF is threatening grid reliability in the five state upper Midwest region provided by Xcel’s 2,500-megawatt Sherco coal-fired power plant.
The Sherco plant is now 811,000 tons short on its ideal inventory, is not set up to burn natural gas, and, though it will continue generating base load power, could fail to meet a peak demand event.
Utilities served by BNSF in Arkansas, Kansas and North Dakota have reported similar problems. Generation and transmission co-operative Dairyland Power said its coal supply is at "perilous levels" and falling further behind.
The Sherco plant is now 811,000 tons short on its ideal inventory, is not set up to burn natural gas, and, though it will continue generating base load power, could fail to meet a peak demand event.
Utilities served by BNSF in Arkansas, Kansas and North Dakota have reported similar problems. Generation and transmission co-operative Dairyland Power said its coal supply is at "perilous levels" and falling further behind.
Bottom line: the rail lines are so busy hauling Bakken oil, they have no extra capacity for coal.
Maybe this will accelerate the deployment of more wind here in the Midwest.
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