SUPERIOR — The Government Center was ground zero for debate surrounding the proposed Nemadji Trail Energy Center this week.
First, members of the Northern Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades gathered Tuesday, Jan. 16, to urge city officials to support the project.
Then Wednesday, Jan. 17, the Plan Commission held a nearly three-hour discussion about the project. The public, commissioners and city councilors all had the opportunity to ask questions and weigh in on the proposal after officials from Minnesota Power and Clean Wisconsin gave presentations.
After all, the Plan Commission will be first to consider applications for a zoning change and street vacation needed to build the 625-megawatt, natural gas-powered electricity-generating facility slated for construction on the banks of the Nemadji River.
The site was selected because of the existing energy infrastructure — including two interstate natural gas pipelines, and an existing electric interstate transmission line — and its proximity to existing industries like Enbridge and Cenovus, said Jennifer Cady, vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs for Minnesota Power.
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A portion of the property owned by Minnesota Power would have to be rezoned, and a portion of East 15th Street would have to be vacated for the project to proceed.
“We intend to file these routine requests in the next few weeks,” Cady said.
Opposing views
Minnesota Power officials presented the argument for the project on behalf of partners at Dairyland Power Cooperative based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Basin Electric Power Cooperative of Bismarck, North Dakota.
“Today, citizens of Superior have a power supply that is nearly 60% renewable from solar, wind and hydro,” Cady said. “And we’re not done yet. Our new plan, which includes NTEC, sets us on a path to be nearly 80% renewable.”
NTEC was planned to add reliability as the company brings more intermittent renewable energies online.
“We have both the privilege and obligation to have affordable 24/7 power for our customers,” Cady said. “We all expect the lights to go on when we need them, especially on the coldest and darkest days of the year, when wind and solar may not be available.”
The project has received 14 regulatory approvals so far and concurrence the project is needed to support additional renewable resources on the grid, Cady said.
However, Clean Wisconsin has challenged some of those approvals in court and is awaiting a decision on an appeal on decision-making by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
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“I refer to these kinds of plants as methane gas plants,” said Brett Korte, a staff attorney for Clean Wisconsin. “They’ll call it natural gas, but it’s methane because there is nothing natural about gas. It’s about as natural as plastic.”
Korte noted impacts based on the site such as the 46-foot slope where the plant would be built, and stormwater and wetland impacts.
“None of this is accounting for the emissions from the (gas) extraction process, which has some serious leakage problems upstream,” Korte said. He said NTEC is inconsistent with Gov. Tony Evers’ 100% carbon-free electricity scenario, national climate commitments and the science behind limiting warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050 to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.
Public weighs in
Following the presentations Wednesday, the mayor allowed the public to comment on the project.
Carl Sack of Duluth urged the commission to consider the consequences and impact of their decision on an “unwise and unnecessary climate bomb.”
“The UN secretary general has called for a complete moratorium on new fossil fuel infrastructure, and what we’re talking about today is new fossil fuel infrastructure,” Sack said. “I’m a union member with Education Minnesota, and I’d like to speak briefly with my union brothers and sisters. Any jobs for a project like this are not worth the long-term risk to our kids and grandkids. There are no jobs on a dead planet.”
Bob Miller, a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior, said he is a descendant of the village that once existed on Wisconsin Point, and it was his ancestors who were moved to a mass grave on the bank of the Nemadji River, not far from where NTEC is proposed to be built.
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“What’s going to happen to our cemetery?” Miller asked. “Are they going to go in and move it again? … First, they took the Point from us for economic reasons … now you’re talking about changing the conditions again.”
Miller asked why the tribes weren’t consulted about the project.
While some opposed the project, others spoke in favor of it.
“I fully support this power plant, and I’ll tell you why,” said Kevin Norbie of Superior. “This is going to make a cleaner environment in Superior. Even Clean Wisconsin has admitted that briefly in their statement. This is hundreds of union jobs, which are good for our community.”
Norbie said he was confident the project would move forward in an environmentally responsible manner.
“Both as a resident and president of Lakehead Constructors, I am in support of the project,” said Brian Hubbard, a lifelong Superior resident. He said the project can be done responsibly and safely in the city.
Labor rallies
The Northern Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council is currently in negotiation with Minnesota Power and Dairyland Power Cooperative for a project labor agreement that would guide the construction of NTEC.
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Ironworkers, laborers, pipefitters and others filled the atrium of the Government Center on Tuesday to show their support for the project. Many made their way to council chambers following the rally, holding signs to show their support while the council met Tuesday night.
“We have a very large project looming in front of us that is meeting some resistance that we just don’t agree with,” said Dan Olson, business manager for Laborers Local 1091.
Mayor Jim Paine and councilors Nicholas Ledin, Jenny Van Sickle, Garner Moffat and Ruth Ludwig have come out in opposition to the project.
“We are here tonight to call on Mayor Paine and city councilors to support the Nemadji Trail Energy Center,” said Kyle Bukovich, president of the building and construction trade council. Bukovich said while the mayor stated in a letter to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin that the project no longer enjoys public support, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“To date, there have been over 5,200 letters of support sent to the mayor and city councilors,” Bukovich said. “Over 600 yard signs have been distributed throughout the city of Superior with an additional 150 being distributed this week.”
Bukovich said despite city leaders’ opposition, the project still has considerable support in the community.
“The mayor has come out and said that he speaks for the citizens of Superior and that he no longer supports the project,” said Gerald Ogsan, a member of Local 1091. “I disagree with the statement. I live right by Cathedral Church, and I have a sign on my fence that says ‘We support NTEC.’ The mayor does not speak for me.”
Bukovich said the trades are “extremely disappointed” officials have turned their backs on a project that will bring 350 family-sustaining union construction jobs to Superior.
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Paine challenged the job numbers during the Plan Commission meeting Wednesday.
Those numbers have evolved as the design of the plant has changed, Minnesota Power officials stated in response.
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