Minnesota Power’s planned natural gas plant across the border in Superior, Wisconsin must have environmental review in Minnesota, the state Court of Appeals has ruled. Minnesota Power V-P Julie Pierce says the State of Wisconsin is already doing a “full, rigorous review” and “the fact that the Court of Appeals decision has come through and said a *Minnesota* environmental review is also needed,… we feel was unprecedented.” Frank Bibeau, attorney for the group Honor the Earth responds, “We know that these things need to be looked at, and they’re just hoping that they can continue and that some other time would be the first time.”
Pierce says, “The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission did include an environmental review per the statutes, and the State of Wisconsin is also conducting its very robust review.” Minnesota Power isn’t saying whether it will appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.