Significant EnergyForward 

benchmarks include: • With completed wind developments in North Dakota, 

Minnesota Power is delivering more than 400 megawatts 

of clean, renewable wind energy to customers. A 

200-megawatt expansion at our Bison Wind Energy Center is 

estimated to be operational by the end of 2014.

• Exceeding state energy conservation 1.5 percent savings 

goals for the past four years through the Power of One® , a 

program that provides customers with tools to reduce their 

energy usage.

• Investments to improve efficiencies at our hydro stations. • Planned installation of $350 million in improvements at Boswell 

Energy Center to further reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, 

particulates and mercury by 2016.

• Planning under way for the Great Northern Transmission 

Line to deliver 250 megawatts of hydroelectric power from 

northern Manitoba by 2020. 

• Conversion of Laskin Energy Center from coal to cleanerburning natural gas and the retirement of one of three coal 

units at Taconite Harbor Energy Center in 2015.

• Adding flexible and efficient combined cycle natural gas 

generation to serve growing regional energy loads around 

2020.

EnergyForward is the right approach for serving Minnesota 

Power’s customers. It’s how we’re meeting the need for energy 

today and tomorrow in ways that are sensible and sustainable.

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Finding a balance

Minnesota Power is investing in technology for cleaner-operating 

power plants and we’re focusing more in renewable sources of 

energy such as wind, water and wood waste. 

Our employees are taking the initiative to find better ways of 

protecting our quality of life while ensuring the delivery of safe, 

reliable and affordable power.

2005

2013

Long Term Outlook

• In 2005, Minnesota Power’s energy 

production was 5 percent renewable 

energy. 

• In 2013, we’re 20 percent renewable 

energy and expect that to continue to 

grow in the next decade.

Coal

Natural Gas 

and Other

Renewable 
Our residential, commercial and industrial customers depend 

on us for power whenever they need it. Our existing fuel 

sources for generating electricity include coal, water, wind 

and biomass; long-range plans include adding combined 

cycle natural gas generation in about 2020. A balanced mix 

of renewable and other fuel sources means that we are wellpositioned to meet the needs of all of our customers 24/7.

We value clean air and water 

while delivering safe, reliable 

and affordable electricity, and 

we’ve been a leader in reducing 

mercury and other emissions. 

Since 2005, Minnesota Power 

has invested more than $350 

million in an array of technology 

engineered to significantly cut 

emissions across the system. 

Additional upgrades at Boswell 

Energy Center will double this 

investment to $700 million and 

further reduce emissions by more 

than 70 percent by 2016.

Preserve Reliability

Protect Affordability

In a rapidly changing energy landscape, Minnesota Power is 

charting a course to preserve reliability, improve environmental 

performance and protect affordability. EnergyForward is our 

road map for bringing large amounts of clean, renewable 

energy online, reducing reliance on coal, further reducing 

emissions at existing facilities and continuing to deliver reliable 

service at the lowest possible cost to our customers. 

EnergyForward was shaped through a comprehensive analysis 

of costs and customer needs today and in the future, along 

with surveys, public meetings and other feedback – all playing 

out against the backdrop of the nation’s increasing demand for 

emission-free energy and changing environmental regulations. 

Proven energy conservation, completed and 

planned investments in wind and hydropower, 

the addition of natural gas to our fuels 

portfolio and the installation of more 

emission-control technology are all 

a part of our EnergyForward road 

map. We’ve been on this path for 

a while – we’ve moved from an 

energy supply that was 5 percent 

renewable in 2005 to one that 

is 20 percent renewable today. 

By the end of the next decade, 

Minnesota Power’s vision is to 

have an energy mix of one-third 

renewable, one-third coal and 

one-third natural gas and other.

Improve Environmental Performance

We have a long tradition of providing 

affordable power and have the seventhlowest total average retail electric rate in 

the United States among 170 investor-owned 

utilities. Minimizing future cost impacts to customers 

requires maintaining a flexible and diverse fuel supply 

with the thoughtful addition of renewable fuel sources. 

Our resource decisions are based on sound economics 

as well as sound science.