Minnesota Metro Emissions Reduction Project (MERP)

Minnesota Emissions Reduction Project

In December 2003, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission authorized our bold, visionary and voluntary Minnesota Metro Emissions Reduction Project (MERP). Through MERP, Xcel Energy is making nearly $1 billion worth of improvements at three Twin Cities coal-fired generating plants-Allen S. King, High Bridge and Riverside- to significantly reduce air emissions from those facilities while increasing the amount of electricity they can produce by about 300 megawatts.

First Minnesota MERP project complete: King unit returns to service

Allen S. King Plant Dedication ceremony

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Xcel Energy executives and numerous media representatives attended a dedication July 25 at the Allen S. King plant in Oak Park Heights, Minn., to celebrate completion of our first Minnesota Metro Emission Reduction Project (MERP).

The newly refurbished unit returned to service in late June following a two-year project that involved installing state-of-the-art air quality control equipment, a new steam turbine, completely rehabilitating the boiler, and upgrading coal handling systems and auxiliary equipment. The improvements were targeted at significantly reducing air emissions and restoring the King unit to its original electricity capacity of more than 570 megawatts, while extending the life of the plant.

Gov. Pawlenty lauded the King project and Xcel Energy’s MERP initiative, saying he was proud that Minnesota has the “most forward looking utility in the nation.” Other speakers at the King dedication included Dick Kelly, chairman, president and CEO, Oak Park Heights Mayor David Beaudet and King Project Director Ron Elsner.

Kelly praised the King project team, plant employees and MERP supporters, and Elsner thanked the many building trades for their work. Nearly 4,000 trades people from Minnesota building and construction trades councils worked more than 2.3 million hours at the site to complete the project. In addition, more than 60 prime contractors and suppliers from throughout North America and Europe provided labor, materials and manufactured goods.

Energy Supply President David Wilks, who served as was master of ceremonies for the dedication, extended his own thanks to the MERP project team and King employees for their efforts in “getting the unit in service for our customers as we enter the hottest and highest electricity-demand months of summer.”

Plant Director Mark Fritsch also was involved in the dedication, leading the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and introducing local Boy Scout Troop 220, who conducted a flag-raising on a new flag pole outside the plant. Event participants also sealed a time capsule containing items contributed by employees working at King plant today to be opened by employees 30 years from now.

High Bridge Combined Cycle

High Bridge Plant Construction

This project involves replacing the existing High Bridge facility with a natural gas combined-cycle unit that includes two combustion turbines, corresponding heat recovery generators and a new steam turbine. The equipment will be installed in a new building on the existing site and the original plant will be demolished. Projected in-service date for this project is May 2008.

Read about the High Bridge Stack Implosion Fact Sheet.

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Riverside Repowering

This project involves replacing two coal-fired units at the Northeast Minneapolis plant with a natural gas combined cycle arrangement. Projected in-service date for this project is May 2009.