Minnesota Power Arrowhead Regional Emission Abatement (AREA) Plan
Early initiative to cut emissions
Minnesota Power stepped ahead of the emissions-control curve when it proposed its $60 million Arrowhead Regional Emission Abatement plan in 2005.
While state and federal governments worked out details for emissions standards for power plants, Minnesota Power chose to take early voluntary action to reduce emissions at its two generating facilities closest to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder and Laskin Energy Center in Hoyt Lakes.
At Taconite Harbor, Minnesota Power employed multi-emission reduction technology, while Laskin received a retrofit focused on lowering nitrogen oxides emissions. The two plants were retrofitted with the additional emissions control equipment between 2006 and 2009, including low-nitrogen oxide burners at Laskin and a MobotecUSA custom-designed system at Taconite Harbor.
Nitrogen oxides were reduced by more than 60 percent at both facilities and sulfur dioxide was reduced by 65 percent at Taconite Harbor.
