Utilities' manager defends planned power plant

Hutchinson Utilities Commission has been criticized for its participation in the construction of a new coal-fired power plant at Big Stone, S.D. But HUC General Manager Mike Kumm believes the project is something to be proud of.

Hutchinson Utilities signed on almost two years ago to receive 40 megawatts of baseload power from the plant beginning in about 2011. Hutchinson is a customer of Big Stone partner Missouri River Energy.

Kumm said Hutchinson Utilities and its consultants have evaluated its participation in the project three times and have concluded each time that it is the best alternative for the city’s base electrical needs. “It is still our least costly alternative,” he told commissioners at their meeting last month.

Mayor Steve Cook, a member of the commission, voted against a resolution of support in October and reiterated his concern about future environmental and other costs.

The new plant will be built next to an existing plant. Combined, they are expected to produce less of most pollutants than the original Big Stone plant does by itself. That will be accomplished by installing the latest pollution control technology as part of the project, Kumm said.

Partners in the project are committing to adding 730 megawatts in wind generation by 2015. “The 57 communities served by Missouri River get 45 percent of their energy from renewables,” Kumm said. “This has been a good project and remains a good project, one that we should be proud of.”

Adding wind power doesn’t necessarily alleviate a community’s need for baseload power. Wind has an efficiently ratio of only 30 percent, Kumm added, because electricity is often most needed when winds are not blowing.

(Terry Davis is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at davis@hutchinsonleader.com)