The New Ulm Public Utilities Commission is taking an appropriately cautious approach to plans to convert the utility's Boiler No. 4 to burn coal and biomass.
The PUC?just heard a report that the project is not as economically viable as it appeared in 2006, when the project was first proposed. Changes in the natural gas market, the availability of coal, and other factors indicate that the PUC would be better off to stay with natural gas to operate the boiler now.
But the PUC is now considering whether to continue with the process of seeking needed permits for the project. Continuing the process would not commit the PUC to the conversion plan, but would allow it to keep its options open for another year and a half.
We know that the anti-coal Citizens for Clean Energy would prefer the PUC?drop the coal project once and for all. We don't think the PUC?is gung-ho for coal, but keeping the city's options open seems prudent.