XCEL ENERGY'S BAYFRONT PLANT IN ASHLAND, WISCONSIN

YESTERDAY'S GLORIOUS, THOUGH  COLD, MORNING

NEW CONSTRUCTION AT XCEL ENERGY'S BAYFRONT PLANT IN ASHLAND

Thursday,  9:30 AM.  15 degrees F, wind E, calm to very light.  the sky is again completely overcast, the sun not to be seen, in stark contrast to yesterday morning's glorious sunshine,  The humidity is 65% and the barometer is trending down, at 29.67".  An few errant flakes of snow are falling.
   We have a busy day, as I have a doctor's appointment in Duluth (two hour trip each way) and an evening event in Ashland. Among other things, we are picking up our one-quarter of grass fed, organic Angus beef.  More about all of this another time.
   For the last several months I have been watching with great interest construction taking place at Xcel Energy's Bayfront  power plant in Ashland.  This is a coal fired plant that also burns biomass (mostly forestry waste but also old tires, railroad ties etc.)  This is an important facility from an environmental standpoint, particularly in the Northland, since it uses waste wood that can't currently be utilized in any other way.  The company published a study on the potential for biomass utilization at the Ashland plant in 2007, which is available on their web site.
   Xcel Energy announced several years ago that it would expand its Ashland biomass use by building a fourth unit, which would make it the largest biomass user in the United States, but then cancelled the project.  But it looks to me like it is going ahead with the new construction.  I have tried to verify this but so far have not been successful. I will redouble my efforts, and report further on this very interesting  subject.