Xcel to end coal burning at Burnsville plant in April

Xcel Energy will stop burning coal at its Burnsville power plant in April 2015.

Plans had been in the works for Xcel's Black Dog plant to generate electricity using only natural gas. The transition will happen when new federal regulations take effect that would have forced the utility to add expensive controls to reduce mercury emissions, utility officials said this week.

Xcel said it could take several years to decommission the coal portion of the plant, including removing coal handling equipment and closing the coal yard and ash pond areas. Eventually, a recreation trail will be built on the property connecting to the Fort Snelling State Park Trail.

Besides Black Dog, three coal-fired generators owned by Minnesota Power in northern Minnesota will also stop burning coal in 2015 — two at the Laskin Energy Center in Hoyt Lakes and one of the three coal generators at the Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the new mercury standards will prevent 150 premature deaths in the state and create up to $1.2 billion in health benefits in 2016.