Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Mark Sulzbach, 651-296-7768 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 Saint Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will hold a public information meeting Aug. 9, 2007, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Franklin Public Library (1314 East Franklin Ave.), to answer questions regarding a proposed energy facility in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis. The plant will be powered by burning wood, commonly referred to as "biomass." The public is encouraged to attend the meeting which includes an open house from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for informal questions, followed by a formal presentation from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The presentation will discuss air quality and the draft air emissions permit required of Kandiyohi Development's proposed Midtown Eco Energy project - an electrical generation plant at 2850 20th Avenue. This site currently houses a solid waste transfer station. The new proposed facility would burn wood waste, such as wood chips and tree trimmings to produce up to 24 megawatts of electricity. Pollution control equipment will include a baghouse to control microscopic particles that are produced by incomplete combustion. The facility will also use a system for reducing nitrogen oxides. The draft permit will start a 30-day public comment period about two-weeks before the Aug. 9 public meeting. A copy of the draft permit will be posted on the MPCA Web site at www.ca.state.mn.us/news/data/index/.cfm?PN=1. Questions should be directed to Paula Connell, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155 or by phone at 651-282-2605. Official 30-day notice for the public meeting was published in the Star Tribune on July 7, 2007.