The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has fined the Hutchinson Utilities Commission $11,340 for air permit violations at an electricity generation facility. In March 2025, Hutchinson Utilities exceeded its permit limit for particulate matter during an air quality performance test. High levels of particulates are known to cause environmental harm and health problems.
The facility had its pollution emission reduction equipment cleaned and retested in June 2025. Since then, emissions have been within permitted limits.
The MPCA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment by enforcing rules and regulations and limiting pollution and discharges from facilities. When facilities do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment, and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.