Small City Utilities Grapple with Minnesota's Carbon-Free Standard

Twin Cities Business

Small City Utilities Grapple with Minnesota's Carbon-Free Standard

Hibbing is something of a rarity when it comes to electricity. Since 2021, most of the city’s power has been generated by burning wood chips and mulch — up to 9,000 tons a month — largely from a local pallet manufacturer. The plant allows the small municipal utility to support northeastern Minnesota’s logging industry and also avoid buying electricity from large for-profit companies. “The independence of the city is something that is very import…