As expected, Xcel Energy announced Wednesday that they have decided not to build a power plant at the Tyrone location north of Durand, but instead will pursue other plans:

Xcel on Wednesday said it filed an application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for a combined Manitoba Hydro and wind-power package to fill a 375-megawatt shortfall by 2015.

The plan calls for purchasing power from Manitoba Hydro in 2015 and purchasing or building 380 megawatts of wind generation by 2015 or earlier.

This decision has been expected for months, and is a big relief to CVSEA and to other groups that have been fighting against this location for a huge coal-powered generating plant. This location, which had been purchased by Xcel's predecessor as a site for a nuclear power plant that was rejected after immense opposition, is a spectacular wildlife area that would not have absorbed the building of a power plant in any sustainable way.

Dodged another bullet.