Mint Farm Energy Center
Now known as Mint Farm Energy Center, the facility will generate electricity for delivery to the electric transmission grid. In general, the plant will convert natural gas into electricity via a combustion turbine and steam turbine. What does that mean to our area? The project will have a maximum output of approximately 320,000 kW per hour, enough energy to supply the electrical demand for approximately 400,000 average homes. In keeping with its commitment to use the cleanest and most efficient methods of producing power, the plant will use state-of-the-art environmental technology.

Construction of the previously mothballed Mint Farm Energy LLC plant resumed in late June of this year after almost four years of sitting idle. Between 250 and 300 construction employees are working diligently to have the plant completed by August 2007. At full operation, the Mint Farm Energy Center expects to employ 15 to 16 full-time, industry-qualified personnel.

Previously owned by Avista and then Mirant, the partially completed facility was shut down in 2002 due to financial difficulties. Investment capital up to that time had been about $169 million. Wayzata Investment Partners purchased the plant in 2005 for $27 million in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Wayzata Investment Partners purchased the project because they believed it was a needed asset for the Western power grid.