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electricity. In 2023, the facility was expected to earn over $ 25 million from garbage haulers dumping their waste at the facility. The facility is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in
Minnesota, emitting the 31st most in the state but generates only 0.2% of air pollution in Hennepin County as most air pollution in Hennepin County is created by vehicles. The facility is managed by
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After attempting to increase the amount of garbage burned in the facility by 20% in 2013, Hennepin County decided that instead of attempting to gain approval to burn more garbage, that the county would push
Minneapolis to collect organic waste. Environmental activists had fought against expanding the
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A law passed during the 2023 Minnesota legislative session required
Hennepin County to develop a plan to close the facility in order to receive $ 26 million in funding for an organic waste processing facility. Legislation required 100% of electricity in Minnesota to be generated by green energy by
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In 2023 the
Minnesota state legislature required 100% of electricity in the state to be generated by green energy by 2040 and reclassified waste-to-energy power generation as no longer being considered green. The Hennepin County board voted to develop a plan to close the facility between 2028 and
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Operation of the facility has been controversial with proposals to burn more trash or close the facility both proposed since 2009. Proposals to burn more trash cite the need to deal with an increasing amount of trash generated and to avoid filling landfills as quickly while proposals to close the
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Almost half of
Hennepin County's waste is incinerated at the facility. The facility earns money from charging trash haulers to dump their waste, from selling the steam generated from burning the waste, from selling scrap metal left over from burning the waste and from selling the generated
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bus maintenance facility and at the time there were few people living nearby. The center cost $ 189 million to construct. HERC first started generating electricity in 1989 and is one of seven garbage incinerators in
Minnesota. The facility was bought by
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2040 and waste incineration was not categorized as green energy. In
October, the Hennepin County board voted to close the facility at some point between 2028 and 2040. Environmental justice advocates had argued for closure by 2025.
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When
Hennepin County's climate action plan was approved in 2021, it did not plan for the closure of HERC. Environmental justice organizers criticized the climate action plan and the decision to continue to operate HERC.
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A 1980 Minnesota state law prioritized waste incineration over filling landfills. HERC was developed following that law and was one of more than 10 waste incinerators opened in
Minnesota. The center replaced a
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The future of HERC has been controversial with competing ideas to expand or close the facility. Since 2009 there has been discussion about expanding use of the facility or even closing it.
47:. Following changes to state law in 1980 that prioritized incinerating garbage over directly filling landfills, HERC was developed and began generating electricity in 1989. Located in the
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advocates are concerned about the pollution generated near local neighborhoods. In 2009 Hennepin County failed to get approval to burn more waste at the facility.
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107:. A portion of excess rain and snow runoff from Target Field station is used by the center. Heat is also used to melt snow in the infield of
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The
Hennepin Energy Recovery Center with Target Field in the background and light rail tracks in the foreground.
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The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center is located in the upper right portion of this aerial image of Target Field.
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operated the facility from opening in 1989 until 2018 when Great River Energy began managing the center.
739:"Residents, environmental advocates disappointed in Hennepin County incinerator (HERC) closure timeline"
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609:"Environmental activists rally against Hennepin Energy Recovery Center trash incinerator"
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661:"Does burning garbage sound like a green energy solution? Hennepin County says maybe"
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451:"Environmental and community groups join forces to take on an old foe: the HERC"
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399:"Hennepin County approves new operator for downtown Minneapolis garbage burner"
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facility cite the pollution generated and impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
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381:"The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center and its role in the solid waste system"
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had been divided on their opinion on whether to approve increase burning.
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531:"Environmental advocates don't want Hennepin County to burn more trash"
425:"Covanta sues Hennepin County over downtown Minneapolis garbage burner"
216:"Hennepin County wrestles with future of Minneapolis waste incinerator"
713:"Plan to close HERC required for Hennepin County to get state cash"
293:"Snow And Ice Are No Match For This Mpls. Sidewalk - CBS Minnesota"
242:"EDITORIAL | Target Field Station is the latest transit milestone"
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557:"Hennepin County to push Minneapolis to begin curbside organi"
505:"County wants to burn more garbage at Minneapolis incinerator"
477:"Hennepin County goes to HERC, again | Finance & Commerce"
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Heat from the facility is used to melt snow on sidewalks near
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Grant, Sam; Frempong-Longdon Jr., Charles (25 June 2021).
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183:"Hennepin County commissioners eye closure plan for HERC"
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bus maintenance facility. The facility which is owned by
351:"Activists want to close the downtown HERC trash-burner"
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2040 with activists advocating for an earlier closure.
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Waste-to-energy power station in Minneapolis, Minnesota
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A water tank for the facility being worked on at night
583:"Hennepin County ends garbage fight with Minneapolis"
320:"Twins home opener could be among their coldest ever"
687:"Assessing the Hennepin County Climate Action Plan"
423:Chanen, David; Smith, Kelly (September 16, 2016).
386:. Hennepin County staff report. September 2023.
240:Tribune, Editorial Board Star (May 16, 2014).
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129:in 1988 and sold to Hennepin County in 2003.
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268:"Heated sidewalk trend afoot in Twin Cities"
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635:"Mpls. garbage divides mayoral hopefuls"
820:Energy infrastructure completed in 1989
815:Buildings and structures in Minneapolis
737:Magan, Christopher (October 10, 2023).
529:Dunbar, Elizabeth (17 September 2013).
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581:Olson, Rochelle (February 12, 2014).
555:Dunbar, Elizabeth (1 February 2014).
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503:Hemphill, Stephanie (17 July 2009).
449:Tigue, Kristoffer (20 April 2016).
181:Hazzard, Andrew (10 October 2023).
349:Pan, H. Jiahong (24 August 2023).
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607:Medina, Regina (16 August 2023).
214:Kraker, Dan (21 September 2023).
475:Geiger, Bob (17 December 2010).
397:Smith, Kelly (October 4, 2016).
144:amount of trash incinerated and
767:Hennepin Energy Recovery Center
711:Hazzard, Andrew (25 May 2023).
659:Hazzard, Andrew (24 May 2021).
29:Hennepin Energy Recovery Center
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633:Sepic, Matt (4 April 2013).
356:Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
318:Nelson, Tim (3 April 2018).
111:and encourage grass growth.
825:Power stations in Minnesota
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146:2013 mayoral candidates
482:Finance & Commerce
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31:also called
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41:Minneapolis
809:Categories
782:93°16′48″W
779:44°59′00″N
165:References
49:North Loop
45:Minnesota
691:MinnPost
639:MPR News
613:MPR News
561:MPR News
535:MPR News
509:MPR News
455:MinnPost
324:MPR News
220:MPR News
75:Facility
115:History
156:Future
384:(PDF)
35:is a
750:2023
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698:2023
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33:HERC
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