MINNEAPOLIS — There could soon be big changes to how trash is managed in Hennepin County — and how much it will cost you.
There’s a new timeline to transition away from Minneapolis’ big trash incinerator.
If you live or work in Hennepin County, your trash is dumped in one of two places: a landfill, where it’s buried, or a boiler, where it’s burned. Dave McNary is an assistant director at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, or HERC.
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“It’s really beneficial. You’re managing trash. You’re not burying it, and you’re creating energy,” he said.
The energy is then sold to Xcel, which uses the megawatts to power about 25,000 homes.
“We do have emissions from this plant, but we do everything we can to reduce and eliminate those emissions,” McNary said.
READ MORE: Apple Valley, Dakota Valley Recycling team up to keep shoes out of landfills
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A new state law on clean energy no longer recognizes HERC as a source of renewable energy. Because of that, county officials warn the state could withhold money if HERC stays open.
There are also health concerns among people who live in north Minneapolis. That’s a key reason why, this week, Hennepin County commissioners set a new timeline to shut the plant down sometime between 2028 and 2040.
“I always say this – who in Hennepin County would like to have the HERC if we moved it? And you know what the answer is? No one,” Commissioner Jeffrey Lunde said. “And so I think the place that it is now, people in north Minneapolis really feel that it contributes in a negative way to their health.”
READ MORE: Two Minnesota counties harnessing AI to repurpose food scraps
Without HERC, what happens to all that trash? The commissioner says it won’t all go to the landfill.
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The goal is to reduce the amount of trash we throw out.
“Organics recycling. We need to recycle much more efficiently plastics, metal. Metal pays for itself, plastic doesn’t. We also need to have manufacturers not use materials that can’t be recyclable at all,” Lunde said.
If and when HERC closes, it will affect about 50 full-time employees and an additional 200 or so contractors.
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners has asked their Administrator to prepare a more definitive transition plan by Feb. 1.
Watch WCCO News at 6 on Friday to see why Bloomington’s mayor is calling this a crisis.
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Jonah Kaplan
Jonah Kaplan is WCCO and CBS News Minnesota’s investigative reporter and has built a strong reputation for his balanced and in-depth coverage of high-impact issues including the economy, immigration, education, public safety, and the military, among others.
MINNEAPOLIS — The menu offers plenty of options, but fans of the Red Dragon say they’ll miss how the restaurant really nourished their souls.
“It feels like family,” patron Kathleen Spitzer told WCCO. “Everybody — the servers and bartenders — are so nice. It feels like a home away from home.”
Red Dragon’s current owner, Phil Wong, said the restaurant and bar will shut down on Sunday after nearly 50 years in business; it first opened on Dec. 29, 1976.
“People love this place. They like to come here and drink and hang out,” Wong lamented. “I love them all. They show a lot of love to us and they enjoy our establishment.”
The Red Dragon restaurant on March 18, 1994.
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According to Wong, 73, finances and his longevity were contributing factors. The former engineer took over the business from his brother in 2007.
“It costs a little bit more — the food, the meat, the vegetables,” he added. “Minneapolis, too, the minimum wage went up.”
Still, Wong said he leaves with no regrets.
“I feel good about it. I think it’s time to move on,” he said. “We’re ending on a good note.”
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Red Dragon is the latest of several Twin Cities eateries to shutter in 2024, including the St. Paul staple Tavern on Grand. Even newer restaurants, like Kim’s from award-winning chef Ann Kim, also in Uptown, could not survive.
Jonah Kaplan
Jonah Kaplan is WCCO and CBS News Minnesota’s investigative reporter and has built a strong reputation for his balanced and in-depth coverage of high-impact issues including the economy, immigration, education, public safety, and the military, among others.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Dozens of flights were delayed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Friday morning.
Dozens of flights delayed
By the numbers: According to MSP Airport’s website, as of 11:51 a.m., two departures were canceled and 36 were delayed. Meanwhile, 11 arrivals were canceled and 16 were delayed.
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FlightAware says there have been more than 19,000 delays and 525 cancelations globally, while there have been more than 3,400 delays and 525 cancelations within, into or out of the United States as of 11:57 a.m. on Thursday.
The weather forecast: This comes as a dense fog advisory is in effect until noon on Friday across Minnesota, and rain is expected for much of Friday and Friday night. There are also storms on the east and west coasts that could cause some travel problems.
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Several airports across the United States have ground delays due to weather, according to the FAA’s website.
Increased travel at MSP Airport
What they’re saying: The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) expected a 6% year-over-year increase in screened passengers between Dec. 20, 2024, and Jan. 6, 2025. Thursday, Dec. 26, was expected to be the busiest day during the stretch, with nearly 50,000 people expected to pass through security at MSP.
This week’s Fab Five photo display includes highlights from Minneapolis South’s 88-84 boys basketball victory over Minneapolis North on Wednesday, December 11.
The photos include two South players who led them with 22 points each (DeAmontre Scott and Eugene Brown), the player who scored 22 points to lead North (JMarion Sanders), North’s point guard who scored 14 points (Allen Hill), and a former Marshall University High School and Augsburg University great officiating the game (Ronnie Henderson).
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
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