Duluth Gets Support For Their $44.6-Million Bonding Request From State Of Minnesota; Funds Would Update Steam Plant, Runways, And Allow For St. Louis River Cleanup
Some good news during this January cold snap: The City of Duluth has learned that their proposed $44.6-million bonding request has received support from Governor Mark Dayton. The funds would be part of a larger state funding package.
Included in the bond request are three major projects:
- $21-million to begin the conversion of the 80-year old steam plant. The plant currently pushes 90-million gallons of water through its system to supply energy for over 200 customers. Renovations would include a closed-loop system. These changes would increase efficiency, create a sustainable model for the future, and reduce the carbon footprint of the Duluth Energy Systems plant with future potential to be fueled by biomass and natural gas.
- $5.3-million to reconstruct the runways for the Duluth International Airport and Sky Harbor Airport.
- $5.6-million for port improvements.
- $12.7-million in funding for the ongoing contamination clean-up of the St. Louis River estuary.