Minnesota Power Plant that Burns Turkey Litter Faces Closure

BENSON, Minn. (AP) _ A plant in western Minnesota that burns turkey litter and was once heralded by politicians could soon be shutting down.

Reed Anfinson, who serves on the city of Benson's economic development authority, tells reporter that 45 employees of Benson Power, formerly known as Fibrominn, were told this week that the plant could close.

Xcel Energy has about a decade left on a contract to buy the power at a premium, but the utility wants out. Company officials say biomass power costs up to 10 times more than new wind power.

For the past decade, the plant has created work for turkey farmers and truckers who deliver biomass to the plant. Anfinson, who is also owner and publisher of the Swift County Monitor-News, says the plant accounts for a quarter of the city's current property tax revenues.