A case study of the proposed hot water district heating / cogeneration system for Minneapolis-St. Paul

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the relationship of planning and planning issues to a hot water district heating/cogeneration system which was proposed for use in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The proposed system would provide both electrical energy and thermal energy for space and hot water heating needs in the downtown areas of both cities. Since the proposed system would utilize coal instead of oil or natural gas, it could save over 3l million barrels of fuel in a twenty year time frame. As energy planning was a new area for planners, this case study offered the opportunity to identify the potential effects on planning prior to the implementation of the system.

To identify the relationship of planning to the proposed system, the author examined the background of the proposed system. Literature searches and personal and telephone interviews were conducted. Finally, a questionnaire was designed and administered.

The author found that planning and planning issues could be affected by the proposed hot water district heating/cogeneration system. For example, the proposed system could help to stabilize energy costs in the areas where service was provided. As other energy costs would most likely rise, new development could occur in the areas to be served by hot water district heating because of the stabilized costs. This additional density would in turn affect other related systems such as transportation, sewer and water services, and housing. The proposed system was also expected to help make large community development and urban revitalization projects more economically feasible.

The research for this case study indicated that hot water district heating/cogeneration was a technically feasible system. However, institutional issues such as ownership and operation and financing and regulation of the proposed system would need to be resolved. Also, this case study began an analysis of the implications of the proposed system on planning and planning issues. However, it was recommended that additional work should be done before the potential impacts of the proposed system could be fully understood in order to prepare mitigation plans to deal with those impacts.