Posted by Sara Niklas

After four years of waiting, the U.S. Department of Energy and Minnesota Department of Commerce finalized and published Excelsior Energy's environmental impact statement, and the coal gasification Mesaba Project can now move forward on the Iron Range.

The $1.4 billion Mesaba Project is a coal gasification plant that would use new clean coal technology to power two 600 megawatt generators and provide a new energy source.

"It's the largest single investment ever made in Minnesota, and of course the Iron Range. We're introducing a totally new technology to Iron Range," said co-CEO and president Tom Micheletti.

Here's how it works:

Coal is placed in a steel container under high pressure and high temperatures.

A chemical process converts it into synthetic gas and removes pollutants, converting it into fuel that can be used for energy.

Micheletti says finalization of the environmental impact statement by federal agencies was the big step the company was waiting for.

"We made it through the gauntlet which is a huge, huge thing for northeastern Minnesota, and I believe will ultimately will prove to be a huge thing for the environment," he said.

The next step is finalizing the site.

The first option is near the Taconite/Bovey area on the west Range.

The second option is near Hoyt Lakes.

After the final recommendation for the site is approved, the permitting process can move forward.

So what does this mean for the Iron Range?

"It will be akin to the development of the taconite industry and what that did for the Iron Range years and years ago," said Micheletti.

Twelve hundred to 1,500 jobs along with 125 permanent jobs would be created in the area.

The EIS received more than 700 comments from the public before revisions were made and the document was finalized.

The statement addressed many issues, including the air emissions the plant would produce.