Practice Areas

Attorneys

Mining, Energy & Regulated Industries

MCM provides comprehensive and innovative representation to a variety of clients in regulated industries including mining, energy, trucking, distribution, and warehousing. We recognize the unique needs and demands of our clients operating in these industries, and our attorneys in this department have extensive experience helping clients with the following: 

Mining

  • Representing numerous mining companies on matters relating to energy contracting and rate regulation, environmental matters, permitting, real estate acquisitions, mineral interest acquisition and sales, reclamation activities, contracting and compliance with various mining laws.
  • Representing buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of mining properties.
  • Assistance in developing mine closure plans.
  • Representing customers in negotiating coal supply contracts.

    Energy

    • Providing several groups of large industrial utility customers in the upper Midwest with representation before state and federal regulatory bodies.
    • Representing a number of taconite mines, paper and pulp mills, oil refineries, steel manufacturers, gold mines, and cement manufacturers on a broad array of energy matters, including the litigation of more than 35 major electric and gas rate cases in Minnesota and South Dakota, resource plans, and dozens of miscellaneous matters over the past five decades. The following is a list of recent representative rate cases, resource plans, and miscellaneous dockets:
      • In the Matter of a Petition by Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation for Authority to Increase Natural Gas Rates in Minnesota; PUC Docket No. G007, 011/GR-10-977
      • In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota Corporation, for Authority to Increase Rates for Electric Service in Minnesota; PUC Docket No. E002/GR-10-971
      • In the Matter of the Application by Minnesota Power for Authority to Increase Rates for Electric Service in Minnesota; PUC Docket No. E015/GR-09-1151
      • In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc., for Authority to Increase Electric Rates; SDPUC Docket No. EL09-018
      • In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company, d/b/a Xcel Energy, Minnesota Corporation, for Authority to Increase Rates for Electric Service in Minnesota; PUC Docket No. E002/GR-08-1065
      • In the Matter of the Application of Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation for Authority to Increase Rates for Natural Gas Service in Minnesota; PUC Docket No. E015/GR-08-835
      • In the Matter of the Application of Minnesota Power for Authority to Increase Rates for Electric Utility Service in Minnesota; PUC Docket No. E015/GR-08-415
      • In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. for Authority to Increase Electric Rates; SDPUC Docket No. EL06-019
      • In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy for Authority to Increase Rates for Electric Service in Minnesota; PUC Docket No. E-002/GR-05-1428
      • In the Matter of Northern States Power Company’s, a Minnesota Corporation, Application for Approval of its 2011-2025 Resource Plan; PUC Docket No. E015/RP-10-825
      • In the Matter of Minnesota Power’s 2010-2024 Integrated Resource Plan; PUC Docket No. E015/RP-09-1088
      • In the Matter of the Minnesota Office of Attorney General - Antirust and Utilities Division’s Petition for a Commission Investigation Regarding Criteria and Standards for Multiyear Rate Plans under Minn. Stat. § 216B.16, Subd. 19; PUC Docket No. E,G-999/M-12-587
      • In the Matter of Minnesota Power’s Petition for Approval of Deferred Accounting Related to Pension Plan Contributions and Expense; PUC Docket No. E015/M-11-1264
      • In the Matter of Utility Renewable Energy Cost Impact Reports Required by Minnesota Statutes Section 216B.1691, Subd. 2e; PUC Docket No. E-999/CI-11-852
      • In the Matter of an Investigation of Whether the Commission Should Take Action on Demand Response Bid Directly into the MISO Markets by Aggregators of Retail Customers (ARCs) under FERC Orders 719 and 719-A; PUC Docket No. E999/CI-09-1449
      • In the Matter of Minnesota Power’s Petition to Purchase Square Butte Cooperative’s Transmission Assets and for Restructuring Power Purchase Agreements from Milton R. Young Unit 2 Generating Station; PUC Docket No. E002/GR-09-526
    • Representing large industrial customers in negotiation of utility service contracts, advice and lobbying with respect to energy-related legislation and regulations, and participation in rulemaking proceedings.
    • Representing both appellants and appellees on energy-related issues before the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court, most recently on behalf of a large industrial group in In re Minnesota Power, 807 N.W. 2d 484 (Minn.Ct.App. 2011).
    • Representing utilities in negotiating coal contracts, unit train railroad contracts and car set leases.
    • Representing both buyers and sellers of power plants and transmission facilities in merger and acquisition transactions, including the sale of licensed dams and hydro electric facilities.
    • Representing industrial customers on cogeneration and small power production related issues.
    • Assisting customers with transmission routing projects and negotiating transmission arrangements with utilities.

    Other Regulated Industries

    • Representation of the members of the trucking, distribution and warehousing industries on contracting and licensing issues.
    • Representation of banks and other financial institutions on regulatory issues.
    • Representation of industrial customers on environmental issues, including permitting.