(MN) Minneapolis Star Tribune - A power plant ran out of steam Monday as developers announced that they have decided not to build the $1.6 billion Big Stone II project near South Dakota’s border with Minnesota. The joint announcement by four utilities brings to an end one of the larger environmental debates in the state in recent years because of mounting public concerns about global warming and energy policy.

Seven utilities were partners when the 500- to 600-megawatt coal-fired plant was announced in 2004, but three dropped out. More