- Increased costs to maintain a safe and reliable system while meeting growing electricity demand.
- Changes in customer mix.
- Cybersecurity incidents posing a threat to customer, employee, and vendor data privacy and reliable operation of the electric system.
- Evolving regulations for fossil fuel-fired plants (Greenhouse gas regulations, Regional Haze Rule, Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule, Coal Combustion Residuals Rule).
Otter Tail Power Company
Greenhouse gas emissions & sustainability report data
In its 2023 reporting, Otter Tail Power Company disclosed greenhouse gas emissions of 2.6 million tons CO2e (2023). By scope: Scope 1: 2.4M tCO2e; Scope 2: 60.8K tCO2e; Scope 3: 1.1M tCO2e. Figures are as stated in the company's own report and may use different boundaries, units or methods (for example market-based vs location-based Scope 2), so compare with care.
GHG Emissions
2.6 million tons CO2e (2023)
2023
Renewable Energy
37% (owned and contracted generation, excludes MISO market purchases)
of total energy
Water Usage
910.2 million gallons consumptive, 38.8 million gallons non-consumptive (2023)
2023
Waste
5.2 metric tons of hazardous waste disposed (2023)
2023
📊 Emissions by Scope (2023)
| Scope | What it covers | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | Direct emissions from sources the company owns or controls (fuel combustion, company vehicles, process and fugitive emissions). | 2.4M tCO2e |
| Scope 2 | Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heat and cooling. | 60.8K tCO2e |
| Scope 3 | Other indirect emissions across the value chain (purchased goods, business travel, use of sold products, etc.). | 1.1M tCO2e |
New to scopes? Read Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions explained and market-based vs location-based Scope 2.
✅ Reported Environmental Achievements
- Completed the 49-MW Hoot Lake Solar facility, bringing nearly 40 percent of owned and contracted energy generation from renewable resources.
- Purchased Ashtabula III Wind Energy Center, adding 62 MW of nameplate capacity to owned generation assets.
- Began plans to upgrade and refurbish wind turbines, expecting approximately 164 GWh of additional energy.
- Reduced SO2 emissions by 62%, NOx emissions by 79%, and Hg emissions by 88% from 2005 levels.
- Completed Hoot Lake Plant’s decommissioning and site restoration.
- Closed coal ash landfill by installing a geomembrane cap and drainage system.
🎯 Climate & Sustainability Targets
🔜 Short-term
- Install remaining 174,000 AMI meters by early 2025.
📅 Medium-term
- Own or contract energy generation that is 55% renewable by 2030 (excludes MISO market purchases).
- Reduce carbon emissions from owned generation resources 50% by 2030.
🔭 Long-term
- Reduce carbon emissions from owned generation resources 97% by 2050.
- Approximately 70% of energy delivery mix will be renewables by 2050.
🌱 ESG Focus Areas
Energy and EnvironmentSocialGovernance