Walker Orenstein
Reporter
Energy, natural resources and sustainabilityWalker Orenstein covers energy, natural resources and sustainability for the Star Tribune. Orenstein previously covered state government and politics with a focus on greater Minnesota and environmental issues for MinnPost, and he reported on the Legislature in Washington state for The News Tribune of Tacoma. He was raised in St. Paul and attended the University of Washington in Seattle. In his spare time, Orenstein enjoys playing hockey, hiking and camping..
Latest from Walker Orenstein
Allete meets tough hometown crowd over pending sale of Duluth company
The potential $6.2 billion sale, which includes Minnesota Power, would take it private.
March 25, 2025
Xcel customers in Minnesota can soon choose varying electricity rates
Residential customers can opt into a program that changes rates depending on time of day.
March 14, 2025
Why Ontario’s electricity tariff likely won’t hurt Minnesotans
The state’s biggest utilities and the regional grid operator say they use very little power from Ontario, which imposed the charge in response to President Donald Trump’s trade war.
March 10, 2025
Amazon must prove it needs 250 diesel generators at Becker data center, Minnesota utility regulators say
The company’s plan for backup power plants have sparked debate over whether there are cleaner alternatives.
February 28, 2025
Xcel says it will meet carbon-free law by 2035 under energy plan approved by Minnesota regulators
The company expects to extend the life of its two nuclear plants, build a gas plant and develop vast amounts of wind, solar and battery power.
February 21, 2025
Amazon wants to limit review of 250 diesel generators at its Minnesota data center
The fleet would run mainly in outages, but has raised environmental questions and sparked debate about the state’s ability to explore alternatives.
February 17, 2025
Minnesota utility regulators approve 8.17% rate hike for Xcel gas customers
Affected customers have already been paying a temporarily higher rate while the hike was being debated.
February 13, 2025
Xcel rethinks land sale contracts after buyer flipped $8M data center property to Amazon for $73M
The company’s sale of 348 acres in Becker to Elk River Technologies drew criticism and questions after the buyer sold it months later for nearly 10 times the price.
February 11, 2025
Xcel says it will meet carbon-free law by 2035 under energy plan approved by Minnesota regulators
The company expects to extend the life of its two nuclear plants, build a gas plant and develop vast amounts of wind, solar and battery power.
February 21, 2025
Amazon wants to limit review of 250 diesel generators at its Minnesota data center
The fleet would run mainly in outages, but has raised environmental questions and sparked debate about the state’s ability to explore alternatives.
February 17, 2025
Minnesota utility regulators approve 8.17% rate hike for Xcel gas customers
Affected customers have already been paying a temporarily higher rate while the hike was being debated.
February 13, 2025
Xcel rethinks land sale contracts after buyer flipped $8M data center property to Amazon for $73M
The company’s sale of 348 acres in Becker to Elk River Technologies drew criticism and questions after the buyer sold it months later for nearly 10 times the price.
February 11, 2025