Xcel Energy

Powering Minnesota Communities

Xcel Energy is committed to supporting our customers and communities through these difficult times. In June 2020, we proposed one of the largest packages of energy investments in Minnesota history in response to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s request for proposals to help jump start economic growth during the pandemic. The plan includes a slate of projects representing nearly $3 billion in incremental and accelerated energy investments that would boost the economy, create an estimated 5,000 jobs, and add more wind and solar to our system, while keeping customer bills low.

Project highlights include:

Adding solar near the Sherco plant. We have proposed speeding up the addition of up to 460 megawatts of solar power next to our Sherco coal plant in Becker, Minnesota, enough to power 100,000 homes each year. Building the solar installation would generate significant state and local tax benefits as well as landowner lease payments over the life of the project.

Expanding and rebuilding wind farms. Rebuilding aging wind farms with the latest technology and adding wind power in the state would create hundreds of construction jobs in greater Minnesota. Xcel Energy would use union labor and women, veteran, and minority-owned businesses for various aspects of the projects.

Expanding conservation and efficiency programs. We proposed to expand our current energy conservation programs, including direct rebate payments to customers who may be struggling to pay for new equipment, leading to job growth in the trade services while lowering customer bills. We also proposed to spend twice as much as the state requires on assistance programs for low-income customers.

Xcel Energy also proposed other investments in transmission, distribution, natural gas and electric vehicle infrastructure projects, including building electric vehicle charging stations for fleets and the public.