The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) voted unanimously to support Xcel Energy’s latest long-range plan, which will transform the company’s energy fleet.

Xcel expects to more than double its renewable energy portfolio as a result, delivering greater than 60% carbon-free energy to its Upper Midwest (Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) customers by 2030.

Coal-Fired Capacity Takes a Hit

The MPUC approval finalizes Xcel’s decision to retire Units 1 and 2 at the Sherburne County Generating Plant (Sherco, Figure 1) in Becker, Minn. Sherco is a 2,222-MW three-unit facility—Xcel’s largest. The company announced last year that it wanted to close the 1976- and 1977-commissioned units, but it still plans to continue operating the 860-MW Unit 3 (added in 1987). Xcel co-owns that unit with Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, which holds a 41% stake.

1. Sherburne County Generating Plant. Units 1 and 2 will be retired in 2023 and 2026, respectively. Courtesy: Xcel Energy

Laura McCarten, regional vice president of Xcel Energy, told POWER that Unit 1 would be retired in 2023 and Unit 2 would be shuttered in 2026.…

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