Minnesota Commission Gives Green Light for Xcel Energy’s Largest Upper Midwest Wind Expansion
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approves plan for 1,550
megawatts of low-cost wind energy
Yesterday the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel
Energy’s plan for the largest expansion of wind energy in the Upper
Midwest. The North Dakota Public Service Commission will review the plan
later this year.
The new wind projects will save Xcel Energy customers billions of
dollars in fuel and other costs, as compared to the costs of other
energy sources. Seven new wind farms are slated to be built in Iowa,
Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota and will be operational by the
end of 2020. The projects will provide enough energy to power more than
800,000 homes, increasing Xcel Energy’s regional wind output by
approximately 70 percent.
“We’re investing in low-cost wind energy to provide the benefits of
clean, affordable energy directly to our customers,” said Chris Clark,
president, Xcel Energy-Minnesota. “These projects deliver on our plan to
keep energy costs low while also reducing carbon emissions by more than
60 percent in the coming decades.”
Investments deliver long-term value
With these new wind
farms, Xcel Energy is locking in low-cost, carbon-free energy. As no
fuel is needed for wind farms, the cost of electricity from the wind
farms is not affected by fuel price spikes. Customers receive the
benefit of low, stable electricity prices from these wind farms for the
25-year life of the projects.
“Our strategy delivers the long-term value our customers tell us they
want,” said Clark. “These projects give our customers both lower bills
over the long term and predictable prices, in addition to a cleaner
energy mix.”
Xcel Energy will own 1,150 megawatts of the new wind energy; the
remaining 400 megawatts will be sold to the company under long-term
power purchase agreements.
Project details
-
Freeborn Wind Energy, a 200 MW project located in Freeborn County,
Minnesota, and Worth and Mitchell Counties, Iowa.
-
Foxtail Wind, a 150 MW project located in Dickey County, North Dakota.
-
Blazing Star 1, a 200 MW project located in Lincoln County, Minnesota.
-
Blazing Star 2, a 200 MW project located in Lincoln County, Minnesota.
-
Crowned Ridge Wind Project, a 600 MW project located in Codington
County, South Dakota.
-
Lake Benton Wind Project, a 100 MW project in Pipestone County,
Minnesota.
-
Clean Energy 1, a 100 MW project in Morton and Mercer counties, North
Dakota.
All projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2020, qualifying
them for 100 percent Production Tax Credit.
Benefits to landowners and local governments
In addition to
the cost savings the projects will deliver, local landowners and
governments will receive millions in lease payments and property taxes
over the life of the projects. Xcel Energy estimates lease payments will
exceed $7 million annually, with property tax contributions exceeding $8
million. Up to 1,500 construction jobs are expected to be created
through the projects.
About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) provides the
energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western
and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an
industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing
and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable
sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com
or follow us on Twitter
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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170707005520/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2017
Source: Business Wire
(July 7, 2017 - 1:00 PM EDT)
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