On October 15, Clean Grid Alliance, Fresh Energy, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and Union of Concerned Scientists (collectively the Clean Energy Organizations or CEOs) filed Supplemental Comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in Xcel Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan proceeding
Sherco
New alternate Xcel Energy plan removes gas power plant, adds clean renewable energy
An alternate long-range energy plan filed Friday by Xcel Energy removes a proposed gas power plant and adds significant renewable energy, reflecting a welcome and necessary realignment with the utility company’s promise to achieve a carbon-free electric system by 2050.
Fresh Energy applauds Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency’s plans to be 80% carbon-free in 2030
Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) announced on February 5, 2020, its plan to reshape its generation portfolio through the retirement of the Sherco 3 coal-fired power plant in 2020 and replace it primarily with wind and solar generation.
Missed opportunity for clean energy as gas plant bill moves forward
Today, Governor Dayton signed a bill into law that allows Xcel Energy to build a natural gas plant in Becker, Minnesota. Though Fresh Energy believes that the bill is a missed opportunity to pursue even greater investments in local clean energy sources like wind, solar, and energy efficiency, we are hopeful that Xcel will bring plans for the proposed plant to the Public Utilities Commission for careful review.
How the historic decision to transform Xcel Energy’s electricity was made
Working directly with Xcel and with our “Clean Energy Organizations”, or CEO, partnership, Fresh Energy used for the first time in Minnesota the same utility inputs and modeling Xcel uses. We analyzed options for closing the Sherco 1 and 2 coal plants and replacing them with vast amounts of cost-effective energy efficiency, wind, and solar power. Our independent analysis demonstrated that Xcel’s cheapest course of action—and the lowest in carbon—was the retirement and replacement of these two units, which are the biggest sources of global warming pollution in the Upper Midwest. Xcel agreed with our analysis, and completely revised its 15-year plan to reflect those economic opportunities. Fresh Energy applauds the unanimous Minnesota Public Utilities Commission decision to modify and approve Xcel’s 15-year Resource Plan as the affordable, reliable, and clean path forward for Minnesota customers.
