Photo: Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy has begun delivering clean energy to one of the largest US solar farms: Sherco Solar in Minnesota. It's a big step in the utility's push to ditch coal and go to renewable energy throughout the Upper Midwest.
Sherco Solar, which recently started generating power, will eventually have a total capacity of 710 megawatts (MW). The first phase of the project is already drawing 220 MW of affordable solar power from the grid, and the next two phases are expected to come online in 2025 and 2026.
The solar farm is being built on the site of the Sherburne County Generating Station (Sherco), Minnesota's largest coal-fired power plant. Xcel Energy plans to retire all three Sherco coal units by 2030, with the first already offline. Once fully operational, Sherco Solar will generate enough electricity to power about 150,000 homes, replacing a large portion of the coal-fired power generation.
What is remarkable about Sherco Solar is not only its size but also its cost. It will be the cheapest solar power on Xcel's Upper Midwest grid, and the company is taking full advantage of federal tax credits to pass those savings on to its customers. Sherco Solar is expected to cost about $1.1 billion, but will qualify for about $480 million in federal tax credits — all of which Xcel says it is passing on to its customers.
The solar project also uses the existing grid connected to the coal plant, helping to speed up the timeline and save money. “With Sherco Solar, we are extending the benefits of a clean energy transition to our customers,” said Ryan Long, president of Xcel Energy for Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Sherco Solar is creating 400 union construction jobs and 12 permanent jobs for ongoing operations and maintenance. Also, it is set to bring about $350 million in economic benefits to the local community as the coal industry ends.
And there's more on the horizon: Earlier this month, Xcel began long-term battery storage work at Sherco with Form Energy, and they've proposed additional battery projects for the site. Xcel is also looking to expand Sherco Solar by another 200 MW in the fourth phase of the project.
The government is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for Sherco workers. Xcel has a strong track record of closing or restructuring coal plants without layoffs, and is promising jobs to any Sherco employees who want to stay on board.
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