Xcel Energy has announced in a press release plans to retire its last two coal plants in the Upper Midwest a decade earlier than scheduled. Plans are to close the Allen S. King coal plant in 2018 followed by the closing of the Sherco 3 plant in 2030.

In July, Xcel Energy will submit their plan to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for approval. If the plan is approved the plan would lead to a more than 80% reduction in carbon emissions in the region by 2030 compared to 2005 with a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by the year 2050.

Xcel Energy is striving for the completion of a wind expansion of 1,850 megawatts by the year 2022 which would translate into more than 30% of custermer's energy in the Upper Midwest coming from wind. There is also a goal of providing more than 50
% of their customers' energy needs in the region from renewables by the year 2030.A major expansion of solar energy with more than 3,000 megawatts of new universal solar is is expected by 2030.

 

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