[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Xcel Energy proposing to shut down the two oldest units at the Sherco coal-fired power plant by 2026 and build a new natural gas plant on the same site[/title][fusion_text]Monday, October 5th 2015
Xcel Energy is proposing to shut down the two oldest units at the Sherco coal-fired power plant by 2026 and build a new natural gas plant on the same site. The utility filed comments with the state Public Utilities Commission on Friday outlining a much different vision for the massive energy generator from what it proposed earlier this year. Xcel wants close Sherco 2 in 2023 and Sherco 1 in 2026 and build a large natural gas generating unit on adjacent land. Sherco’s larger, newer Unit 3, which has more modern pollution controls, would continue burning coal. Xcel also proposes to continue operating the state’s two nuclear plants in Monticello and Prairie Island into the early 2030s and add more natural gas generation in North Dakota to serve the growing demand there. Xcel’s plan would allow it to reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent from 2005 levels, and would result in 63 percent of its generating fleet being carbon-free. The company plans to file more detailed information about the proposal in January. The coal plant employs 350 full-time workers and as many as 800 more during periodic outages.
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