Xcel Energy to build 1550 MW of new wind generation

• 7 years ago (2017-03-17)
• David Flin

North America 999 Wind 239

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Xcel Energy has announced that it will build seven new wind farms totalling 1550 MW in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa in the USA.

The new wind farms will consist of a combination of owned projects and power purchase agreements. They will represent an investment of $2.5 billion. Xcel has said that it estimates that the wind farms will save more than $4 billion in fuel and other costs over the lives of the projects.

The projects include:Freeborn Wind Energy. This is a 200 MW project located in Freeborn County, Minnesota, and Worth and Mitchell Counties, Iowa. This project is being developed by Invenergy.

Blazing Star 1 is a 200 MW project located in Lincoln County, Minnesota, and is being developed by Geronimo Energy.

Blazing Star 2 is a 200 MW project located in Lincoln County, Minnesota, and is being developed by Geronimo Energy.

Lake Benton Wind Project is a 100 MW build-own-transfer project in Pipestone County, Minnesota. It is being developed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy.

Foxtail Wind is a 150 MW project located in Dickey County, North Dakota. It is being developed by NextEra Energy.

Crowned Ridge Wind Project is a 300 MW build-own-transfer project and a 300 MW purchased power agreement. The project will be located in Codington, Deuel, and Grant Counties, South Dakota, and will be developed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy.

Clean Energy 1 is a 100 MW power purchase agreement project in Morton and Mercer Counties, North Dakota. It is being developed by ALLETE Clean Energy.

The projects are expected to enter service by 2020.

Chris Clark, President of Xcel Energy-Minnesota, said: “This investment in renewable energy keeps bills low for customers while giving them the clean energy they want and helping us to achieve 63 per cent carbon-free energy by 2030. Wind energy is at historically low prices right now, so we are able to reduce emissions while securing long-term cost savings for our customers.”