Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Approves Xcel Energy’s Wind Expansion

July 10, 2017

Xcel Energy will move forward with seven new wind farm projects in the Midwest after receiving approval from Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission. The wind farms will be built in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota and should be operational by the end of 2020. According to Xcel, the projects will provide enough energy to power more than 800,000 homes and could save customers billions on fuel costs. In addition, Xcel estimates lease payments will exceed $7 million annually, property tax contributions will exceed $8 million, and as many as 1,500 construction jobs are expected to be created. “If I were talking to you 10 years ago, I don't think I'd be telling you that I think solar is competing with fossil,” said Xcel Energy CEO Ben Fowke. “I wouldn't tell you that wind is beating fossil. I am telling you that now.”