en.Wedoany.com Reported - Xcel Energy announced that the third phase of the Sherco Solar Project in Becker, Minnesota, has been completed. Located on the site of a soon-to-be-retired coal-fired power plant, the project now has a total installed capacity of 710 megawatts across its three operational phases.
A proposed fourth phase expansion would increase the total generation capacity of the Sherco Solar Project to 910 megawatts, expected to meet the electricity needs of over 190,000 households by 2029. This expansion is projected to create approximately 300 union construction jobs and bring $90 million in economic benefits to the local area.
Bria Shea, President of Xcel Energy for Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, stated that completing the third phase is a significant step toward providing customers with reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy. The project demonstrates how existing infrastructure and workforce expertise can be leveraged to meet growing energy demand, create economic opportunities for Minnesota communities, and continue advancing the renewable energy transition.
Luke Molus, Senior Operations Manager for Solar and Storage Sites at Xcel Energy, expressed excitement about the next chapter of Sherco taking shape. For decades, the Sherco plant has provided power to the region, and now the solar project is continuing that legacy by delivering reliable energy to customers and creating a new future.
