Xcel Energy has announced plans to build four new wind farms totaling 750 MW in Minnesota and North Dakota.
According to Xcel, the projects, once operational, will provide enough energy to power nearly 400,000 homes.
“The new wind portfolio delivers on our plan to more than double our renewable energy sources over the next 15 years and reduces carbon emissions by 60 percent from 2005 levels,” said Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy-Minnesota.
The wind portfolio comprises the following projects:
- Freeborn Wind Energy, a 200 MW project located in Freeborn County, Minn., and developed by Invenergy;
- Foxtail Wind, a 150 MW project located in Dickey County, N.D., and developed by NextEra Energy Resources;
- Blazing Star 1, a 200 MW project located in Lincoln County, Minn., and developed by Geronimo Energy; and
- Blazing Star 2, a 200 MW project located in Lincoln County, Minn. and developed by Geronimo Energy.
Xcel Energy will begin building the wind farms, if approved by regulators, upon completion of the permitting process, which is expected by mid-2017. Xcel expects the projects to be in service by 2020; thus, they would be eligible for the 100% federal production tax credit.
Clark added that today marks a “big day for Xcel Energy and [its] customers.”
“We’re building an energy future with low-cost wind that delivers the renewable energy customers want at an affordable price,” he said.
