Minnesota-based wind farm developer Outland Renewable Energy has announced that a $2 million grant from the Xcel Energy renewable development fund (RDF) has been recommended to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
The grant would support the construction of a 2 MW solar power plant in Cottonwood County in southwestern Minnesota co-located with Outland's development of a 50 MW wind facility. According to Outland, this grant will allow the company to complement its wind farms with the additional benefits of renewable solar power.
An advisory board with representation from environmental groups, Xcel Energy, Xcel Energy customers, the Minnesota Department of Commerce and the Prairie Island Indian Community chose Outland as one of its 22 recipients from nearly 100 renewable energy proposals for RDF funding. All selected projects are subject to final approval by the Minnesota PUC. Outland will sell the energy generated from the project to Xcel Energy.
