Massive Solar Plus Storage Facility To Replace Coal And Gas, Too

The article discusses the significant transition underway at the Sherco Energy Hub in Minnesota, where a massive solar plus storage facility is set to replace retiring coal and natural gas power plants. Originally, Xcel Energy planned to build a 786-megawatt gas power plant at the site, but due to regulatory concerns over its $1 billion cost and advocacy for cleaner energy, the plan was scrapped. Instead, Xcel shifted focus to renewables, developing the Sherco Solar array—a 710-megawatt solar plant expected to be fully operational by 2026, which will replace the capacity of a retired coal unit. The remaining coal units at Sherco are slated for retirement by 2030, with Xcel also planning to leverage existing nuclear assets and a potential hydrogen-convertible gas plant, though renewables remain the primary strategy. Xcel’s recent filing with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission outlines plans for a 600-megawatt battery storage system adjacent to Sherco, doubling