Xcel Shuts Down Sherco Coal Unit in Becker, Paving the Way for Renewable Energy Transformation

(KNSI) – It’s the end of an era for the largest coal-fired plant in Minnesota as the facility transitions to renewable power.

Jake Judd/KNSI News

On New Year’s Eve, Xcel Energy shut down one of three units at the Sherburne County Generating Plant in Becker. The company plans to retire Sherco’s remaining coal-fired units in 2026 and 2030.

Sherco Unit 2 was built in 1977. The 46-year-old building will be converted into a synchronous condenser to help ensure reliable electricity from green energy. It’s part of Xcel’s move to 100% carbon-free production by 2040.

The power provider says the Sherco site is critical to its clean energy future with investments in solar, battery storage and new transmission lines.

Xcel is building the Midwest’s largest solar facility next to the site to replace the plant’s production. The two-phase project would generate 710 megawatts of electricity. It is enough to power 150,000 homes. A ten-megawatt, 100-hour battery storage facility is also being built as a pilot project. The company proposes building transmission lines to link at least 2,000 megawatts of low-cost wind and solar in southwest Minnesota to the grid.

In 2023, the project was awarded $35 million from the U.S. Department of Energy and $20 million from the Breakthrough Energy Catalyst fund.

After construction, it will take around 20 employees to operate the solar site. Xcel Energy is also working with the state and local communities to bring new jobs and investments to areas affected by coal plant retirements. At its height, around 300 people worked at the power plant.

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