The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved Xcel Energy's plan to invest US$2.5bn to support the development of 1.55 GW of new wind capacity in several US Northern states (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa). These funds will be allocated across 7 wind project sites. Xcel Energy will own 1,150 MW while the remaining 400 MW will be sold to the company under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).
The seven projects are the following:
- Freeborn Wind Energy, a 200 MW project located in Freeborn County, Minnesota, developed by Invenergy
- Foxtail Wind, a 150 MW project located in Dickey County, North Dakota, developed by NextEra Energy Resources
- Blazing Star 1, a 200 MW project located in Lincoln County, Minnesota, developed by Geronimo Energy
- Blazing Star 2, a 200 MW project located in Lincoln County, Minnesota, developed by Geronimo Energy
- Crowned Ridge Wind, a 300 MW Build-Own Transfer project and a 300 MW PPA on top
- Lake Benton wind project, a 100 MW Build-Own Transfer project located in Minnesota (Pipestone County)
- Clean Energy 1, a 100 MW PPA in North Dakota (Morton and Mercer Counties)
Xcel Energy will begin building the wind farms upon completion of the permitting process, expected in 2017. The projects are expected to be commissioned by 2020.
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