October 1, 2019

Utility Drive

Catherine Morehouse

Minnesota regulators on Friday unanimously rejected Xcel Minnesota’s proposal to purchase a 720 MW natural gas plant, citing concerns the plant could close early and leave customers with hundreds of millions of dollars in stranded asset costs.

But the decision will not impact the utility’s ability to operate the plant — Xcel now plans to buy the plant through an unregulated subsidiary, allowing it private ownership. Some clean energy groups in the state say the decision will loosen oversight on the plant’s operations, including its emissions and lifespan, because the facility won’t be measured under the utility’s 100% carbon-free by 2050 goals. Read More…