New Energy Is Minnesota’s 2ND-Biggest Power

Study: Renewable energy now Minnesota's 2nd-largest electricity source

Elizabeth Dunbar, March 1, 2018 (Minnesota Public Radio)

“Renewable energy is overtaking nuclear as Minnesota's second-largest source of electricity generation, while coal remains the largest source…Coal made up 39 percent of the energy Minnesota generated inside its borders in 2017. That percentage is expected to go down dramatically in the next decade after Xcel Energy retires a large portion of its Sherco coal plant in Becker…When hydroelectric was added to wind and solar generation in 2017, it surpassed what Xcel's two nuclear plants produced [according to a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance]. And while nuclear capacity is static, Minnesota has been adding new wind and solar capacity every year…Policy incentives for new solar energy facilities have been and will continue to be important to the growth of solar…Unlike solar, wind energy is at the point where it's cheaper than coal, even without subsidies. Natural gas prices also remain low…Minnesota is also importing less electricity from other states, thanks to the growth of wind and solar capacity.” click here for more

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