Xcel Energy taps retiring coal plant’s grid ties to launch 710MW solar farm

Xcel Energy announced the finish of Sherco Solar’s third phase, raising output to 710 MW from 1.7 million photovoltaic panels spread across farmland near Becker and Clear Lake. The solar array uses the transmission lines and interconnection rights of the neighboring Sherburne County Generating Station, a coal plant that has operated since the 1970s, allowing the project to avoid the typical multi-year interconnection queue.

Initial power began flowing in October 2024, and the farm now serves about 150,000 customers on Xcel’s Upper Midwest system. The coal plant remains partially active, with Unit 2 retired in 2023, Unit 1 expected to close by year-end, and the final unit running until 2030; one retiring unit will become a synchronous condenser to support grid voltage. Additionally, Form Energy is installing a 10-MW iron-air battery with 1,000 MWh capacity on site. Xcel plans a possible fourth phase of 200 MW by 2029, pending regulatory approval, which would bring total capacity to 910 MW and create roughly 300 union jobs.