One of Minnesota’s largest solar facilities now delivering clean energy to customers in Upper Midwest
One of the largest solar installations in Minnesota is now delivering renewable energy to Xcel Energy customers in the Upper Midwest. The Marshall Solar Energy Project, owned and operated by Marshall Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, started commercial operations on Jan. 9, 2017. The facility will generate enough electricity to power about 15,000 Upper Midwest homes. The Marshall Solar Energy Project is constructed on approximately 355 acres of privately owned property in Lyon County, near Marshall, Minnesota. The 62.25 megawatt facility will avoid about 87,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Xcel Energy is now purchasing power from the facility as part of a 25-year deal to provide solar energy to customers.
“We’re pleased to work with NextEra Energy Resources on this large-scale solar project delivering the renewable energy our customers want at a competitive price,” said Chris Clark, president, Xcel Energy–Minnesota. “The Marshal Solar Energy Project puts us on a path to achieve our goal to be 63 percent carbon-free by 2030 and we’re excited to see this facility come online.” “We are pleased to once again work with our valued customer, Xcel Energy, to bring additional renewables into their portfolio with our first solar project in Minnesota,” said Mike O’Sullivan, senior vice president of Development for NextEra Energy Resources, which is the owner and operator of the project. “This project will provide significant tax dollars for schools and essential services in the region and will generate cost-effective, clean, solar energy for years to come.”
Construction and operation of the Marshall Solar Energy Project is also boosting the southwest Minnesota economy. Nearly 300 workers and staff were employed for the construction of the project and an estimated $400,000 in annual tax revenue will be generated for the state and local governments, as well as area schools, during the operational life of the project. In addition to Marshall Solar, the North Star Solar Project became operational in December, and the Aurora Project has facilities coming online as they are completed, with completion of the entire project expected this year. Xcel Energy’s ultimate goal is to have nearly 10 percent of its electricity generated from solar by 2030. Learn more about Xcel Energy’s plans to increase clean, renewable energy in the company’s 2015 corporate responsibility report.
