Xcel Energy Sherco Solar Project
Project Details
Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy is proposing to construct an up to 460-megawatt solar project and two 345 kilovolt transmission lines to interconnect the Solar Project to the\r\ngrid. As proposed, the West high voltage transmission line (HVTL) is approximately 3.2 miles long and the East HVTL line is approximately 1.7 miles long; both HVTL lines connect the Solar Project to the existing\r\nSherburne County Substation. The Solar Project will partially replace energy production of the Sherco Generating Plant Unit 2, currently a coal-powered facility, which will cease operations in 2023.
Project Contact
Project Summary
Xcel Energy proposes to construct the Solar Project, a solar energy conversion facility with an up to 460-MW alternating current nameplate capacity, in Sherburne County, Minnesota. The Solar Project will partially replace energy production of the nearly 700 MW Sherco Generating Plant Unit 2, currently a coal-powered facility, the retiring of which in 2023 was approved by the Commission in October 2016.1 The Solar Project is located within agricultural fields between U.S. Highway 10 and the Mississippi River, and on the east and west sides of the existing Sherco Generating Plant.
The Project represents a joint development between Xcel Energy and National Grid Renewables Development, LLC (NG Renewables).
Key Project Documents
| Date | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 08/11/2021 | Commission Order - Application Acceptance, Sherco Solar Project | ORDER ACCEPTING APPLICATION AS COMPLETE AND AUTHORIZING USE OF THE ALTERNATIVE REVIEW PROCESS |
| 09/27/2022 | Commission Final Decision - Sherco Solar Project | Based on careful consideration of the record, as well as the site permit and route permit criteria contained in Minn. R. 7850.4100 and Minn. Stat. § 216E.03, the Commission concludes that all procedural requirements have been met and that the project, subject to the conditions in the attached site and route permits, is consistent with state goals to conserve resources, minimize environmental impacts, minimize human settlement and other land use conflicts, and ensure the state’s electric energy security through efficient, cost-effective power supply and electric transmission infrastructure. |
| 03/01/2022 | Environmental Assessment - Sherco Solar Project | This environmental assessment has been prepared for the Sherco Solar Project, which includes a solar farm and two high voltage transmission lines proposed by Xcel Energy and developed jointly with National Grid Renewables Development, LLC. This EA evaluates the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project and possible mitigation measures including siting alternatives and modifications. This EA is not a decision-making document, but rather serves as a guide for decision makers. The EA is intended to facilitate informed decisions by state agencies. |
| 09/20/2021 | Comments made or submitted at the Public Information - EA Scoping meeting and comment period for the Sherco Solar Project | Commission staff and EERA staff jointly held a Public Information and EA Scoping meeting at the Becker High School in Becker on August 31, 2021. The purpose of the meeting was to provide information to the public about the proposed Project, to answer questions, and to allow the public an opportunity to suggest alternatives and impacts (i.e., scope) that should be considered during preparation of the environmental review document. A court reporter was present at the meeting to document oral statements. |
| 08/24/2021 | Public Information - EA Scoping Meeting Materials, Sherco Solar Project | Power Point and hand outs |
| 04/22/2021 | Site and HVTL Route Permit Application - Sherco Solar Project | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy is proposing to construct an up to 460-megawatt solar project and two 345 kilovolt transmission lines to interconnect the Solar Project to the grid. As proposed, the West high voltage transmission line (HVTL) is approximately 3.2 miles long and the East HVTL line is approximately 1.7 miles long; both HVTL lines connect the Solar Project to the existing Sherburne County Substation. The Solar Project will partially replace energy production of the Sherco Generating Plant Unit 2, currently a coal-powered facility, which will cease operations in 2023. |
Docket Documents
View Project Documents (last 30) View All Project Documents
| Date | Document ID | On Behalf Of | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2025 | 20259-223035-01 | Xcel Energy | Xcel Sherco 2 - In-Service Date Letter |
| September 15, 2025 | 20259-222983-02 | Xcel Energy | Xcel Sherco 1 and 2 - August Progress Report |
| September 15, 2025 | 20259-222983-01 | Xcel Energy | Xcel Sherco 1 and 2 - End of Complaint Reporting |
| August 15, 2025 | 20258-222166-01 | Xcel Energy | Xcel Sherco 1 and 2 - July Progress Report Compliance Filing |
| August 15, 2025 | 20258-222166-03 | Xcel Energy | Sherco 1 and 2 - 2nd Qtr, 2025 Wildlife Injuries and Fatalities Compliance Filing |
| August 15, 2025 | 20258-222166-02 | Xcel Energy | Sherco Solar 1 and 2 - 2nd Qtr. 2025 Labor Statistics Report Compliance Filing |
| August 15, 2025 | 20258-222166-04 | Xcel Energy | Xcel Sherco 1 and 2 - July Monthly Complaint Report -PUBLIC |
| August 12, 2025 | 20258-222007-01 | PUC EIP | Minor Alteration Compliance Review |
| August 1, 2025 | 20258-221669-01 | Xcel Energy | Sherco MRA - Complaint Procedures, Field Rep |
| July 15, 2025 | 20257-220977-02 | Xcel Energy | Sherco 1 and 2_ June 2025 Complaint Report |
| July 15, 2025 | 20257-220977-01 | Xcel Energy | Sherco 1 and 2 _ June 2025 Progress Report |
| July 15, 2025 | 20257-220979-01 | Xcel Energy | Sherco MRA - Plan and Profile Filing |
| June 23, 2025 | 20256-220115-01 | PUC | |
| June 18, 2025 | 20256-220090-01 | PUC | Consent |
| June 18, 2025 | 20256-219990-01 | PUC | Proposed Consent Items |
| June 13, 2025 | 20256-219880-01 | Xcel Energy | 2025-06-13 Xcel Sherco 1 and 2_Compliance Filing Progress Report - May 25 |
| June 13, 2025 | 20256-219880-02 | Xcel Energy | 2025-06-13 - Sherco 1 and 2 Complaint Report - May 25 - PUBLIC |
| June 3, 2025 | 20256-219549-01 | Xcel Energy | Sherco_Reply Comments - Minor Alteration |
| May 27, 2025 | 20255-219276-01 | DOC EERA | EERA Comments and Recommendations on Minor Alteration Application |
| May 15, 2025 | 20255-218988-01 | Xcel Energy | April 2025 Complaint Report - Sherco Solar 1 and 2 Projects |
| May 15, 2025 | 20255-218988-04 | Xcel Energy | Sherco Solar 1 and 2 - April 2025 Progress Report |
| May 15, 2025 | 20255-218988-03 | Xcel Energy | Sherco Solar 1 and 2 - 1st Qtr. 2025 Wildlife Injuries and Fatalities Compliance Filing |
| May 15, 2025 | 20255-218988-05 | Xcel Energy | Sherco Solar 1 and 2 - 1st Qtr. 2025 Labor Statistics Report |
| May 12, 2025 | 20255-218776-01 | PUC | NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD ON APPLICATION FOR A MINOR ALTERATION |
| May 2, 2025 | 20255-218567-01 | Xcel Energy | 2025-05-01 Xcel Sherco - Application for a Minor Route Alteration |
| April 15, 2025 | 20254-217716-02 | Xcel Energy | Sherco 1 and 2 March 2025 Complaint Report |
| April 15, 2025 | 20254-217716-01 | Xcel Energy | Sherco 1 and 2 March 2025 Progress Report |
| March 14, 2025 | 20253-216430-01 | Xcel Energy | February 2025 Progress Report |
| March 14, 2025 | 20253-216430-02 | Xcel Energy | February 2025 Complaint Report 1 and 2 |
| February 14, 2025 | 20252-215421-04 | Xcel Energy | Sherco 1 and 2 January 2025 Progress Report |