Renewable energy is overtaking nuclear as Minnesota’s second-largest source of electricity generation, while coal remains the largest source, according to a report released Thursday by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

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. And while nuclear capacity is static, Minnesota has been adding new wind and solar capacity every year.

Published in MPR News, 1st March, 2018

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/03/01/study-renewable-energy-now-minnesotas-2ndlargest-electricity-source