Upper Midwest Energy Plan

Advancing our clean energy transition.

Xcel Energy is proposing a new clean energy plan for the Upper Midwest. The plan proposes a mix of electricity generation resources that will help further reduce carbon emissions while continuing to provide the reliable, safe, affordable electric service you depend on.

You can comment on the plan at one of six in-person or two virtual public meetings, or submit a written comment via the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) website, email or U.S. Mail. Be sure to reference MPUC Docket No. 24-67 in your comment.

Read more about how to attend the public meetings or submit a written comment (PDF)

Submit a comment on the MPUC website (external link) or Print and mail this comment card (PDF)

Public Meetings

Administrative Law Judge Jessica A. Palmer-Denig will hold six in-person public meetings and two virtual public meetings to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the 2024 IRP. Any Xcel Energy customer or other person may attend and provide comments at the meetings. You do not need to be represented by an attorney to do so. The meetings will begin at their scheduled time and adjourn after all attendees present have had an opportunity to comment or ask questions. MPUC and Xcel Energy staff will be on-site one hour prior to the in-person meetings, to answer questions and share information about the 2024 IRP. At the start of the meetings, MPUC Staff will present an overview of the regulatory process. Following the MPUC’s presentation, Xcel Energy will present an overview of the 2024 IRP.

Our new Upper Midwest Energy Plan proposal builds on our already-approved plans to retire all of our coal plants by 2030 and replace them with renewable energy like wind and solar, supported by “always available” electric generation resources to ensure reliability.

Under the proposed plan, carbon emissions reductions are expected to exceed 80% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels, potentially reaching up to an 88% reduction. The proposal positions us well to achieve the clean energy goals of our Upper Midwest states, including Minnesota’s carbon-free standard for 2040, with more than 80% of our customers’ electricity projected to come from carbon-free sources by 2030. Our Upper Midwest system delivers increasingly clean energy to all of the states we serve in the region—Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Michigan.

In support of these nation-leading carbon reductions, the plan proposes to add more wind and solar energy, extend the use of our two carbon-free nuclear plants to the early 2050s, add battery energy storage systems, and add new “always available” sources of electric generation capacity, including natural gas, to back up wind and solar when needed. We will also build on the success of the energy efficiency and demand response programs that help customers save energy and money while reducing energy use on the grid.

Our drive to achieve these major reductions in carbon emissions, while maintaining reliable, safe and affordable service, is important to policymakers, stakeholders, communities, our customers and our employees. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with these key stakeholders as our proposals are considered by regulators.

Key benefits of our proposed plan

• Provides clean and reliable service for customers as we add more renewables, with carbon emissions reductions expected to exceed 80% by 2030, potentially reaching up to an 88% reduction.
• Includes a balanced portfolio of energy resources so that, by 2030, our customers’ projected energy mix will include 44% wind energy, 9% solar, 24% nuclear, 9% energy efficiency and demand response programs, 10% natural gas and about 4% hydro, battery storage and biomass.
• Supports our transition to fully exit the use of coal by 2030.
• Responsibly meets the carbon reduction and renewable energy goals of our Upper Midwest states, with more than 80% of our customers’ electricity projected to come from carbon-free sources by 2030.
• Leverages $5.7 billion in estimated tax credit savings from the Inflation Reduction Act for new renewable resources.
• Keeps costs low for customers, with an estimated average annual increase in customers’ electric rates of less than 1%--less than half of the expected national average increase in electricity prices.
• Meets the energy needs of our customers as electric use in the region is expected to grow more significantly in the coming years.