The aging Sherco coal power plant in Minnesota is slated for retirement within the next five years, but its infrastructure will soon have a new life. Xcel Energy plans to repurpose the plant’s interconnection system to connect the largest solar project in the Upper Midwest directly to the grid. This move will bypass seven years of bureaucracy and red tape typically required to get clean energy distributed.
Experts say this is the key to solving America’s clean energy dilemma. There is more electricity from clean sources waiting to be connected to the grid than the current amount, but lengthy engineering studies and uncertain project timelines are hindering progress.
University of California Berkeley researchers found that the US could essentially double its electrical grid capacity overnight by plugging renewables projects into old fossil fuel power plants. This approach would not only accelerate clean energy adoption but also create jobs and increase local tax bases.
The Sherco solar farm represents a chance to produce energy locally, rather than relying on imported fossil fuels. It’s also a significant step forward for Minnesota’s climate and clean energy goals, aiming to reach 100% clean electricity by 2040 and decarbonize the economy by 2050.
By repurposing existing infrastructure, utilities can have the best of both worlds – building wind and solar farms nearby, using excess capacity during off-peak hours, and not having to entirely shut down a plant. This approach brings numerous benefits, including job preservation, increased local tax bases, and cost savings for electric customers as plants transition from coal to clean energy sources.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/16/climate/coal-to-solar-minnesota/index.html