Some good news, from KSTP-5,
Xcel Energy said it has received approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to have its Prairie Island nuclear plant continue operations into the early 2050s.
Xcel Energy said it now plans to request a 20-year extension of the plant’s operating licenses from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2026.
One would imagine that the current Trump Administration would look kindly upon Xcel’s extension request.
Xcel and the state’s economy depend on the plant’s continued operation. As I’ve pointed out, Xcel is counting on it’s nuclear fleet (along with, curiously, natural gas plants) to meet the state’s 100 percent “carbon-free” mandate in 2040.
KSTP quotes an Xcel spokesperson,
“As the only 24/7 carbon-free resource currently available, nuclear energy will play a foundational role in meeting our customers’ growing energy demand, supporting economic development, and ensuring energy security in the Upper Midwest,” said Ryan Long, president of Xcel Energy.
It’s a big deal in every dimension.
The Prairie Island plant has two units that together produce 1,100 megawatts of electricity, which Xcel claims is enough to power more than 1 million homes.
In today’s world, that 1,100 megawatts works out to about 2 data centers.
The units’ current operating licenses expire in 2033 and 2034.
