Minneapolis (Dec. 27, 2022) — Xcel Energy announced today it has completed upgrades to the Nobles Wind Farm as part of a larger effort to boost energy generation and save customers $160 million in energy costs over the next 25 years.

The repowering project replaced turbine components throughout the 200-megawatt wind farm in Nobles County with newer, more efficient technology. The upgrades will increase the turbines’ average annual energy output about 20%, allowing the wind farm to provide more low-cost, renewable energy to customers. The wind farm’s 133 turbines are now in operation.

“By harnessing improved technology to upgrade our existing wind turbines, we have moved one step closer to realizing our vision for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future,” said Chris Clark, president, Xcel Energy–Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “We are committed to reducing carbon emissions 85% across the Upper Midwest by 2030 and to delivering 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.”

The $236.6 million upgrade project is the first of four planned repowerings to be completed at Xcel Energy-owned wind farms in Minnesota and North Dakota by 2025. In addition to the Nobles Wind Farm, these projects include:

  • Ben Fowke Wind Energy Center, formerly Grand Meadow (100.5 megawatts) — Mower County, Minn.
  • Border Wind (150 megawatts) — Rolette County, N.D.
  • Pleasant Valley Wind (200 megawatts) — Mower County, Minn.

Xcel Energy anticipates the repowering projects will create up to 700 local, union construction jobs, in addition to the indirect jobs provided by suppliers.

“In repowering our wind farms, we are further investing in our communities and putting people back to work with well-paying jobs,” Clark said. “In a time of rising commodity prices, these projects are also a timely benefit to our customers, providing them with more low-cost energy that requires no fuel and takes advantage of existing infrastructure.”

As it completes the repowering projects, Xcel Energy is taking steps to minimize waste and responsibly recycle or dispose of materials. The company is recycling or selling for reuse many of the turbine parts, including nacelles, gearboxes, and gearbox oil. Turbine blades at the Nobles and Grand Meadow wind farms have been cut into sections and brought to a processing facility where they are used as both a fuel and material in the manufacturing of cement. Turbine towers and foundations were not replaced during the repowering project.

The repowering projects are part of Xcel Energy’s larger $3 billion investment in wind energy in the Upper Midwest designed to advance clean energy goals and assist in the region’s economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19. The investment also includes power purchase agreements to source wind energy from three Minnesota-based wind farms not owned by Xcel Energy.

In total, these projects provide 720 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power more than 378,000 homes annually, while providing landowners and local governments more than $9 million in annual tax and lease payments.

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About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.