MINNEAPOLIS (July 7, 2020) – Xcel Energy announced today a new renewable energy offering that will power the St. Paul Ford Site Development and also be made available to other Minnesota customers.

Under the proposed plan, all future St. Paul Ford Site Development residents and businesses will have the opportunity to subscribe to a program offering locally generated solar and hydro energy to power their homes and buildings. The plan is part of Xcel Energy’s partnership with Ryan Companies to help the company achieve its goal of providing 100% renewable energy at the 122-acre site that will include 3,800 housing units, 150,000 square feet of retail space, and 265,000 square feet of office space.

“This is an exciting announcement for Xcel Energy, our customers, and this unique urban development,” said Chris Clark, president, Xcel Energy-Minnesota. “We are already leading the clean energy transition with a goal to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2030. Today we are taking another step to provide our customers with clean and affordable energy sources that reduce our carbon footprint.”

“Xcel Energy has been at the table since day one and an incredible partner,” adds Mike Ryan, President of Ryan Companies North Region. “They have embraced the project’s ambitious sustainability goals and have supported innovative strategies including the solar array and an all renewable electricity platform to serve this 21st Century Community.”

To help power this site, Xcel Energy is seeking proposals from developers for a new, 1-megawatt solar project to be located on the Ford Site that is proposed to be paired with 9 megawatts of hydropower from the nearby Brookfield Hydro Station located along the Mississippi River. This combination of solar and hydro energy will create a voluntary renewable energy program to which residents and businesses operating or living within the Ford Site development can enroll. Xcel Energy’s other Minnesota customers will also be able to enroll in this program to power their homes and businesses.

It’s estimated that once development is complete, approximately 5 megawatts of energy will be needed to power the Ford Site and the remaining 5 megawatts would be available to other Minnesota customers through the new program. Xcel Energy plans to file this proposal with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in early 2021. If approved, customers would be able to sign up for the new program sometime in 2022.

Solar Request for Proposal

Xcel Energy is asking developers to submit projects that will sell energy from the 1-megawatt project to the company under a power purchase agreement. Proposals are due Sept. 1, 2020. Xcel Energy will evaluate the proposals submitted and plans to file for approval of this project with the Minnesota Public Utility Commission in early 2021.

Companies with questions about the RFP should contact NSPMSolarRFP@xcelenergy.com. 

More information can also be found on the NSPM 2020 RFP webpage at www.xcelenergy.com/NSPMSolarRFP.

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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.