Xcel Energy

Maplewood dismantles costly solar project.

When it comes to innovative ways to wring more revenue out of residents,  you’ve got to hand it to Minneapolis.  The Minneapolis City Council plans to hike utility bills next…

A round-up of the last week's economic news stories in Minnesota.

Solar power developers routinely make the rounds at City Hall, targeting municipalities with the latest green gimmickery. The most popular go-to option these days allows cities to cash in on the…

The Minneapolis City Council’s recent approval of two more community solar gardens led to glowing coverage in The Journal, a community newspaper. But the report also appears to contain a…

There were no dignitaries on hand, ribbons to cut or speeches on sustainability to commemorate the latest chapter in solar power at the Maplewood Community Center (MCC). Five years after…

There were no dignitaries on hand, ribbons to cut or speeches on sustainability to commemorate the latest chapter in solar power at the Maplewood Community Center (MCC). Five years after…

Minnesota’s shortage of skilled workers is causing employers in many fields to scramble to find new sources of talent, including women and minorities. Dunwoody College of Technology is a great…

Lots of Minnesota companies are looking high and low for skilled welders. They have an ally in AchieveMpls. The mission of AchieveMpls—the strategic non-profit partner of the Minneapolis Public Schools—is…

Solar power currently provides less than one percent of Minnesota’s total electricity generation. But the push for more solar energy production continues, and utility customers are being heavily encouraged to…

Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith wants 50 percent of Minnesota’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2030. The current renewable energy standards enacted under Governor Pawlenty is “25 percent by…

Look for renewable energy subsidies to get much closer scrutiny under a new administration in Washington and new legislative majorities in St. Paul. But a recent Star Tribune story celebrating…

Xcel won’t go on the record with MNPUC about whether its renewable energy strategy is the least-cost option for its customers

Less than a month before the presidential election, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MNPUC) approved Xcel’s plan to retire two coal-fired electricity generating plants in Becker, Minnesota.  The retirements are…

Utilities, regulators and environmentalists make it as difficult as possible to track the real costs of switching over 30 percent of Minnesota’s electrical power generation to wind and solar.  Xcel…

The Minnesota Wild just began their new season at the Xcel Energy Center with a couple wins and, as a lead sponsor of the hockey team and arena, viewers of…

Last month the Odell Wind Farm went on line in Southwestern Minnesota, which will add another 200 megawatts of electricity to Xcel Energy’s portfolio.  Xcel claims this addition of wind…

Minnesotans continue to pay through the nose for one of the nation’s most expensive renewable energy programs. Electric prices rose by 12.5 percent here from 2007 to 2014, versus a…

The eagle has landed in rural Mower County, shutting down three turbines at the Pleasant Valley Wind farm for a month so far in hopes of preventing a deadly collision…

Last week the Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a challenge to St. Paul’s right of way maintenance (ROW) fee. The case presents the Court with an opportunity to…

Testimony Before the Minnesota House Property Taxes and Local Government Finance Division March 3, 2016 Peter J. Nelson, Center of the American Experiment My name is Peter Nelson and I…

On Monday I took a short drive to Becker, Minnesota to testify before the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Committee at a special session on the federal Clean Power Plan and…

As lawmakers reopen and reconsider the three bills Governor Dayton vetoed last week, a seemingly innocuous energy provision in the Jobs and Energy bill needs to be removed.  Leaving it…

House GOP plan would redesign Minnesota’s energy-efficiency program to save jobs, money. Electricity used to be cheaper in Minnesota than elsewhere, which gave energy-hungry Minnesota businesses a much-needed competitive advantage.…