Dive Summary:
- Xcel Energy wants to build three new natural gas-fired power plants in Minnesota and North Dakota, the company announced Monday.
- The Minneapolis-based utility plans to replace two coal-burning units in Burnsville by 2015 with the first natural gas combustion turbines generating 215 megawatts to meet peak customer demand.
- Xcel, which serves 1.2. million customers, wants two plants in North Dakota, just 70 miles south of Fargo to be completed by 2019.
From the article:
"Poferl said overall electrical demand is expected to remain flat, but Xcel sees a need for more power generators to supply customers’ peak usage. That usually occurs on hot summer days when air conditioning demand is greatest."
