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Bloomberg
Xcel Energy Inc plans to shutter its last two coal-fired power plants in the Upper Midwest a decade ahead of schedule as part of a pledge to phase out carbon-dioxide emissions.
The Minneapolis-based company expects to close the Allen S. King power plant in 2028 and its Sherco 3 facility in 2030, according to a statement. Both plants are in Minnesota.
The shift comes as Xcel moves to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 80 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050. In December, the company became the first big US utility to commit to eliminating all its carbon emissions, mainly by using renewable energy. Xcel plans to operate its Monticello nuclear plant through at least 2040 and has also said it would consider systems to capture and trap carbon dioxide from gas or coal plants.
Closing the two coal plants is part of a proposal for its Upper Midwest operations that Xcel will submit to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in July.