Xcel Energy recieves approval to extend Prairie Island nuclear plant operations into the 2050s

Prairie Island nuclear plant to operate through 2050

Xcel Energy said it has received approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to have its Prairie Island nuclear plant continue operations into the early 2050s.

Xcel Energy said it now plans to request a 20-year extension of the plant’s operating licenses from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2026. Xcel said the review process is extensive and can take up to two years before approval is granted.

“As the only 24/7 carbon-free resource currently available, nuclear energy will play a foundational role in meeting our customers’ growing energy demand, supporting economic development, and ensuring energy security in the Upper Midwest,” said Ryan Long, president of Xcel Energy in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “We appreciate the Commission’s continued recognition of nuclear energy’s importance and the thoughtful input of many stakeholders, including the Prairie Island Indian Community, the City of Red Wing and Goodhue County.”

The Prairie Island plant has two units that together produce 1,100 megawatts of electricity, which Xcel claims is enough to power more than 1 million homes.

The units’ current operating licenses expire in 2033 and 2034.
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