GARVIN — Xcel Energy announced Monday that it broke ground on the Minnesota Energy Connection transmission line and the Lyon County Generating Station near Garvin.
The Minnesota Energy Connection transmission line and Lyon County Generating Station are designed to work together to address two critical energy needs: bringing renewable energy from where it is produced to where it is needed and ensuring reliable electricity is available when demand is high and renewable resources are limited, the company stated in its announcement.
The Minnesota Energy Connection is a 185-mile transmission line that will connect up to 4,000 megawatts of new wind and solar generation in southwest Minnesota to the grid at the Sherco Energy Hub in Becker.
The Lyon County Generating Station is a 420-megawatt natural gas peaking plant that will provide always-available generation to support reliability during periods of peak demand, extreme weather and lower renewable energy production, according to Xcel.
The approved route of the transmission line runs through Lyon, Redwood, Renville, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns and Sherburne counties.
The Minnesota Energy Connection and Lyon County Generating Station are expected to be completed in 2028.
In addition to strengthening the energy grid, the projects will deliver significant economic benefits to southwest Minnesota, according to Xcel.
Construction is expected to support hundreds of jobs, and the Lyon County Generating Station alone is expected to generate approximately $300 million in property tax revenue over its operating life, supporting local governments, schools and public services, Xcel’s announcement states.
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