Monday, Senator Tina Smith visited the Sherco Power Plant in Becker. She toured the facility and heard about Xcel Energy’s plans to convert to a solar plant. 

After the tour, Smith sat with Xcel representatives in a round table discussion, and later answered questions from the media. 

Smith had a lot to say about the transition in regards to the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act, which she had supported and helped to pass. A large part of the bill aims to “decarbonize” American energy. Smith lauded Sherco’s planned transition to solar energy, as it would be the largest solar energy field in the state, and one of the largest in the country. 

Smith also spoke on the number of local construction jobs the project would create. An Xcel representative added that employees that would lose their current jobs would be offered opportunities to learn skills to bring in the new solar field. 

At the end of her tour, Smith took a moment to answer questions from the media. This reporter noted to Smith that reliable energy was important to the community, and asked whether, in light of the success of the Xcel nuclear plant in Monticello, the senator would be part of a bi-partisan effort to bring nuclear energy opportunities back to Minnesota.

Smith replied that clean power is of utmost importance, and that the Inflation Reduction Act identified nuclear as a clean energy source. She noted that reliable energy was essential.

A representative of Xcel added that the operating life of the Monticello nuclear plant was recently extended, as it has proven to be an affordable and reliable energy source.