Environmental groups in Minnesota have analyzed Xcel Energy’s own data and found the utility can lower its costs and reduce air pollution by retiring two units at its Sherco coal-fired plant in Becker. J. Drake Hamilton with the group Fresh Energy says:

Hamilton says retiring two Sherco units would be seven-and-a-half million dolllars cheaper than Xcel’s proposed 15-year plan.

Officials at Xcel say they share the goal of delivering cleaner energy, but their plan also stresses the importance of reliability and cost to customers.