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PSC grants Xcel Energy an 'advanced determination of prudence' for a SD wind farm

The North Dakota Public Service Commission has approved an “advanced determination of prudence” for a proposed 151.2 megawatt wind farm in South Dakota.

Xcel Energy asked for that determination.

"It's to meet its obligation under an electric service agreement with Honeycrisp Power, a subsidiary of Google," PSC Chairman Brian Kroshus said. "It will provide electric service to Google's proposed data center, to be loacted at the Sherco generation station property in Becker, Minnesota."

Google wants to build a $600 million data facility there.

"The proposed data center has the potential to be Xcel's largest customer," Kroshus said.

Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said North Dakota customers will get a direct benefit from this.

"Being such a large user, that erally reduces North Dakotans' share of the cost of the system as a whole," Fedorchak said. "That will save customers money."

And North Dakota could see some other benefits as well.

"I'm hoping, once Google understands that we're in a renewable resource- rich part of the country, and that our company can be a solid partner in Minnesota, that there will be som advantages in coming tlo North Dakota," said Xcel North Dakota manager Mark Nisbet.

The “ADP” will make it easier for Xcel to find capital for the project.

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