The Minnesota Department of Commerce is holding two public meetings and is asking the public to submit comments on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) that Commerce has prepared for Xcel Energy’s request to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for additional spent fuel storage at the Monticello nuclear plant. 

Commerce will use the public’s comments to prepare the final version of the EIS. The PUC will use the final EIS in making its decision on Xcel’s request for additional spent fuel storage at the Monticello nuclear plant. 

The public meetings are Oct. 26 in person at the Monticello Community Center and Oct. 27 virtually via Webex. More information is posted below.  Comments from the public will be accepted through Nov. 11, 2022. 

ADDITIONAL SPENT FUEL STORAGE AT THE MONTICELLO NUCLEAR PLANT

Xcel Energy is requesting to store additional spent nuclear fuel at the Monticello nuclear plant sufficient to extend the operating life of the plant by 10 years – from 2030 to 2040. This additional storage requires installation of a second concrete support pad within the plant’s existing independent spent fuel storage installation. A modular concrete storage system would be placed on the new concrete pad. Xcel Energy indicates that spent fuel would be stored in steel canisters, with the canisters then being placed in the concrete storage system. Xcel Energy estimates that approximately 14 additional spent fuel storage canisters will be needed for operations through 2040. 

MEETING DETAILS: 

Both meetings will present the same information. 

• Oct. 26 – 6 p.m. meeting in person at Monticello Community Center, Bridge Room, 505 Walnut St., Monticello, MN.  
• Oct. 27 – 6 p.m. meeting online https://tinyurl.com/2nru2jsd. Password: Commerce1 

HOW TO COMMENT: 

Additional information about the public meetings and how to comment are included in the meeting notice. The notice is available online at: 

• Public Utilities Commission: mn.gov/puc. Select eDockets, enter the year (21) and the docket number (668), and select Search.
• Minnesota Department of Commerce: mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities, select Power Plants, and then select Monticello Nuclear Plant Additional Spent Fuel Storage.

The draft EIS is available on the PUC and Commerce websites. Additionally, a copy of the draft EIS will be available at the Monticello Public Library, 200 West 6th St., Monticello, MN  55362.

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Media contact: 
Mo Schriner, Communications Director
Minnesota Department of Commerce 
mo.schriner@state.mn.us