ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Commerce is seeking public input and holding two public meetings on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) it has prepared in response to Xcel Energy’s request to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for additional spent fuel storage at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant.  

Commerce will consider the public’s comments in preparing the final EIS. The PUC will use the EIS in making its decision on Xcel Energy’s request for additional spent fuel storage at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant.  

The public is invited to attend a meeting on November 19 in-person at the Red Wing Ignite Building or November 20 virtually via Webex. Public comments will be accepted through December 6, 2024.  

ADDITIONAL SPENT FUEL STORAGE AT THE PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR PLANT 

Xcel Energy is seeking permission to increase the amount of spent nuclear fuel at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant sufficient to extend the operating life of the plant to year 2053 for the plant’s Unit 1 generator and year 2054 for the Unit 2 generator. This proposal will require the installation of up to two additional concrete storage pads within the existing 5.5-acre fuel storage facility footprint. The additional 34 dry fuel storage systems would be stored in horizontal concrete storage modules to keep the plant operating through 2054. 

MEETING DETAILS

The same information will be presented at both meetings.  

• November 19 – 6 p.m. meet in-person at Red Wing Ignite Building, Community Room, 419 Bush St., Red Wing, MN  
• November 20 – 6 p.m. meet online: https://tinyurl.com/5auc8ksp  
  • Password: MnPUC! 
  • Join by phone: 415-655-0003 or 1-855-282-6330 
  • Access code 2485 318 0139 

HOW TO COMMENT 

Additional information about the public meetings and how to provide comments are included in the meeting notice, available at:  

• Minnesota Public Utilities Commission: mn.gov/puc. Select eDockets, enter the year (24) and the docket number (68), and select Search. 
• Minnesota Department of Commerce: eera.web.commerce.state.mn.us/web/project/15425 

MEDIA CONTACT

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