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    Minnesota Power’s 2025-2039 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)

    Minnesota Power’s 2025-2039 IRP sets out the utility’s plan for meeting its customers’ demand for electricity for the next 15 years. 

    A core responsibility of the PUC is regulating how Minnesotans get their power. This process begins when a utility files a new resource or distribution plan. These plans are forward-looking planning documents that focus on the utility’s forecast of how much energy customers will need in the future. Plans then analyze how to best utilize energy conservation, fuel purchases, power generation, and infrastructure to deliver energy to customers’ homes or businesses, and meet their energy needs. In other words, it is a whole system view.   

    Minnesota Power’s proposed plan includes:

     

    • Continuing with its plan to stop using coal at Boswell Energy Center by 2035, as approved in Minnesota Power’s last IRP.  

    • By 2030, refueling Boswell Unit 3 to run on natural gas, and partially refueling Boswell Unit 4 for 40% natural gas co-firing.  

    • Adding new carbon free resources by 2035, including 400 MW of wind and 100 MW of energy storage.   

    • Adding approximately 750 MW of new natural gas resources by 2035, in addition to the repowers at Boswell Energy Center.  

    • Adding 100 MW of new industrial demand response by 2028. 

    Minnesota Power’s growth plan includes:

    • Up to 750 MW of new natural gas generation, in addition to the resources in the base plan. 

    • Additional carbon free resources, including 1800 MW of additional wind, 200 MW of solar, and 200 MW of additional energy storage resources.  

    Ongoing procurements:

    Minnesota Power is in the process of procuring resources consistent with its last IRP, approved by the Commission in 2023. These procurements include: 

    • Up to 300 MW of solar by 2030. (See Dockets No. E015/M-24-343; E015/M-24-344; E002,E015,E017/CI-23-403).200 MW of utility-scale solar and 65-85 MW of distributed solar by 2030.  

    • Up to 400 MW of wind by 2030.  

    • Up to 500 MWh of energy storage, for which the Company will make a proposal in 2026.  

    The 2025-2039 plan also includes:

    • Continuing annual energy conservation of approximately 2.8%, consistent with Minnesota Power’s current Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Plan. 

    • Continuing operations of the Hibbard biomass facility and exploring biomass as a potential alternative fuel for Boswell Unit 4 after 2035.  

    • A proposal to establish a $30 million research and development fund to advance innovative new carbon free generating technology through demonstrations and pilots. 

    Minnesota Power IRP calendar of events


    Public meetings are expected to be scheduled for July. 

    We will post the dates here when they are available.

    Stay tuned for additional meetings and important dates

    What to expect at a public meeting

    The Commission’s public process gives stakeholders a chance to review utilities’ plans and helps ensure decisions are built on feedback and analysis from citizens, utilities, state agencies, clean energy organizations, labor unions, consumer advocates, and more. Public meetings are one of those opportunities to learn more and make a comment.   

    • Open house – If open houses are scheduled, state staff will be available at these events to answer questions.

    • Public meeting – At public meetings, there will be a short presentation about the resource plan and then an administrative law judge will take comments. All comments and names of commenters are part of the public record. 

    • Making an oral comment – There will be a sign-up for those that want to make an oral comment at each meeting. Commenters will be called to speak based on the order they sign up. We advise signing up by the time the meeting starts. The judge may open slots for additional comments if time allows.

    • There will be translation services for comments submitted in several languages, including Somali, Hmong, and Spanish. 

    Additional ways to get involved

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    If you cannot make the meeting, but still want to comment, there are multiple ways to reach the Commission.  

    • Email to consumer.puc@state.mn.us.  

    • Mail your comments to:
      Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
      121 7th Place East, Suite 350,
      Saint Paul, MN 55101. 

    • Online form

    When commenting on the Minnesota Power IRP, reference docket number 25-127. Visit the comment page on the Commission’s website to learn more.  

    Learn more

    All information for the 2025 Minnesota Power IRP is in Docket Number 25-127.

    Our planning webpage has more information on the purpose and requirements of resource planning 

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