Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
Robert Cupit
651.201.2255 

Mike Kaluzniak
651.201.2257

St Paul, MN – November 12, 2009 - The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) approved, at its November 12, 2009 meeting, a 164 MW increase in the generation capacity of Xcel Energy’s Prairie Island nuclear plant. In addition, the Commission authorized Xcel to expand the capacity of its spent fuel storage facility at the plant to accommodate extension of the plant’s operating licenses, applications for which are pending at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The Commission largely adopted the recommendations of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who developed the extensive record upon which the Commission based its decision. As recommended by the ALJ, the Commission added the following conditions:

• Requirements to ensure protection of groundwater and environmental effects.
• Reports on emergency response plans
• Conduct a study on the potential impact of the thermal discharge from the plant on the environment, particularly, formation of ice on Lake Pepin.

Under Minnesota statutes, the projects required approval from the Commission. The Commission’s decision culminates its proceeding that began with the May 15, 2008 filing by Xcel and involved numerous public hearings, development of a detailed written record vetted through evidentiary hearings before the ALJ, and the ALJ’s written report to the Commission.

A final written order formally documents the Commission’s decision in this and all Commission proceedings. In this case, there were actually three separate docketed proceedings. The order for each of those will be issued in several weeks and will available via the Commission’s e‐Dockets system (www.puc.state.mn.us) using the case docket numbers (E‐002/CN‐08‐509,E‐002/CN‐08‐510, E‐002/GS‐08‐690).