US-based Xcel Energy’s Sherco Solar, the largest solar project in the Upper Midwest, began producing 220 MW of carbon-free electricity. Its full capacity of 710 MW is expected to be reached by 2026.The $1.1 billion investment will power 150,000 homes, replacing coal capacity at the Sherco site. The project, benefiting from $480 million in federal tax credits, creates 400 union construction jobs and provides $350M in local economic benefits to Sherburne County. Xcel Energy ensures a smooth transition for employees as it shifts to renewable energy, advancing Minnesota’s goal of 100% carbon-free energy production by 2040.