Hydro

The power of falling water now accounts for more than four percent of Xcel Energy's electricity generation. Xcel Energy operates 27 hydroelectric power plants in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Colorado, which can generate more than 500 megawatts(MW). And we purchase large amounts of emissions-free, reasonably priced hydro-generated electricity from Manitoba Hydro.

As a source of electricity, hydropower is advantageous in that the fuel costs nothing. In addition, hydro facilities have low operating and maintenance costs, and their useful lifetime is well over 50 years. From an environmental perspective, hydro is a clean, renewable fuel, and Xcel Energy manages its dam operations to protect the aquatic environment and improve recreational opportunities.

Wisconsin
Xcel Energy operates 19 hydroelectric plants in Wisconsin, with a total generating capacity of about 260 megawatts (MW). 

Jim Falls (pictured right) is the largest hydro facility in Wisconsin in terms of generating capacity with 57MW. Other features at Jim Falls include the creation of additional bird and fish habitat, as well as a wheelchair-accessible fishing dock and wildflower-walking trail.

Wisconsin Plants

Colorado
Xcel Energy operates 6 hydroelectric plants in Colorado, with a total generating capacity of about  240 megawatts (MW).

Colorado’s historic Tacoma Hydro Plant is located about 22 miles north of Durango along the banks of the Animas River in the heart of the rugged San Juan Mountains. The plant, which originally supplied power for mining operations areas, can only be reached via narrow railroad.

Xcel Energy also owns and operates the historic 100-year old Georgetown Hydro Plant in the mountains west of Denver – a small power plant that serves as an operating museum, as well. Initially, the Georgetown plant was a large combination coal-fired steam and a hydro plant. Around 1920, the use of the steam equipment stopped, and today the plant can produce 1.2 megawatts of power.

Colorado Plants

Minnesota
Xcel Energy operates 1 hydroelectric plant in Minnesota, with a total generating capacity of about 12 megawatts (MW). The Hennepin Island hydro plant is located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the Mississippi River at St. Anthony Falls. Hennepin Island is a five-unit hydro plant, with each turbine accommodating river flows of up to 3,800 cubic feet a second.
Hennepin Island has generated hydropower for almost 120 years and in 2000-2001 the aging St. Anthony Falls dam was replaced with a new dam about 30 feet upriver of the existing structure. We recently completed the re-licensing process for our Hennepin Island plant that ensures continued hydro operations at one of our original plant sites. The re-licensing also includes the development  of the upper island into a park with an access bridge that gives the public an upfront view of the main spillway, horseshoe dam and the downtown skyline.

Minnesota Plants

Crown Hydro
Through its Renewable Energy Fund, Xcel Energy is funding  the Crown Hydro project, which will generate up to 3,200 kilowatts of electricity using the power of the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. The plant will be located on the west bank of St. Anthony Falls.