sherco

The Sierra Club's "Beyond Coal Campaign" held an event this (Monday) morning outside the Xcel Energy office in St. Cloud. Spokesman Brian Anderson says they've been collecting signatures from residents demanding Xcel retire the Sherco coal-burning power plant in Becker.

Xcel Energy says it plans to keep burning coal in the two oldest units at its Sherburne County power plant in Becker in central Minnesota. In a report to regulators, Xcel says sticking with coal is the smartest course, rather than switching to natural gas, at least until the future of environmental regulations becomes clearer.

State regulators have ordered Xcel Energy to study the efficiency of its two oldest coal-fired plants. A report from the Minneapolis utility on long-term options for the Sherco Generation Station is due by July.