Xcel Energy in a press release announced plans to build four new wind farms in Minnesota and North Dakota. The locals include a 200 megawatt project in Freeborn County along with a 150 megawatt project in Dickey County, N.D., and a pair of 200 megawatt projects in Lincoln County, Minnesota.

These projects total 750 megawatts and will provide energy to nearly 400,000 homes.

Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy-Minnesota, states that the new wind portfolio will deliver on their plan to more than double their renewable energy sources over the next 15 years. Since 2010, Xcel has doubled its output of wind energy.

Utilities need to produce 25 percent of their energy as renewable energy by the year 2025.

If approved by regulators, Xcel Energy will begin building the wind farms upon completion of the permitting process, expected by mid-2017, with the expectation of being in service by 2020.

The project will require Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approval.

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