SHERCO

How SHERCO compares

With 2,469 MW of capacity, SHERCO is the largest of the 215 operating power plants Bywatts maps in Minnesota and the largest of the 14 operating Coal plants in the state. It accounts for about 49% of Minnesota's operating Coal capacity and 15% of all operating capacity in the state. Nationally it is the 18th-largest of the 324 operating Coal plants in the database. Commissioned in 1976, it is older than 68% of the 200 operating Minnesota plants with a recorded commissioning year. Its operator, XCEL ENERGY, runs 14 operating plants in Minnesota totaling 7,978 MW. It shares Sherburne County with 2 other operating plants, ELK RIVER and ELK RIVER PEAKING STATION.

EIA-860 lists 2 generators at the site with 1,704 MW of nameplate capacity, all conventional steam coal technology (this page's HIFLD capacity figure is 2,469 MW). Net generation was 6,342 GWh in 2024 (a 42% capacity factor), down 35% from 2022. Its generators came online between 1976 and 1987.

Grid neighborhood

The closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 345 kV line owned by NORTHERN STATES POWER CO - MINNESOTA, under 0.1 miles away. Another 5 operating power plants totaling 986 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is MONTICELLO (685 MW, Nuclear). Within 50 miles are 2 mapped data centers; the nearest is Implex Minneapolis in Minneapolis, about 40.3 miles away.

Computed by Bywatts from HIFLD power plant and transmission line records, EIA-860/923 survey data and PeeringDB data center locations; distances are straight-line. Sources and methodology