Coal plants produce some of the most emissions-intensive and expensive electricity in the world.

To fight climate change, we must dramatically reduce our carbon emissions by ending dependence on fossil fuels as soon as possible.

Photo by Tony Webster

Ending our dependence upon fossil fuels must be a top priority. Minnesotans deserve clean electricity generated from carbon-free and renewable energy sources like the wind and sun. We have the resources, know-how, and ability to replace coal and other polluting fossil fuels with clean energy generation—a shift that would help avoid climate change on a global scale and reduce serious pollution-related illness here at home. As the energy transition continues and we electrify everything that we can—like home heating, transportation, and more—it’s crucial that the electricity we’re using comes from clean sources.

Organizations like Fresh Energy are working hard on large, impactful state and federal clean energy policies, but in the meantime, we are also going plant-by-plant to secure closure dates. Closing a plant is incredibly complicated, with significant impacts on local communities; Fresh Energy is using data-based research and policy to set as-soon-as-possible closure dates that meet the urgent challenge of our climate crisis while ensuring that utilities, workers, and communities have the time and resources necessary to plan a successful transition. Use coalcountdownmn.com to track the status of coal plants operating in Minnesota, as well as plants in nearby states that are currently serving Minnesota customers.

COAL PLANTS IN MINNESOTA

Allen S. King
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
511 MW Oak Park Heights, Minnesota
Owned by Xcel Energy
Close Date: 12/31/2028
Boswell Unit 3
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
350 MW Cohasset, Minnesota
Owned by Minnesota Power
Close Date: 12/31/2030
Boswell Unit 4
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
652 MW Cohasset, Minnesota
Owned by Minnesota Power (80%) and WPPI Energy (20%)
Close Date: 12/31/2035
Hibbard Energy Center
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
No closure date set
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
44 MW Duluth, Minnesota
Owned by Minnesota Power
Sherco Unit 1
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
765.3 MW Becker, Minnesota
Owned by Xcel Energy
Close Date: 12/31/2026
Sherco Unit 2
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
765.3 MW Becker, Minnesota
Owned by Xcel Energy
Close Date: 12/31/2023
Sherco Unit 3
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
938.7 MW Becker, Minnesota
Owned by Xcel Energy (59%) and SMMPA (41%)
Close Date: 12/31/2030
Show Closed Plants
Boswell Unit 1
CLOSED
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
75 MW Cohasset, Minnesota
Owned by Minnesota Power
Boswell Unit 2
CLOSED
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
75 MW Cohasset, Minnesota
Owned by Minnesota Power
Hoot Lake Plant Unit 1
CLOSED
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
140 MW Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Owned by Otter Tail Power
Hoot Lake Plant Unit 2
CLOSED
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
54.4 MW Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Owned by Otter Tail Power
Hoot Lake Plant Unit 3
CLOSED
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
75 MW Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Owned by Otter Tail Power
Taconite Harbor Energy Center Units 1 and 2
CLOSED
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
155 MW Schroeder, Minnesota
Owned by Minnesota Power
Taconite Harbor Energy Center Unit 3
CLOSED
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
75 MW Schroeder, Minnesota
Owned by Minnesota Power

COAL PLANTS SERVING MINNESOTA

Antelope Valley
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
No closure date set
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
900 MW Beulah, North Dakota
Owned by Basin
Big Stone
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
No closure date set
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
439 MW Big Stone City, South Dakota
Owned by Otter Tail Power (54%), Northwestern Energy (23.4%), Montana-Dakota Utilities (22.7%)
Coal Creek
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
No closure date set
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
1147 MW Underwood, North Dakota
Owned by Great River Energy
Coyote
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
No closure date set
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
427 MW Beulah, North Dakota
Owned by Otter Tail Power (35%), Montana-Dakota Utilities (25%), Northern Municipal Power Agency (30%), Northwestern Energy (10%)
John P. Madgett
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
No closure date set
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
393 MW Alma, Wisconsin
Owned by Dairyland
Milton R. Young
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
No closure date set
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
237 MW Hensler, North Dakota
Owned by Minnkota
Leland Olds
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
No closure date set
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
667 MW Stanton, North Dakota
Owned by Basin
Spiritwood
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
Converted to gas
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
92 MW Spiritwood, North Dakota
Owned by Great River Energy
Weston 4
999999999999
Days
999999
Hours
999999
Minutes
No closure date set
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
167 MW Kronenwetter, Wisconsin
Owned by Dairyland
Show Closed Plants
Genoa
CLOSED
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% average running capacity
318 MW Genoa, Wisconsin
Owned by Dairyland

Coal plants report their operating data twice annually. The information depicted here is from 2020.