Xcel Energy holds groundbreaking for new Grand Forks service center

Delaney Otto, Grand Forks Herald
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May 11—GRAND FORKS — Xcel Energy held a groundbreaking to celebrate the start of construction on a new service center. City officials, Xcel officials and construction workers attended the groundbreaking, backdropped by supplies, machinery and initial pieces of the new center's structure behind the speakers.

One of the speakers, Grand Forks Region EDC President and CEO Keith Lund, called the event a "post-groundbreaking groundbreaking" in reference to construction already having started in April. He commended Xcel on its work in Grand Forks.

"We appreciate all the investment that Xcel Energy has made that helps make the growth of the community possible," he said.

The groundbreaking was held Wednesday, May 8, at the current Grand Forks service center for Xcel Energy, an electric utility and national gas provider for eight states. Along with refreshments, renderings for the new service center were displayed for those attending to see.

Following Lund's comments, Mayor Brandon Bochenski and Ryan Long, president of Xcel Energy-Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota, spoke. Bochenski voiced his appreciation for the people working at Xcel and their role in industrial projects, and Long said the work on the new service center is a record milestone for the company and the Grand Forks community.

"That building has been here since 1965," he said of Xcel's current center. "But it's not the building we need for tomorrow. It's not the building the community needs for tomorrow. So, we're here to celebrate a new service center that is going to reflect Xcel Energy's commitment to this community."

Officials and workers took turns tossing dirt in the air with golden shovels in celebration of the event. Grand Forks City Administrator Todd Feland was in attendance, and said the new center shows Xcel is committed to being local.

"I think this facility demonstrates that they're here for the long term," he said.

The new service center will be about 30% larger than the current facility and will have an updated fleet mechanic garage, a new weld shop building, more storage space and more modern technology. About 30 employees will work from the new center. The building is expected to open in 2025.

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