Xcel Energy to implode its Minnesota Valley Power Plant on Thursday morning

Tom Cherveny, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·1 min read

Oct. 26—GRANITE FALLS

— A landmark in the Minnesota River Valley for more than half a century will disappear in virtually an instant on Thursday morning.

Xcel Energy plans to implode its former Minnesota Valley power plant on Thursday morning.

U.S. Highway 212 will be closed beginning at 9:30 a.m., and a safety exclusion area enforced in the vicinity of the plant.

Xcel Energy contracted with Veit to dismantle the plant, according to the information from Xcel Energy on the demolition plans.

The Minnesota Valley plant was originally built in 1930, and expanded in 1953. The coal-fired plant generated 75 megawatts of energy. It was retired in 2009. The plant's twin stacks stand 280 feet above the Minnesota River Valley in Granite Falls.

According to information from the company, Xcel Energy will clean up and recycle the concrete, brick and metals from the plant's structure, including iron, steel, copper, aluminum and brass. The company will retain much of the site, and the area will be backfilled, graded and seeded for restoration to a vegetated area.

The company's Minnesota Valley substations located at the site will continue to serve as a critical energy hub for the electric grid, delivering clean energy to power towns and local farms.