Minnesota regulators approve $256M solar farm for farmland in Dodge County
County officials had objected because it would be located on more than 1,500 acres of prime farmland
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March 10, 2023
Brian Peterson, Star Tribune
The Xcel Energy solar farm in North Branch is currently the largest of its kind in Minnesota. Xcel has a larger solar farm planned in Becker, and the PUC approved a new project in Dodge County on Thursday.
Minnesota utility regulators on Thursday approved a $256 million solar project in Dodge County, the state's second-largest planned solar farm.
The new project, Byron Solar, would be located on 1,553 acres near the towns of Byron and Kasson and produce up to 200 megawatts of electricity, which on a sunny day would be equivalent to a small natural gas plant.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously approved Byron Solar despite pushback from Dodge County and Canisteo Township, both of which questioned the use of "prime farmland" for the project.
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