Xcel Energy is marking a major step toward its vision of delivering 100 percent carbon-free electricity in Minnesota by 2040 as the company retired one of three coal units at the Sherburne County Generating Plant, or Sherco, over the weekend. For decades, Sherco has held the distinction as Minnesota’s largest power plant. Xcel Energy plans to retire Sherco’s remaining coal-fired units in 2026 and 2030, marking the company’s full exit from coal. The plant site itself is central to Xcel Energy’s clean energy transition with investments in solar, battery storage and new transmission lines.