Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast

Xcel Energy is building wind projects that will produce as much energy as two nuclear power plants.

That's great for the environment, but employment is also benefiting from the need for more wind and solar energy. 

Chris Clark, Xcel's  president of Minnesota and the Dakotas, told chief meteorologist Paul Huttner that part of the reason they're able to integrate more wind energy into their system is because the industry has matured. 

"The equipment has become more efficient, we're able to capture much more of the energy value from the wind," said Clark.

Wind energy is also cheaper to generate, making it more cost effective to have wind energy in the system. 

Clark said they're seeing the same with solar.

"Solar is certainly improving. We still think it has a ways to go before it's competing as well as wind is on price," he said.

To hear more from Clark, use the audio player above. 

Science

Shows

All Things Considered

Paul Huttner

Author

Chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke to Xcel Energy's president for Minnesota and the Dakotas about a benefit of green power that's overlooked: more jobs.

Chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke to Xcel's president for Minnesota and the Dakotas Chris Clark about a benefit of green power that's overlooked--more jobs.

Climate Cast: Green energy boom in the Midwest

Go Deeper.

Like this?