Xcel Energy's central corridor model

When work likely begins next year on the Central Corridor light rail transit line to connect Minneapolis and St. Paul downtown districts, Xcel Energy wants to replace the utility infrastructure with new energy technologies and to provide a model for future energy-efficient development planning.

“Along this corridor there is a lot of flat roof space where solar could be demonstrated,” Judy Poferl, regional vice president for Xcel Energy, told the House Energy Finance and Policy Division.

HF1434, sponsored by Rep. Sheldon Johnson (DFL-St. Paul), would establish “mass transit utility zones” where state-of-the-art energy generation and distribution facilities could be located. Its companion, SF1214, sponsored by Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth), was laid over March 24 by the Senate Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications Committee for further discussion.

Xcel Energy is also proposing supportive legislation to include a large-scale Smart-Grid research and development project, LED lighting, hybrid vehicle plug-ins, biogas options for commercial and industrial customers and solar partnerships with residential and small business customers within the corridor.

All of the corridor-related bills discussed March 23 were held over by the division for possible omnibus bill inclusion.