Judge to weigh in on Prairie Island expansion plan

by Elizabeth Dunbar, Associated Press

St. Paul, Minn. — An administrative law judge will soon begin weighing whether Xcel Energy has made a good enough case for expanding its nuclear plant near Red Wing.

Xcel wants to increase the Prairie Island plant's generating capacity and more than double the amount of storage for nuclear waste.

Red Wing, along with environmentalists and some members of the Prairie Island Indian Community, oppose parts of the plan.

People who live near the plant are concerned about safety and threats to the environment in case of an accident. Red Wing wants Xcel to help pay when local officials respond to incidents.

The judge takes public comments through Friday, then has 30 days to make a recommendation to state regulators.