New solar, BESS up and running at Xcel Energy facilities

Published on April 16, 2026 by Kim Riley

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Xcel Energy said April 14 that its new solar generation and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are now in service at facilities located at the company’s Plant X site near Earth, Texas, and at the Cunningham Generating Station near Hobbs, N.M.

“This is about making smart, responsible investments on behalf of our customers,” said Brad Baldridge, interim president at Xcel Energy – Texas, New Mexico. “These projects reflect how we plan for the long term, to balance energy resources, and deliver reliable service while implementing cost-effective solutions for our customers.”

A BESS stores electricity when it is less expensive to produce and deliver it during periods of higher demand. Together with solar, battery storage will help support electric reliability, including during peak demand or when renewable generation is limited, according to Xcel Energy.

Plant X Solar replaces the former natural gas-fueled Units 1 and 2 at Plant X and includes 150 megawatts (MW) of solar generation and spans approximately 1,200 acres east of the existing Plant X location. 

The facility connects to the grid through the existing substation via a 115-kilovolt transmission line. Xcel Energy is also currently seeking to add a 150-MW surplus BESS at Plant X. If approved by regulators, the BESS would be operational in 2027.

Cunningham 1 Solar consists of a 72-MW solar facility paired with a 36-MW surplus BESS and connects through the existing Cunningham thermal interconnection. 

A second project, Cunningham 2 Solar, will generate 196 MW of solar power and is scheduled to come online in April 2027, replacing the gas-fueled Unit 2. When completed, the entire solar development at Cunningham will cover approximately 6,500 acres.

Solar generation facilities at both Plant X and Cunningham Generating Station entered service on April 1.