Section 1, paragraph (a) provides Xcel Energy the authority to construct, own, and operate an electric generating plant fueled by natural gas on property currently owned by Xcel in Sherburne County, without first obtaining a certificate of need from the Public Utilities Commission.

Paragraph (b) allows Xcel to recover reasonable and prudently incurred costs and investments for the plant in a rate case.

Paragraph (c) requires Xcel to file with the commission an independent evaluation of the utility's forecasted costs for the plant and to ask the commission to establish a sliding scale rate of return mechanism in order to provide an incentive for the utility to complete the plant project at or under the estimated costs.

CDF/syl