Explosion shuts down east metro Xcel plant

[ben_meyers]

Explosion shuts down east metro Xcel plant


OAK PARK HEIGHTS, Minn. (AP) - Xcel Energy is shutting down its King plant in Oak Park Heights after a fire and possible explosion in a building near the coal-fired plant.

Xcel spokeswoman Mary Sandok says it happened just before 5 a.m. Monday in a building where the coal is crushed before going into the plant.

Sandok says she doesn't know the extent of damage. No injuries are reported.

With the coal supply interrupted, Sandok says the plant is being shut down. She says there is no power outage, because Xcel makes up the difference from other sources when a plant is out of operation.