July 4, 2022 — Perched along a bend of the Mississippi River north of downtown Red Wing, the historic Northern States Power (NSP) steam plant stands out with its twin rust-colored smokestacks and the familiar “NSP” lettering still mounted between them. Built in the mid-20th century as a coal-fired generating station, the facility once fed electricity into the regional grid and played a key role in the expansion of Northern States Power’s service territory across southeastern Minnesota.
The long enclosed conveyor stretching from the riverfront marks where coal deliveries once arrived by barge, a reminder of how closely the plant’s operations were tied to the Mississippi’s working waterfront. Although the plant has been retired for years, the structure remains an important industrial landmark—visible from Memorial Park high above the river—and sits near the broader Prairie Island energy complex that includes transmission infrastructure and the nearby nuclear generating station. Surrounded by forested riverbanks and the bluffs that define Red Wing’s geography, the site reflects a layered history of energy production, transportation, and landscape along this stretch of the Upper Mississippi.July 4, 2022 — The large yellow “NSP” letters seen here belong to the historic Northern States Power Company generating station in Red Wing, Minnesota. Perched along the Mississippi River just north of downtown, the plant was once a key part of the regional electrical grid operated by NSP—now Xcel Energy. Although much of the facility has been retired or repurposed, the tall brick stacks and the weathered rooftop lettering remain some of the most recognizable industrial features on Red Wing’s riverfront.
Built in the mid-20th century, the station reflects an era when coal-fired plants lined major waterways to take advantage of cooling capacity and barge-delivered fuel. The surrounding corridor, including the nearby railway and grain terminals, has long formed one of Red Wing’s primary industrial zones. Today, while the plant no longer plays the role it once did, the NSP letters survive as a visual marker of the city’s energy-production past.July 3, 2022 — The twin concrete containment domes pictured here belong to the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, located along the Mississippi River just northwest of Red Wing, Minnesota. Operated by Xcel Energy, the facility houses two pressurized-water reactors that began commercial operation in the early 1970s. The domed structures serve as reinforced containment buildings, designed to house the reactor vessels and critical safety systems.
Set against the river and surrounded by dense tree cover, the plant sits adjacent to the Prairie Island Indian Community, whose proximity has been central to public discussions about nuclear safety, spent-fuel storage, and long-term energy planning in Minnesota. The low evening light in this image highlights the muted textures of the domes and the teal-panel cladding of the turbine and support buildings, offering a clear view of one of the state’s most prominent pieces of energy infrastructure.July 3, 2022 — Boaters on the Mississippi River driving towards the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant. Treasure Island Resort & Casino, which is just past the plant, lit off it's annual 4th of July fireworks at dusk.December 26, 2019 — The Fox Energy Center, located near Kaukauna, Wisconsin, is a natural gas-fired power plant operated by Wisconsin Public Service. This facility is designed to provide reliable baseload electricity generation, complementing the state's increasing reliance on renewable energy sources. Its operation is crucial for maintaining grid stability and meeting regional energy demands.December 26, 2019 — The Kaukauna City Hydro Plant, operated by Kaukauna Utilities, is situated on the Fox River in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. This facility is a key component of the city's long-standing commitment to hydroelectric power generation, providing renewable energy to the local community. The plant's operation requires careful management of water levels, particularly given the fluctuating conditions of the Fox River. Its presence underscores Kaukauna's historical reliance on water power for industrial and community needs.December 8, 2019 — Entergy Corporation's Ninemile 6 power plant, a 560-megawatt natural gas-fired unit located in Westwego, Louisiana, began operation in December 2014. The construction of this facility, which supplies electricity to the greater New Orleans area, cost $655 million. The plant is situated near a levee wall and a bike trail, highlighting its integration into the local infrastructure and environment.September 22, 2019 — The University of Minnesota’s Southeast Steam Plant sits along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, supplying heat and power to the campus and nearby medical facilities. Its red-brick structures and tall orange exhaust stacks stand below the university’s historic engineering buildings.September 22, 2019 — The Southeast Steam Plant, with its four iconic smokestacks, rises over the Mississippi River near the University of Minnesota’s East Bank campus. Once a coal-fired power station, the facility has been adapted into a cleaner-burning natural gas plant, continuing its role as a landmark in Minneapolis’s industrial skyline.July 21, 2019 — The Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant, located in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, features a distinctive containment building with vertical turquoise accents. This facility, which began commercial operation in 1978, ceased generating electricity in 2013. The plant is currently undergoing a 50-year decommissioning process, a complex undertaking involving the safe dismantling of the nuclear reactor and site restoration. Its proximity to Lake Michigan was crucial for its cooling systems.July 21, 2019 — The Kewaunee Power Station, located in Carlton, Wisconsin, was a nuclear power plant on the shores of Lake Michigan. It was the fourth nuclear facility built in Wisconsin and the 44th in the United States. The plant ceased operations on May 7, 2013, due to economic factors, specifically falling electricity prices driven by lower natural gas costs. The facility occupied a 900-acre site and was situated southeast of Green Bay.September 28, 2017 — The Monceau-sur-Sambre cooling tower, a 118-meter-tall hyperboloid structure, was built in the 1960s for the Electrabel power station near Charleroi, Belgium. Designed with reinforced concrete and vertical ribbing, it was engineered to cool thousands of cubic meters of water per hour, supporting the industrial output of the Walloon region. The power station, a large coal-fired generating complex, ceased operations in the early 2000s. The disused tower now stands as a testament to Charleroi's industrial past and the ongoing process of environmental recovery.September 28, 2017 — The base of a decommissioned cooling tower at the former Monceau-sur-Sambre power plant in Charleroi, Belgium, is overgrown with vegetation. This structure was part of a coal-fired power generation facility that operated for decades, contributing to the region's industrial heritage. As Belgium transitioned away from coal, the plant was decommissioned, leaving behind remnants of its industrial past, now being reclaimed by nature.July 20, 2017 — The Hamm's Brewery Power Plant in St. Paul, Minnesota, was constructed to support the brewing operations of the Theodore Hamm's Brewing Company, founded in 1865. As the brewery grew to become the fifth largest in the United States, its infrastructure, including this power plant, was essential for its expansion and production. The plant provided the necessary energy to operate the brewing machinery and maintain the cold storage required for beer production. Although the brewery ceased operations in 1997, the power plant remains as a testament to the industrial history of St. Paul and the significant role Hamm's played in the American brewing industry.May 1, 2016 — The Owatonna Power Plant in Owatonna, Minnesota, is illuminated by a neon sign at dusk. This facility, originally constructed to provide electricity to the city, represents a significant piece of local industrial history. Its architecture, characterized by brickwork and prominent smokestacks, reflects the era of its construction. The plant's operational status and its role in the community's development are key aspects of its historical significance.October 17, 2014 — The Southeast Steam Plant, located on 6th Street SE in Minneapolis, is a former coal-fired power plant that served the city for decades. Constructed in the early 20th century, it was a vital component of Minneapolis's industrial infrastructure, providing electricity and steam heat. The plant's prominent smokestacks are a recognizable feature of the Minneapolis skyline. Although no longer operational as a power plant, the structure remains a significant piece of the city's industrial history.
Built in Minneapolis
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