Xcel, environmentalists square off over planned gas-fired power plant Company cites need for grid reliability; opponents push for end to fossil fuel. March 6, 2021 — 8:00am Text size Copy shortlink: The rise of natural gas-fired power was long welcomed — or at least accepted — by both utilities and clean-energy groups. Gas vanquished coal, cutting both carbon dioxide emissions and wholesale electricity costs. But to renewable-energy advocates, gas' days are numbered — at least as far as building big power plants such as the one Xcel Energy is planning in Becker, Minn. They say an emission-free combination of new wind and solar — coupled with a fleet of grid batteries for power storage — is cheaper and just as reliable as a new gas plant.