One of the Midwest's largest utility companies has announced that it is taking some initial steps toward what is expected to become a large solar photovoltaic site in Minnesota.

According to Xcel Energy, it is currently seeking a community partner to serve as the host site for the project, which is intended to add a solar component to the Windsource program, which uses wind turbines to generate clean energy.

"Wind represents just one form of renewable energy, and our customers have shown a strong interest in supporting other renewable projects, such as solar photovoltaic," said Laura McCarten, a regional vice president with Xcel. "To offer options to our customers, we are excited to add energy generated from a showcase solar PV project to our renewable energy mix."

Among the prospective partners that could serve as a site for the photovoltaic project are state and local governments or higher education institutions.

According to Xcel, the solar energy array is expected to have a generating capacity of about 600 kilowatts, which would rank it among the largest photovoltaic installations in Minnesota.