FARGO — On Tuesday, Nov. 28, Xcel Energy unveiled its new Innovation Hub inside downtown Fargo’s Black Building, a space company officials said aims to usher in a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
During a ribbon-cutting event hosted by the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, Tony Grindberg, principal manager for Xcel Energy in North Dakota, said the Innovative Hub occupies three areas on the Black Building’s second floor, areas he said Xcel teams will use as gathering places to share ideas and updates on projects and priorities Xcel is working on.
He said the spaces may also be used by other groups in the community, including nonprofits, to likewise meet, collaborate and share ideas.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Grindberg said part of the space Xcel Energy is leasing from Kilbourne Group, which redeveloped the Black Building, a fixture in downtown Fargo since the early 1930s, is being subleased to the Downtown Community Partnership and the Downtown Fargo Business Improvement District.
In a written statement, Rocky Schneider, executive director of the Downtown Community Partnership and the Business Improvement District, described Xcel’s Innovation Hub as a significant step towards the future of downtown Fargo.
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“The Downtown Community Partnership is honored to be part of this endeavor and, in collaboration with Xcel Energy, making downtown Fargo a vibrant and dynamic destination,” Schneider said.
Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy — Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota, said in a statement that the Innovation Hub was an example of Xcel’s commitment to the communities it serves.
“We’re excited to bring together leaders from business, government and the community to help achieve our vision of serving customers with 100% carbon-free electricity and net-zero natural gas by 2050,” Clark added.
With headquarters in Minneapolis, Xcel Energy is the largest energy provider in North Dakota.
In addition to the new Innovative Hub, Xcel Energy will continue to maintain its operations center located on Great Northern Drive in Fargo.
Speakers at Tuesday’s ribbon cutting included Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney and Mike Allmendinger, president of Kilbourne Group.
Tuesday’s event was something of a precursor to the Chamber of Commerce’s Midwest Energy Summit, which will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 29, in Fargo.
The summit will features speakers from business and government and showcase Xcel Energy’s focus on promoting clean energy, with topics ranging from sustainable aviation fuel to carbon capture and storage.
