Editing Becker, Minnesota (section)

==Business==
[[Xcel Energy]] operates the [[Sherburne County Generating Station]] (Sherco) within the city. This plant is the largest [[coal-fired power plant]] in Minnesota. Because the power plant pays a large amount in property taxes, Becker residents pay considerably less in property taxes than in nearby communities.<ref name="MPR">{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/05/12/powertax/|title=Rule change could mean lower taxes for Minnesota power companies|last=Post|first=Tim|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|year=2006|accessdate=June 5, 2006}}</ref> The city has relied on property taxes from the power plant with about 2/3 of the cities taxes coming from the plant. There have been proposals to close portions of the power plant since 2015 and the city has worked to develop plans should that property tax revenue fall. In 2023, Becker successfully lobbied the Minnesota legislature for aid in expectation of reduced taxes.<ref name="Strib2023">{{cite news |last1=Orenstein |first1=Walker |title=Xcel closes the first unit at its Sherco coal plant this month, a milestone in energy transition |url=https://www.startribune.com/xcel-closes-the-first-unit-at-its-sherco-coal-plant-this-month-a-milestone-in-energy-transition/600330186/ |access-date=December 22, 2023 |work=Star Tribune |date=December 22, 2023}}</ref>

Becker Minnesota's zip code, 55308, was listed by the [[Minnesota Pollution Control Agency]] in 2020 as the state's largest single source of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) equivalent emissions from 'air permitted facilities'.<ref>[https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/mpca.data.services/viz/Pointsourceairemissionsdata_v10_5-11130/Byfacility Point source air emissions data by MPCA Data Services], Ranking by zip code.  See also ranking by facility.</ref> Sherco operator Excel Energy has announced plans to close the plants by the end of the decade.<ref>[https://lptv.org/xcel-energy-to-close-becker-coal-plant-as-they-try-to-end-coal-use-by-2030/ "Xcel Energy To Close Becker Coal Plant As They Try To End Coal Use By 2030"], Anthony Scott, Lakeland PBS, May 20, 2019</ref>

[[Google]] originally planned to build a [[Google data centers|data center]] in Becker, the company would've become one of [[Xcel Energy's]] largest customers. Although [[Google]] ended up backing out in late 2022. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/google-600m-data-center-project-in-becker-clears-big-hurdle/509920222/|title=Google's $600 million data center project in Becker clears big hurdle|website=Star Tribune|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref> Instead on February 12th 2024 [[Microsoft]] ended up buying 300 acres of land originally planned for the [[Google]] site. [[Microsoft]] will be building a data center in this area, the time period is unknown at this time.<ref name = "Microsoft">{{Cite web|url=https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/microsoft-buys-300-acres-in-becker-minnesota/| title=Microsoft buys 300 acres in Becker, Minnesota|website=Data Center Dynamics|access-date=May 9, 2024}}</ref>

In late February 2020, firefighters responded to a report of a fire at Northern Metals Recycling in Becker. Northern Metals Recycling moved its operations from Minneapolis to Becker the year before, after being ordered to shut down by the Pollution Control Agency due to high levels of air pollution. The fire was reported to have started under a pile of cars. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/02/20/becker-minnesota-recycling-plant-fire-keeps-burning-schools-close/4817946002/ |title=Massive fire at Minnesota recycling plant burns for 2 days. It can last for several more. |author=Adrianna Rodriguez |date=February 20, 2020 |website=USAToday.com |publisher=USA Today |access-date=October 2, 2020}}</ref> The fire lasted several days, and caused schools to close in order to conduct air quality testing. More than three dozen fire departments were reported to have been on scene. Eventually, it was decided in tandem with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the [[Minnesota Department of Health]] that the best course of action would be to let the fire burn out. This decision was also influenced by the fact that water resources were being quickly depleted from Becker and the neighboring vicinity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2020/02/19/fire-becker-metal-recycling-plant-affecting-air-quality/4805311002/ |title=Becker metal recycling plant fire 'under control' as local fire fighters help battle blaze |author=Clairissa Baker |date=February 19, 2020 |website=SCTimes.com |publisher=SC Times |access-date=October 2, 2020}}</ref>