Xcel to close two coal plants, add wind, solar generators

Rocky Wire Reports

Published November 16, 2007 at 12:05 a.m.

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Xcel Energy told Colorado officials it will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 10 percent by 2015 by closing two power plants, improving efficient use by customers, and adding wind and solar generators.

An eight-year energy plan for Colorado, updated every four years and filed Thursday, could add 800 megawatts of new wind generation, 200 megawatts of solar energy and a new natural-gas fueled plant to replace coal-burning units, Minneapolis-based Xcel said.

Xcel is the biggest supplier of wind-generated electricity to retail customers in the U.S. and the owner of electric utilities in Denver and Minneapolis.

In October, it raised its five- year capital spending plan to as much as $10.8 billion to account for additional wind- driven generation, natural- gas-fueled plants and high-voltage lines. The previous plan was $9 billion.

The company expects to achieve standards set by Colorado for carbon dioxide emissions reduction and renewable-energy sources by adding wind farms, Chief Executive Officer Ben Fowke said at an investor conference sponsored by Bank of America Corp.

Colorado wants utilities to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent by 2025 and acquire 20 percent of their power from wind or other renewable sources, Fowke said.

Xcel's Colorado plan also calls for curtailing 694 megawatts of use through energy efficiency and conservation, and shutting the aging Arapahoe and Cameo coal-fired plants, which combined produce 229 megawatts. A megawatt can power 800 average U.S. homes.

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