Xcel Energy said Wednesday
it plans to add 775 megawatts to its Colorado wind power network by
2007, which would make the Minnesota-based utility the nation’s largest
user of the renewable energy source.
Xcel said it currently has 282 megawatts of wind power in service or
under construction in Colorado, one of 10 states it serves. It expects
to have more than 1,100 megawatts of owned or purchased wind capacity on
its system by early next year and more than 2,300 megawatts of wind
capacity by the end of 2007.
One megawatt can meet the electricity needs of approximately 1,000
homes, the company said.
Xcel said just how many wind farms are put into use depends on
independent developers. Its estimates are also based on current and
proposed wind projects announced through various national wind power
trade associations.
Xcel already offers a Windsource program in Colorado in which consumers
voluntarily agree to pay special rates for wind-generated power. It is
believed to be the nation’s largest “green pricing” plan.
Last year, Colorado voters approved a measure requiring utilities with
at least 40,000 customers to produce 3 percent of their electricity from
renewable energy by 2007. The requirement rises to 6 percent in 2011 and
10 percent in 2015.
Solar power would have to generate at least 4 percent of the renewable
energy.
Xcel said Wednesday it expects to meet the non-solar requirements much
earlier than required.
Separately, Xcel said it intends to acquire approximately 1,300
megawatts of natural gas-fired generation from new and existing
facilities between 2007 and 2012. Minneapolis-based Xcel serves 3.3
million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers in
the Midwest and West.
-On the Net: Xcel: http://www.xcelenergy.com
