Xcel Energy has given the green light to two major wind farms in Colorado and is reviewing solar-energy bids to achieve compliance with the state’s renewable-energy law.
Xcel said it has signed agreements to purchase the power from two, 200-megawatt wind farms in Logan County near the Nebraska border. Each would supply enough electricity for about 60,000 customers.
The wind farms, the largest in Colorado, are being developed by Chicago-based Invenergy LLC and FPL Energy, a unit of Miami-based Florida Power & Light.
Xcel also is reviewing bids for 26 megawatts of solar-power collectors that would be built on commercial properties throughout Colorado.
The utility disclosed its progress on renewables in a filing Thursday with the Public Utilities Commission.
Under Amendment 37 passed by Colorado voters in 2004, major utilities in the state must provide 10 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2015.
Xcel said it plans to maintain the 0.6 percent surcharge on customer bills to pay for solar-system rebates. The utility earlier had thought it might increase the surcharge to 1 percent.
An average residential customer pays about 32 cents per month to fund the renewables program. Commercial customers pay an average of 63 cents a month.
Staff writer Steve Raabe can be reached at 303-954-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com.
