Xcel is Top Wind Power Utility,
Among Best in Green Power
May 21, 2007
For the second year in a row, Xcel Energy remains the
U.S. electric utility with the most wind energy on its power grids.
At the end of 2006, the company had 1,323 megawatts of wind
generating capacity in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Colorado.
According to a report issued in early April by the American Wind
Energy Association (AWEA), Xcel beat out Southern California Edison
with 1,026 MW connected to its system.
AWEA reports the wind industry installed more than
2,400 MW of capacity in 2006. This new generation represents an
investment of $4 billion, which is a record for the industry.
Altogether, the wind generating capacity in the United States is
greater than 11,600 MW.
In Colorado, Xcel expects to add about 775 MW of wind
capacity by the end of the year, which will bring the total wind
capacity on its system to 1,083 MW.
For more information, see an article in April 11
edition of the Denver Business Journal titled "Xcel Stays on Top for
Most Wind Power."
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2007/04/09/daily33.html?jst=s_cn_hl
On April 3, NREL researchers announced that Xcel has
also held on to its number one position among utilities with green
pricing programs. At the end of 2006, Xcel WindSource has subscribed
39,440 customers that pay a premium to purchase all or some of their
electricity from wind energy. WindSource is fifth in annual sales
among utility green pricing programs at 236 million kilowatt-hours
(kWh). You can see the rankings and link to the reports on the EERE
Green Power Network at:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/resources/tables/topten.shtml
Green power continues to grow nationally. Now more
than one-half of U.S. utility customers can purchase renewable
energy from their power company. More than 500,000 utility customers
are participating in their utility’s green pricing programs, which
represents an increase of 10% over participation in 2005. Total
utility sales of green power increased 30% in 2006 to 3,500 million
kWh. According to the NREL report, these purchases have been
responsible for construction of more than 2,500 MW of capacity,
mostly from wind energy. |
