All Posts Tagged With: "Xcel Energy"
Viewpoint: The Billion Dollar Block of Concrete
The insider joke is that utilities always want to build the next “billion dollar block of concrete” — not for the power, but because it can be added to their “rate base” and thus earn these returns. Why is their return on capital far higher than you or I can make on a secure investment?
13Mar2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Colorado Legislature Approves 30% Renewable Energy Requirement
The new bill was finalized after a few housecleaning tweaks and will soon have the Governor’s signature on it. HB-1001 has been a major goal this year for the Ritter Administration and once law, will make Colorado second only to California in highest mandated percentage of renewables for power generation.
10Mar2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
State May Boost Renewable Energy Standard
to 30% by 2020
According to spokesman Mark Stutz, Xcel Energy could endorse the 30 percent standard if its customers could continue to be protected from big price increases. What’s more, it says reaching the 30-percent mandate is clearly a possibility.
25Jan2010 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
Transmission Talks Heat Up in Southern Colorado
The arguments between the utility companies proposing the line and their opponents have mushroomed as the state and federal government carry out separate reviews. Xcel Energy and Tri-State say the line is necessary to export wind and solar power to the Front Range.
17Jan2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Regulators Hold Hearing on Proposed Southern
Colorado Transmission Line
Xcel Energy and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association are partnering on the building of a new substation and 150-mile transmission line, which would run from the San Luis Valley to Pueblo.
9Nov2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Solar Boosts Xcel’s Renewables Portfolio
The utility has added more than 257 megawatts of solar power to its plan for meeting Colorado’s renewable energy standard by 2020. The additional energy will be generated by a program in which Xcel purchases renewable energy credits from customers who isntall solar power systems.
29Oct2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Project Showcase –
More Capacity Using Less Energy
“Wastewater treatment typically represents a city’s single largest investment in the environment,” says Randy Earley, Utilities Project Manager for Boulder’s Public Works Dept. “Eenergy is an uncontrollable cost so we try to make our processes as efficient as possible to save money in the long run.”
14Oct2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Technology Spotlight –
Colorado’s First Solar Thermal Installation Integrated With a Coal Plant
“The thing that’s attractive about this is you only have to buy the solar field portion of the plant, which is 50 to 60 percent of the cost of the plant,” says Hank Price, director of technology at Abengoa Solar. “It’s potentially the most cost-effective way to get significant solar power on the grid.”
8Sep2009 | admin | 2 comments | Continued
Xcel Submits Plan to Rev Up Renewables
The proposal before the State PUC outlines how Xcel will adjust its energy mix away from coal-fired power production and more toward “green” energy production. The company says it wants to add roughly 980 megawatts of solar and wind power by 2015 and cut carbon emissions by 10 percent.
11Aug2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Xcel Subverts Solar
Xcel Energy has distinguished itself over the last couple of years as one of the more progressive utilities in the country in terms of renewable-energy initiatives. Much of that good work has been overshadowed, in recent weeks, by the outcry over Xcel’s efforts to raise rates, and reduce solar rebates, to pay for the new $1.35-billion coal-fired generator at the Comanche Station in Pueblo.
10Aug2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Xcel Drops Rate Increase Proposal to
Solar Customers
Gov. Ritter said he believed Xcel’s new minimum monthly bill, if implemented, would have been a disincentive for customers to buy solar panel arrays, stifling job growth, inhibiting future economic development and penalizing those voluntarily invested in clean energy.
5Aug2009 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
Xcel Fee Proposal Slammed by State’s
Solar Industry
“This is something that’s not happening anywhere in the country,” said Namaste’s Blake Jones, about the 2.6 cents per kilowatt hour fee proposal. ” This is not part of the vision we have for Colorado’s new energy economy.”
27Jul2009 | admin | 3 comments | Continued
Lawsuit Targets Xcel’s Commanche
Generating Station
In response, the utility and state regulators say the company’s permit for the Pueblo facility includes limits on mercury emissions, and that equipment being installed will significantly reduce mercury pollution and monitor emissions.
6Jul2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
POWER PLAYS –
- Excel Energy Expanding NextEra Wind Agreement
-Tri-State Submits Greenhouse Gas Plan to GEO
If the Xcel deal is approved by the Colorado PUC, 15 new 1.5-megawatt wind turbines would be installed by the end of the year. Tri-State hopes the roadmap shows it is engaged in a number of specific activities that can address potential greenhouse gas emission constraints.
9Jun2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Thank you Govenor Ritter for helping place Colorado among the Nations leaders in Renewable energy! 
Thank you for the leadership. I was thrilled when we approved a 10% renewable energy standard, ecstatic when Xcel ...
The key point is their is a 90 yeear supply supply gas in the lower 48 ALONE.
This doesn't take ...
Cogeo - thanks for the comprehensive comment. You're prolific, indeed; however, overall, we just don't see the doomsday scenario for ...
Projections of reserves and years of consumption are historically wrong. Reserve estimations are more important in pumping up stock ...