Xcel reduces carbon dioxide emissions

Staff report

As of 2013, Xcel Energy has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 20 percent since 2005, already exceeding President Barack Obama's goal of a 17 percent reduction by 2020, according to an Xcel Energy press release on Thursday.

“Over the past decade, Xcel Energy has invested in a cost-effective, clean energy strategy that is benefiting both our customers and the environment,” Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy, said.

Fowke said the company has been reducing emissions “through a combination of energy efficiency programs and coal plant retirements and conversions, and by embracing renewable energy earlier than other utilities.”

Fowke said the company is on its way to surpassing its original carbon reduction target of 20 percent and is projecting a carbon reduction of 31 percent by 2020.

As part of that commitment, in 2013 Xcel Energy announced plans to add another 1,900 megawatts of wind energy and 170 megawatts of solar energy to its portfolio.

— Staff report