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Leeward Renewable Energy‘s Mountain Breeze Wind Farm in Weld County, Colorado has reached commercial operation and the company has closed the funding under its tax equity financing for the project. Leeward procured the wind turbine equipment from GE Renewable Energy, and Citi provided tax equity financing of $162.9 million. Mountain Breeze sells its output to…

Longroad Energy, a U.S-based renewable energy developer, owner and operator, announced the financial close and start of the repowering of two wind facilities in Minnesota: Community Wind North and Jeffers Wind. The projects are located in Lincoln and Pipestone counties; the combined output of the two facilities after repowering will be 70 MW. “We are…

Xcel Energy announced plans to initiate construction of the 522-MW Sagamore wind farm in New Mexico in the last quarter of the year, targeting completion in late 2020. Once fully operational, the $900 million facility will be the largest of its kind in New Mexico, and able to generate enough electricity to supply 194,000 typical…

Xcel Energy says that it reduced carbon emissions 38% from 2005 levels – well ahead of industry reductions – as it aims by 2050 to deliver 100% carbon-free electricity. While “Destination 2050” is the company’s vision, Xcel is currently on pace to reach its interim goal to cut carbon 80% by 2030, as it maintains…

Xcel Energy announced plans today to retire its last two coal plants in the Upper Midwest a decade earlier than scheduled. The acceleration of the coal closures is another milestone in the company’s clean energy transition that includes expanding wind and solar, using cleaner natural gas and operating its carbon-free Monticello nuclear plant until at…

Xcel Energy has completed the purchase of two wind energy projects that add to its growing Upper Midwest wind energy portfolio. The 200-MW Blazing Star 2 wind project in southwest Minnesota and the 300-MW Dakota Range 1 and 2 projects in eastern South Dakota. The two projects, in addition to the under-construction Blazing Star 1…

Xcel Energy’s vision to deliver 100% carbon-free electricity to customers is now backed by a scientific study. The company announced that it has verified its groundbreaking carbon goals in a newly published report — an industry first for in-depth analysis. It partnered with climate scientists with the University of Denver to confirm its vision is consistent with…

Apex Clean Energy today announced a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Xcel Energy for Dakota Range Wind III and the sale of the wind project to an affiliate of ENGIE North America. This represents Apex’s second major transaction with Xcel Energy and its first with ENGIE. “Energy trends—including the falling cost of renewables and increased…

Xcel Energy announced that it has completed construction work on its Rush Creek Wind Project, including 300 turbines and a related 80-mile-long transmission line. It is set to bring the facility, the first large-scale wind farm owned and operated by the company in Colorado, into commercial operation by October 31. The Rush Creek Wind Project,…

In one of the most significant advancements of unmanned aircraft under development by a U.S. utility, Xcel Energy is operating drones beyond visual line of sight during ongoing inspections of transmission lines near Denver. “Today’s flight takes us a step closer to fully integrating unmanned aircraft into our operations,” said Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO,…

This week, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) provided its initial approval of Xcel Energy’s Colorado Energy Plan (CEP) to close coal-fired units 1 and 2 at the Comanche Generating Station in Pueblo 10 years ahead of schedule. Colorado’s largest utility will replace that coal generation with a $2.5 billion investment in mostly renewable energy…

Xcel Energy celebrated the construction of its newest 150-MW wind facility in central North Dakota. The event featured local landowners, company representatives, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, and other state and local officials. The Foxtail Wind project will provide low-cost wind energy to nearly 80,000 homes when it’s completed next year. The project spans 35,000 acres,…

Xcel Energy and Minneapolis’ Metropolitan Council are joining forces to ensure that the Council’s use of renewable energy for its wastewater and transit systems reaches 100% by 2040. The agreement also includes efforts to get more electric buses onto Minnesota roads. “Minnesota has made tremendous progress to support clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, meeting our…

Xcel Energy is a step closer to achieving one of the most aggressive carbon-reduction goals in the industry. The company announced it cut carbon emissions 35%, according to its newly released Corporate Responsibility Report. This puts Xcel Energy on track to reach or exceed its ambitious goal of reducing carbon emissions 60% by 2030 from 2005…

New large wind energy facilities that will return significant savings to Xcel Energy’s Texas and New Mexico customers over 30 years have gained verbal approval from Texas regulators. In a recent discussion, the Public Utility Commission of Texas agreed to advance a plan to add 1,230 MW of additional wind energy to the regional generating…

New Mexico regulators have approved a historic expansion of wind-power generation in Xcel Energy’s New Mexico and Texas service areas, a move Xcel says will return significant savings to regional customers over the next several decades. In a 5-0 vote today, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission approved a plan to add 1,230 MW of…

Xcel Energy filed a stipulation with a broad coalition of 14 diverse groups, asking the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to approve a process that could lead to $2.5 billion in clean energy investments in rural Colorado if there is no additional cost to the company’s electricity customers. In order to accommodate cleaner energy generating…

Xcel Energy announced that the region’s largest expansion of wind energy will be developed by local companies. Golden Valley, Minn.-based Mortenson Construction will construct the Blazing Star 1 and Blazing Star 2 wind farms in southwest Minnesota. Fargo, North Dakota-based Wanzek Construction will build the Foxtail Wind Farm in North Dakota and the Freeborn Wind…

Xcel Energy announced plans to build and own a new 300-MW wind farm in South Dakota, adding to the company’s nation-leading wind expansion strategy. This project puts Xcel Energy on pace to be the first utility in the nation to surpass 10,000 MW of wind on its system, which would be more than enough clean…