Utility plans 11 wind farms in seven states

Xcel Energy announced plans for 11 new wind farms in seven states—Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Texas—that the company says would "save the region’s customers about $8 billion over a 30-year period." Xcel said it "expects to see at least a 45 percent reduction company-wide in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2021, if it is able to fully implement approved and proposed renewable energy plans."

Albuquerque Journal photo

Daniel Cusick reports for Climatewire, "Officials said the new wind-power capacity will come from the construction of company-financed and built wind farms, as well as through power-purchase agreements with independent wind energy developers. The new wind capacity, along with expansions in both utility-scale and distributed solar generation, will help Xcel meet a projected 45 percent reduction in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2021."

The proposed wind farm in South Dakota, the largest ever there, would bring "an anticipated $1 billion investment to the state," Megan Raposa reports for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls. Xcel said the project "is expected to have more than 100 wind turbines, which will produce enough energy to power more than 300,000 homes. The 600 megawatts expected in the South Dakota farm bring significantly more energy to Xcel customers than existing wind farms, which average 150 to 200 megawatts of wind power."

The wind farm in eastern New Mexico also would be the state's largest, "generating enough power to supply about 194,000 homes per year," Kevin Robinson-Avila reports for the Albuquerque Journal. Xcel, which serves about 385,000 customers in eastern New Mexico and west Texas, where another farm has been proposed, said the two farms would save customers "about $2.8 billion over the next 30 years." (Albuquerque Journal photo)