Xcel Energy proposes to buy 200 MW of wind power from NextEra Energy that it originally offered to city of Boulder, Colorado, as part of franchise negotiations; city plans to ask voters whether to start municipal utility instead of renewing Xcel franchise

Rachel Carter

DENVER , August 18, 2011 (Associated Press) – Xcel Energy proposes buying 200 MW of wind power in Colo. now to take advantage of low prices

Xcel Energy Inc. has proposed buying 200 megawatts of wind generation from NextEra Energy Resources LLC that it originally offered to Boulder, Colo. as part of franchise negotiations with the city.

Boulder now plans to ask voters whether they want to start a municipal utility instead of renewing a franchise agreement with Xcel.

If Xcel's wind proposal is approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the power would be produced from turbines that would be built in Lincoln County near Limon next year.

Xcel already is ahead of schedule to meet a state mandate to get 30 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, but executives said Thursday that the company wants to take advantage of historically low wind prices and production tax credits.

© 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.