Xcel Energy Issues RFP for Wind Power

Energy Resource, Dec 18, 2007

ENERGY RESOURCE-18 December 2007-Xcel Energy Issues RFP for Wind Power(C)2007 JeraOne - http://www.jeraone.com

Xcel Energy has issued a Request for Proposals for 500 megawatts of wind power to help it meet Minnesota's Renewable Energy Standard.

Under the company's preferred option, once built, project ownership would be transferred to Xcel Energy. The company will consider resources with commercial operation dates through 2011.

Minnesota's RES requires Xcel Energy to supply 30 percent of its customers' electricity needs with renewable resources by 2020. To meet Minnesota's standard and renewable requirements in other jurisdictions the company serves in the Upper Midwest, Xcel Energy plans to add 2,600 megawatts of wind resources to its system by 2020, over and above the 1,300 megawatts of wind resource scheduled to be on line by the end of 2008.

"We support the goal of securing an environmentally sound energy future, and we are committed to achieving this goal in a reliable and timely manner," said Mark Stoering, Xcel Energy vice president for portfolio strategy and business development. "We also are striving to achieve this goal in a cost-effective manner for our customers."

At year-end 2007, the company will have more than 1,000 megawatts of wind power on its Minnesota system.

Proposals are due no later than Feb. 29, 2008.

The full text of the RFP is available at www.xcelenergy.com. Click on the "About Energy and Rates" link and then on "Energy RFPs." Or visit www.xcelenergy.com/docs/NSPWindRFP.pdf.> ((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@scitech21.com))

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