#Excel energy series
The utility envisions a series of actions to end the role of coal in its power mix, and reiterated several conversions and plant retirements it had previously announced. The utility estimates an average annual rate impact of 2.6% between 20. In total, Xcel Energy proposes spending almost $5.4 billion on generation resources and $1.7 billion on transmission. Xcel Energy also wants to build 560 miles of 345-kV transmission lines to harness renewable energy resources in Colorado's eastern plains for demand in population centers in the Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Boulder and Fort Collins areas. The flexible generation could be natural gas or other resources selected through an all-source request for proposals. The company's preferred procurement scenario includes the addition of roughly 5,100 MW of renewable energy resources by 2030, including 2,300 MW of wind power, 1,600 MW of large-scale solar and 1,200 MW of distributed solar, as well as 400 MW of battery storage and 1,300 MW of "flexible dispatchable generation." "This resource plan is the largest and most climate-driven proposal brought forward in our company's history," Alice Jackson, president of Xcel Energy's Colorado affiliate, said in written testimony to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission on the utility's 2021 clean energy plan. “This may be a door opening to the future.Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. “My hopes are that in the end of this we may wind up with more employees up there than we have now,” Redmond said. He said this is an encouraging sign for the process going forward to not just replace what will be lost when both generators are shuttered by 2028 but to have this be an overall benefit for the local economy. Redmond said Xcel always talked about asset management, which to him shows its commitment for the future of the community. Other potential ideas have been to partner with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to use the pond currently storing water for the power plant as a fish hatchery, he said. Redmond specifically asked Xcel to present more to him about the potential for molten salt storage, which is an efficient way to retain heat gathered from sources, like the sun, that can be then used with turbines to produce energy. He said the company has presented a wide variety of potential ideas for the site. Routt County Commissioner Tim Redmond said representatives from Xcel have talked about having a campus approach when redeveloping the Hayden Station, potentially pursuing several different energy options. “It is exciting that it is not going to be a flat piece of dirt, and we are going to have to shore up 60% of our property taxes.” We have talked about several things,” Mendisco said. “We’ve talked about recreational facilities out there. The filing said the company is exploring other carbon-free redevelopment options at Hayden, such as molten salt storage, biomass, solar electrolysis and parks and wildlife space. “I subscribe to this latter notion for our host communities when we accelerate the retirement of generating units.” “The other way, broadly speaking, is to develop sustainable longer-term strategies to make the community whole over time,” Jackson said. One option is a cash payout to a community, giving them a “nest egg” to use at its discretion in transition efforts. In testimony submitted with the filing, Alice Jackson, president of Xcel Energy Colorado, said there are two ways to assist communities as they deal with the accelerated closing of a power plant. The area’s geography also does not lend itself to large scale solar or wind power projects, company officials said. That facility will be converted to natural gas by 2028.īut in the filing last week, Xcel said converting to natural gas is not an option in Hayden because there is not enough existing gas pipeline infrastructure in the region. Xcel has been a willing partner in these talks, he said, and has been very open with local leaders about its plans.Įarly on in the discussions, there was talk of potentially refitting the plant to generate power with natural gas, Mendisco said, similar to what Xcel has done with other plants and to what the company will do with the Pawnee Generating Station in Fort Morgan. One of the most important things for people to consider throughout this process, Mendisco said, is that it will take a long time.Īs of now, things are going according to plan, and Mendisco said he wants the town to be a leader in what changes will come. “It is clear that the Hayden area, and to an extent the south Routt (County) area, will be the most affected in both jobs and property taxes.” “I think the exciting thing is that they are considering multiple asset type of replacements within the Hayden Station,” Mendisco said.