DENVER -- Xcel Energy said its carbon dioxide emissions will decrease 10 percent by 2017, partly through a combination of renewable energy sources and replacing older coal-fired power plants with natural gas plants.

The company on Thursday announced it will add 800 megawatts of wind power on top of the 1,100 megawatts expected to be installed by the end of this year, boosting the total to 1,900 megawatts by 2015.

Xcel Energy also plans to add 254 megawatts of solar power by 2015, according to its Colorado Resource Plan, filed with state regulators every four years.

And the plan calls for reducing energy consumption by 694 megawatts through improving efficiency and programs encouraging conservation by customers.

Xcel Energy's last resource plan, developed in 2003, estimated its carbon dioxide emissions would increase by 20 percent by 2020. The utility's new plan, which will meet increased demand and replace other generating contracts as they expire, will remove about 6 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

"I think it's a major step forward for the state, a major step forward for all of us trying to do the right things for the environment," CEO Richard Kelly said in a conference call with The Associated Press.

Kelly said Xcel Energy will refile its plan in 2009 with the goal of finding a way to reduce emissions by 20 percent by 2020...read more about Xcel Energy reducing carbon emission with solar power

Green Green House Utilizes Solar Power

NEW CASTLE - Lynn Dwyer does more than just raise plants in her greenhouse operation.

She also cultivates the power of sunlight to make heat and electricity.

Dwyer's business is taking advantage of solar in a big way, even for a greenhouse. Last fall and winter, she put in more than $100,000 worth of solar energy systems at Dwyer Greens & Flowers, which is located on a former 160-acre homestead up a mile-long dirt road southwest of Apple Tree Park outside New Castle.

Rebates from Holy Cross Energy and Xcel Energy covered $45,000 of the cost. Put those together with tax credits, and 80 percent of Dwyer's initial investment will be reimbursed.

That doesn't take into account the savings in electric bills. Dwyer already has received a check from Holy Cross when the greenhouse generated more energy than it used. Her January electric bill was less than for the same month a year earlier, even though Dwyer had added a third greenhouse.

Dwyer has had a 56-panel, 9-kilowatt photovoltaic system installed to generate electricity, which is especially needed in the summer when fans and swamp coolers must be used in the greenhouses. In addition, a rooftop solar thermal system heats water that can provide radiant heat in a warehouse, warm plant roots or keep gutters de-iced... read more about this green green house

Utility Pays Customer 30k for Solar Use

(CBS4) DENVER Xcel Energy paid a Boulder man more than $30,000 on Wednesday for not having any electricity or gas bills.

It was the first rebate check under Xcel's Solar Rewards Program.

Eric Doub built his home to only use the sun for energy and even produces electricity for Xcel.

"We're feeding electricity back into the utility grid and getting paid a small amount for that but very significantly," Doub said. "That means we'll make more energy through out of the year than we consume."

Xcel customers can get rebates of as much as $45,000.