Xcel to Minimize Role of Natural Gas in Power Generating Plans

By Steve Raabe, The Denver Post -- May 6

Natural gas, once the preferred fuel for generating power, is likely to carry a lesser stature in Xcel Energy's power plans.

Coal-fired power and wind energy are the mainstays of a 10-year planning document that Xcel filed recently with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

Although some new natural-gas-fired generation may be added to the utility's power portfolio over the next decade, its high price will probably make it a proportionately smaller part of the power pool, Xcel spokesman Steve Roalstad said Wednesday.

Natural-gas prices have more than doubled in the past 1K years, and Xcel's forecasts show continued high gas prices with the possibility of more increases.

Xcel's 10-year power plan calls for 2,000 megawatts of new generation to serve customer growth, an increase of 29 percent from the utility's current portfolio of self-generated and purchased power.

The increase of 2,000 megawatts would serve the electric needs of about 2 million people.

Xcel said it will seek bids from wind-power developers to add 500 megawatts of new wind energy, which would make Colorado the nation's third-largest wind-power state behind California and Texas.

The utility also plans to build a 750-megawatt coal-fired generator at its Comanche power plant near Pueblo.

Roalstad said Xcel plans to seek PUC permission to charge residential customers an average of 89 cents more a month to cover construction costs for the proposed $1.3 billion power plant. Small businesses would pay an average of $1.89 more a month.

 

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