Xcel Energy plans to add more solar power in Colo. as it boosts its renewable energy portfolio

Xcel Energy to add more solar power in Colorado

DENVER — Xcel Energy Inc. has added more than 257 megawatts of solar power to its plan for meeting Colorado’s renewable energy standard by 2020.

The utility filed its plan Tuesday for meeting the standard, which requires 20 percent of its energy to come from renewable resources by 2020. The solar power would be added through a program in which Xcel buys renewable energy credits from customers who install solar power systems.

Xcel Energy’s plan also includes about 700 megawatts of new wind power and about 350 megawatts of utility-scale solar power plants.

Gov. Bill Ritter praised Xcel for planning to add more than three times the amount of solar photovoltaic resources than the law requires.