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Xcel climbing the national ladder in wind production
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Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy announced today that it is poised to reach 1,000 megawatts of wind power capacity in Minnesota.
The company says the milestone means Minnesota will rank third nationally among all states in wind power production, leapfrogging Washington and Iowa. Texas and California, the nation's two largest states in area among the lower 48, are at the top of the wind-production heap.
This renewable energy milestone will be reached by year-end, when PPM Energy's MinnDakota Wind Power project goes on-line. The 150-megawatt development is on the Minnesota-South Dakota border. Gov. Tim Pawlenty was on hand this morning when Xcel made the announcement at the company's Nicollet Mall headquarters.
During the 2007 legislative session, Pawlenty signed signed into law requirements that utilities obtain 25 percent of their electrical energy from renewable resources. Xcel Energy, which supports the new law, must obtain 30 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020. As part of that requirement, Xcel Energy plans to increase wind power capacity on its system to nearly 4,000 megawatts. "Minnesota is helping lead the way to a cleaner, more secure and more independent energy future," Pawlenty said in remarks prepared for today's event. "Wind power holds great potential for clean renewable energy for our country and is an important part of diversifying and improving our energy sources."
Xcel Energy Chairman, President and CEO Dick Kelly said that 1,000 megawatts of wind can provide enough electricity to power 270,000 homes. "It's a very significant accomplishment for the company and also for the great state of Minnesota," Kelly said.
PAUL WALSH
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