Our products and services differ based on state. Please select your state (or the state you're interested in) from the list to the left.
Why do our products and services differ based on state? Because our business is regulated by state. We have regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. The different regulatory body for each state we serve determines what products and services we deliver in that state.
Wind Power on Our System
Wind Power on Our System
Xcel Energy is the nation's No. 1 wind power provider
The American Wind Energy Association has named Xcel Energy the nation’s No. 1 wind power provider for eight consecutive years. Wind power makes up about 12 percent of the energy we provide. As we bring more wind power onto our system and operate company-owned wind farms, we are learning and gaining experience with the technology.
- At the end of 2012, we had nearly 4,900 megawatts of wind power on our system that we either generate from our own wind farms or purchase through long-term contracts.
- We own and operate three wind farms — the Grand Meadow and Nobles wind farms in Minnesota and the Ponnequin wind farm in Colorado.
- In addition to the wind power in our energy supply, we offer customers the option to choose more renewable energy for their homes or businesses through Windsource®. First launched in 1998 to Colorado customers, the program has grown to be one of the largest voluntary green-energy programs in the United States. Customers now in Colorado, New Mexico, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin can designate that part or all of their electricity comes from renewable energy sources through participation in Windsource.
- We work with the National Center for Atmospheric Research and its high-resolution wind energy forecasting system, which combines real-time, wind turbine-level operating data with weather prediction models and sophisticated algorithms to forecast wind energy out for 72 hours. The forecasts help system operators make better decisions about powering down coal- and natural gas-fueled generating plants when sufficient winds are predicted. We estimate improved forecasting has saved our customers about $22 million so far in fuel costs since the effort began in 2009.
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Useful wind power information
- American Wind Energy Association
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Energy Classroom
- Grand Meadow Wind Farm Facts
- Nobles Wind Farm Facts
- Ponnequin Wind Farm Facts
- Wind-to-Battery Project Fact Sheet
- Wind-to-Battery Project Results News Release
- Sign Up for Windsource (residential)
- Sign up for Windsource (business)
