Xcel Energy announces plan for zero-carbon electricity by 2050

DENVER — Today, Xcel Energy announced a plan to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050. Garrett Garner-Wells, director of Environment Colorado, issued the following statement.

“Renewable power is here. It’s been growing since Colorado passed the first voter-approved renewable energy standard in 2004 and now there’s no turning back. We’re confident that the people of Colorado can meet all of their electricity needs with clean, renewable energy.

“And it’s not just Colorado. Since our initial foray into clean energy, states as large as California and as small as Hawaii have committed to getting rid of fossil fuels.

“The consequences of inaction keep getting worse, so we need to do all we can as fast as we can. Xcel’s announcement shows that the writing’s on the wall for fossil fuels and dirty energy, while setting the bar for utilities in Colorado and nationwide. Environment Colorado applauds Xcel’s goals and calls on Colorado’s other utilities to follow suit.

“While this announcement is good news, it also highlights the gap between where we are and where we need to be. Colorado should capitalize on Xcel’s announcement and set its own ambitious carbon-cutting goals, while also making significant, transformative investments in solar, wind, energy storage, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.”