Xcel receives approval to increase wind, solar capacity in Colorado

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission has approved Xcel Energy’s request to increase the amount of wind and solar power on its system in Colorado by 620 MW, according to a report from the Denver Business Journal. The increase will boost Xcel’s renewable energy capacity in the state by 25 percent. According to the report, 450 MW of the new capacity will come from wind power projects and 170 MW will come from utility-scale solar projects. The new power supplies will meet the power demand for Xcel’s customers in the state through at least 2018, the company stated. Xcel currently has 2,427 MW of renewable energy in its portfolio, with 250 MW coming from solar power and 2,177 coming from wind power projects, according to the Business Journal.