April 2013 - Volume 13 - Xcel Energy
April 2013 - Volume 13 - Xcel Energy
April 2013 - Volume 13 - Xcel Energy
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
XTRA<br />
VOLUME <strong>13</strong> • ISSUE 7 • APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong><br />
D.C. Work:<br />
Federal Government<br />
Affairs staff makes and<br />
maintains connections<br />
Journey<br />
TO<br />
P.I.<br />
New steam<br />
New steam<br />
generators<br />
making<br />
their way<br />
to Minnesota<br />
Texas Storm:<br />
Crews respond to<br />
historic snowstorm<br />
in the Amarillo area<br />
Business<br />
Solutions:<br />
Separating service and<br />
sales making a difference
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
Cover<br />
story<br />
page 6<br />
FEATURES<br />
Business Solutions Center 4<br />
A new approach to promoting, selling<br />
and implementing demand-side-management<br />
initiatives has produced dramatic<br />
results for <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>.<br />
Texas Storm 8<br />
A massive winter storm bearing strong<br />
winds, ice and snow paralyzed portions<br />
of <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s New Mexico and Texas<br />
service area last month.<br />
Power Pioneer 16<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> for one Prairie Island employee’s<br />
home is supplied completely by renewable<br />
energy, and his primary vehicle is electric.<br />
Making Connections 10<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s small staff in Washington,<br />
D.C., plays a role in helping shape<br />
policy for the company’s customers and<br />
shareholders.<br />
Prairie Island 6<br />
New steam generators for Prairie Island<br />
are making a long journey to the plant.<br />
House Hearing 14<br />
Ben Fowke, chairman, president and<br />
CEO, addressed the U.S. House Subcommittee<br />
on <strong>Energy</strong> and Power on March 5.<br />
People 18<br />
The most recent Friends We’ll Miss and<br />
Retirement announcements.<br />
On the Cover<br />
New steam generators for Prairie Island<br />
Nuclear Generating Station’s Unit Two are<br />
making a long voyage across the Atlantic<br />
Ocean and up the Mississippi River to the<br />
plant near Red Wing, Minn. Here, the new<br />
generators are being moved from an oceangoing<br />
vessel to a barge for the journey<br />
from New Orleans to Minnesota. For more<br />
information, please see story on page 10.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR<br />
“A wonderful story about one<br />
of your customer service agents’<br />
Dear <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>:<br />
Please allow me to tell you a wonderful story about one<br />
of your customer service agents at the Customer Contact<br />
Center in Amarillo, Texas – Jan Burchfield.<br />
During a recent evening, my 91-year-old mother was on<br />
the phone with Jan. Knowing Mom, I assume she was trying<br />
to get some help in understanding her gas and electric bill.<br />
During their conversation, Mom said she needed to stop<br />
so she could go take a pill. (Mom had heart palpitations that<br />
could be eased by medication.)<br />
Jan said she would hold on. When Mom came back on<br />
the line, she started to mumble, and Jan asked her if she was<br />
OK. Mom said, “No, I’m not.”<br />
The next thing Jan heard through her earpiece was what<br />
she believed to be the phone falling on the floor. Jan stayed<br />
on the line, and when she did not get a reply and fearing<br />
something was wrong, called 911 in St. Paul, Minn.<br />
Emergency responders were at Mom’s house in five<br />
minutes, but were unable to revive her. When I arrived, the<br />
policeman at the scene told me this incredible story.<br />
On his way out, the policeman said he needed to call Jan<br />
back as she had requested. He said she was very distraught.<br />
The police also provided me with her name and a phone<br />
number. I wanted to personally thank her.<br />
The next day I tried to call Jan, but was unable to connect<br />
with her. I did manage to connect with another customer<br />
service agent who said she would forward my name and<br />
information to Jan’s supervisor to review my request.<br />
Later in the day, I received a call from Jan. She was still<br />
very shaken about the event. Hopefully I convinced her that<br />
there was absolutely nothing more that she could have done,<br />
and that I was extremely grateful for her actions.<br />
Having worked for CenterPoint <strong>Energy</strong> in Minneapolis<br />
for 10 years as a marketing guy, I know how important people<br />
in the call centers are to the success of the business. Jan’s<br />
actions went over and above anything I have ever heard from<br />
a customer service agent. I hope you can find someway to<br />
publicly recognize her.<br />
Please send my sincere appreciation and deep respect<br />
to Jan for her remarkable actions. I am exceedingly grateful<br />
and will be forever indebted.<br />
–David Prudhomme<br />
PHOTO OP<br />
Bay Front Sunset<br />
Robert Rye, attendant at Bay Front Generating Station in Ashland, Wis., was giving a tour of the plant when he<br />
became the subject of a couple of photos. Here, the sun is setting over Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior, as<br />
Rye shows the visitor and photographer the view. The photographer is Gary Jackson, a family friend of Rye’s<br />
from Ironwood, Mich.<br />
Editor’s Note: “Photo Op” is a standing feature in Xtra. Each issue, a photo submitted by a reader or produced by a member of Public Policy and External Affairs will be<br />
published. Please submit high-resolution digital photos to the editor at the e-mail address listed on the back page of this publication. By submitting images for “Photo Op,”<br />
employees give Xtra permission to run the photos.
Sales and Service<br />
New approach allows BSC to focus more on DSM sales<br />
A<br />
new approach to promoting, selling and<br />
implementing demand-side-management (DSM) initiatives<br />
has produced dramatic results for <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>.<br />
The Business Solutions Center (BSC) has adapted its<br />
business model in recent years – separating its service and<br />
sales initiatives. This new approach has allowed the BSC to<br />
focus more on DSM sales, giving staff more clearly defined<br />
goals and priorities, as well as more time to achieve them,<br />
said Tony Beman, BSC team lead at Skypark in Eau Clarie, Wis.<br />
In the past, BSC staff had competing priorities in terms<br />
of providing service versus meeting DSM sales goals, he<br />
said, and had limited resources to work with in meeting those<br />
goals. But in recent years, as DSM has increasingly become a<br />
priority, more sophisticated energy-efficiency options and programs<br />
have been developed.<br />
“When I first came to the Business Solutions Center in<br />
2007, all customer service representatives had just two hours<br />
a week away from their phones to work at promoting our DSM<br />
programs,” Beman said. “I knew that we could do a better job<br />
of supporting these programs and making sales, so I set out to<br />
prove it.”<br />
By devoting 10 hours a week to promoting DSM projects,<br />
within a year he had increased the annual amount of kilowatt<br />
savings tenfold. The obvious and dramatic increase in DSM<br />
program savings was duly noted by management.<br />
A pilot program followed to explore ways to build on<br />
that success, giving a group of customer-service representatives<br />
even more hours a week to focus on promoting DSM<br />
programs, such as those offering incentives for energy saving<br />
improvements through the installation of efficient lighting or<br />
efficiency controls.<br />
Through the pilot program, the team continued to improve<br />
its performance. And today, the BSC has a sales team of 15<br />
people split between Eau Claire, Wis., and Denver, Colo.,<br />
which is dedicated to the various aspects of promoting, selling<br />
and initiating DSM projects across the company.<br />
Tony Beman<br />
Jay Rathbun<br />
4 XTRA APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>
“We have a full-time, dedicated sales staff now,” Beman said.<br />
“And that’s because we were able to prove that past BSC performance<br />
– in regards to selling DSM programs – had been<br />
stunted and that there was much more potential there.”<br />
In 2010, the pilot project formally expanded to include 10<br />
energy-efficiency specialists, two field representatives and<br />
two sales support specialists. Within a year, the team had increased<br />
the number of gigawatt-hours (reduced through DSM<br />
programs) from 58.62 to 90.98 gigawatt-hours.<br />
DSM savings have continued to increase since then. Today,<br />
total gigawatt-hours saved is roughly 148 a year, Beman<br />
said. That marks an improvement in the annual average representative’s<br />
production from 1 gigawatt-hour to a whopping 14<br />
gigawatt-hours.<br />
“Essentially, in terms of total energy reduction from DSM<br />
programs, we’re now doing with one person what a whole<br />
department was doing back in 2008,” said Jay Rathbun, an<br />
energy efficiency specialist at Skypark.<br />
“We anticipate that we’re going to top the $20 million<br />
mark in rebates by the end of this year,” he added. “And we’re<br />
not done making improvements.”<br />
The secret behind the impressive results?<br />
A strong partnership with Marketing and Account Management<br />
has been critical in driving improved performance<br />
and productivity, Beman said, and in supporting the efforts of<br />
the BSC’s full-time DSM sales team. The clearly defined team<br />
focus, coupled with the necessary resources to meet their<br />
goals, also has been vital as the team shifted from being reactive<br />
to proactive.<br />
Customers are interested in conservation, but challenged<br />
by limited budgets and short-term concerns, Beman said.<br />
“So it’s critical to help them understand the benefits of<br />
DSM projects and make it as easy as possible to take advantage<br />
of them,” he said. “To that end, we’ve put together a<br />
team that is specifically focused on promoting and maximizing<br />
our small business and mid-market customer’s participation in<br />
our DSM programs. And that team shares a single common<br />
plan for meeting that goal.”<br />
But both Beman and Rathbun point to some less tangible,<br />
yet key factors that have helped produce the team’s impressive<br />
successes.<br />
“The most important thing is the ‘why’ behind our work,”<br />
Beman said. “We have a team of people that really believes<br />
in what they’re doing – that we are in the business of working<br />
for our customers, and doing what is best for them and for the<br />
environment.<br />
“We believe we have to earn our customers’ business,”<br />
he added. “So we want to give them the chance to realize<br />
energy savings as cost effectively as possible, and allow them<br />
to reinvest in their business.”<br />
“We have an environment where the work is fun and<br />
rewarding,” Rathbun added. “And it’s one where we constantly<br />
are evolving in how we do our jobs.<br />
“We share a common vision and set our goals in terms<br />
of helping customers save money by improving their efficiency,”<br />
he said, “and we end up helping the environment at the<br />
same time.”<br />
NEWS BRIEFS<br />
CapX2020 Hampton-Rochester-<br />
La Crosse transmission line<br />
construction under way<br />
CapX2020 utilities, which includes <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>,<br />
have started construction on the estimated $500 million,<br />
150-mile Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse 345-kilovolt<br />
project. The first segment under construction<br />
is the 16-mile 161-kilovolt line between a new North<br />
Rochester Substation near Pine Island and the existing<br />
Northern Hills Substation in northwest Rochester.<br />
The CapX2020 transmission lines will provide reliable<br />
and affordable electricity service to customers<br />
in Minnesota and the surrounding region, while also<br />
expanding access to renewable energy.<br />
“It has been six years since we started the public<br />
outreach, regulatory and routing process, and we will<br />
continue to work closely with landowners and local officials<br />
as construction moves forward,” said Priti Patel,<br />
CapX2020 co-executive director. “The line will provide<br />
immediate benefits by enhancing electricity service<br />
reliability and allow for future growth and economic<br />
development in the area.”<br />
The Minnesota portion of the Hampton-Rochester-La<br />
Crosse project is 345-kilovolt double-circuit capable,<br />
which allows for future capacity expansion on<br />
the existing structures. To reduce land impacts, singlepole<br />
steel structures predominantly will be used. The<br />
poles are spaced about five per mile.<br />
Work on the North Rochester-Northern Hills<br />
161-kilovolt segment will be completed this summer.<br />
Foundation work on the 45-mile, 345-kilovolt segment<br />
between the North Rochester Substation and the Mississippi<br />
River is scheduled to start in August.<br />
Construction in Wisconsin will start in 2014 with<br />
an in-service date of 2015 for the entire project.<br />
The Bemidji-Grand Rapids 230-kilovolt CapX2020<br />
project was energized in fall 2012, and the 28-mile<br />
Monticello-St. Cloud 345-kilovolt line was completed<br />
in December 2011.<br />
Construction continues between St. Cloud and<br />
Fargo, as well as on the Brookings County-Hampton<br />
345-kilovolt project. The CapX2020 utilities expect to<br />
file a regulatory application in South Dakota for the<br />
Big Stone South-Brookings County 345-kilovolt project<br />
in mid-<strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>.<br />
CapX2020 is a joint initiative of 11 investor-owned,<br />
cooperative and municipal utilities in Minnesota and<br />
the surrounding region to upgrade and expand the<br />
electricity transmission grid to ensure continued reliable<br />
and affordable service.<br />
The CapX2020 projects include four 345-kilovolt<br />
lines and a 230-kilovolt line, and represent the largest<br />
development of new transmission in the Upper Midwest<br />
in 30 years. They are projected to cost more than<br />
$2 billion and cover a distance of nearly 800 miles.<br />
APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> 5
MOVING<br />
To<br />
P.I.<br />
New steam generators for Prairie Island<br />
Nuclear Generating Station’s Unit Two are making<br />
a long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and up the<br />
Mississippi River to the plant near Red Wing, Minn.<br />
Employees of the AREVA St. Marcel factory and a handful<br />
of <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> representatives celebrated the end of the<br />
manufacturing cycle for steam generators in December in<br />
St. Marcel, France, before the two steam generators began<br />
their journey. <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> personnel were onsite in France<br />
during the manufacturing of the steam generators to ensure<br />
quality standards were met.<br />
New generators Dave Corbesia, senior quality control inspector at Prairie<br />
Island, reviewed all weld radiography film. Scott Redner,<br />
to increase project manager, provided oversight of the replacement steam<br />
generator tubing pre-service inspections. And Jerry Wren,<br />
performance program engineer, assisted with the primary-side vessel welds<br />
pre-service inspections.<br />
In addition, Gerry Daly, authorized nuclear in-service inspector<br />
at Prairie Island, visited the St. Marcel plant to wit-<br />
and efficiency<br />
ness primary side vessel and replacement steam generator<br />
tubing pre-service inspection activities.<br />
The replacement steam generators (RSGs) departed from<br />
the St. Marcel factory a month later and are headed to Prairie<br />
Island. The four components, collectively weighing 660 tons,<br />
will arrive at Prairie Island in mid-<strong>April</strong>, said John Walters,<br />
Nuclear manager, Project Controls.<br />
6 XTRA APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>
Loading<br />
The components that make up Prairie Island’s new steam<br />
generators collectively weigh 660 tons and will arrive at the<br />
plant sometime this spring after a trip across the Atlantic<br />
Ocean and up the Mississippi River.<br />
AREVA has direct access to the Saone River, which hits<br />
the Mediterranean Sea at the port of Marseille. From there,<br />
the RSGs were loaded on an ocean vessel, which set sail on<br />
Feb. 9 for the port of New Orleans, La.<br />
After arriving in New Orleans, the RSGs were offloaded<br />
and placed on a shallow-draft barge for continued travel up<br />
the Mississippi River to Prairie Island. Prairie Island’s old<br />
steam generators will be changed out during the Unit Two<br />
outage scheduled for fall <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>.<br />
The new steam generators will increase the unit’s energy<br />
performance and efficiency while reducing future operation,<br />
maintenance and inspection costs, Walters said.<br />
The St. Marcel factory was awarded its first U.S. contract<br />
for the Prairie Island Unit One replacement steam generators<br />
in 1999, and those generators were eventually put into service<br />
in 2004. The order for the Unit Two steam generators was<br />
signed in 2006.<br />
After the generators are installed at the Prairie Island<br />
site, the two parts of each generator will be assembled and<br />
submitted to an inspection called a “hydrotest,” he said. They<br />
also will be inspected to ensure they meet federal standards.<br />
In anticipation of the generators’ arrival, a building was<br />
constructed to store and prepare them for installation. In addition,<br />
a complex of trailers was set up to provide workspace for<br />
the staff dedicated to this project.<br />
Preparations also have included a team representing Prairie<br />
Island meeting with NRC Region III officials to discuss the<br />
project’s oversight, scheduling and technical specifications,<br />
Walters said. This information is provided to help prepare NRC<br />
inspectors for the planned inspection of the generators.<br />
The generators are approximately 70 feet tall and weigh<br />
330 tons each. The total project cost is $280 million.<br />
The replacement project will result in approximately 800<br />
personnel being onsite during the <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> Unit Two refueling effort,<br />
in addition to the hundreds of outage contractors onsite<br />
for other outage activities. The Unit Two steam generator replacement<br />
outage is expected to take 65 days.<br />
In other Prairie Island news, the plant’s Unit One reactor<br />
returned to full power on Jan. 8 after crews completed a scheduled<br />
maintenance and refueling outage. During the outage,<br />
which began Oct. 23, approximately 600 contractors helped<br />
plant staff complete maintenance tasks to prepare the unit for<br />
its next operating cycle and replaced one-third of the unit’s fuel.<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s Prairie Island and Monticello nuclear generating<br />
plants are among the company’s lowest-cost sources of<br />
generation on a per megawatt-hour basis. They run 24 hours<br />
a day, seven days per week, except during refueling outages,<br />
and they do not produce any greenhouse gas emissions.<br />
Each of the two 550-megawatt reactors at Prairie Island<br />
is refueled approximately once every 18 months. When both<br />
units are operating, the Prairie Island plant near Red Wing<br />
generates 1,100 megawatts of electricity.<br />
APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> 7
Texas Storm<br />
A company crew deals with a broken pole during the storm<br />
Tractors used to tow company service vehicles to outage areas<br />
A<br />
massive winter storm bearing strong<br />
winds, ice and snow paralyzed portions of <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s<br />
New Mexico and Texas service area last month.<br />
The storm marked one of the biggest single snowfall<br />
events in the history of Amarillo and much of the Texas Panhandle,<br />
and for the first time ever, closed the Amarillo Customer<br />
Contact Center. A total of 17 inches of snow fell in the<br />
Amarillo area.<br />
Almost all roads in the Texas Panhandle became impassable<br />
during the storm, which hit on a Monday, and whiteout<br />
conditions forced the state Department of Transportation to<br />
pull virtually all of its snowplows off roads until conditions<br />
improved.<br />
Tractors were used to tow <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> service vehicles<br />
to outage areas; and a convoy was organized to reach 50 customers<br />
in Vega, Texas, stranded by closed roadways. National<br />
Guard units also were mobilized to assist stranded motorists.<br />
“The final customer without power as a result of the Blizzard<br />
of <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> was restored to service at 4:40 p.m. the day after<br />
the storm,” said Riley Hill, president of SPS. “Our system held<br />
up remarkably well for such a big storm, and we’re proud of<br />
all of the men and women who worked to keep and restore<br />
service in such adverse conditions.<br />
“We sincerely appreciate the patience of our customers<br />
as our restoration team worked tirelessly to get service<br />
back to people who lost it as quickly and safely as possible,”<br />
he added.<br />
Dozens of positive customer comments came in after the<br />
storm. Some comments included:<br />
• “We take you for granted, but are very thankful to you and<br />
your loved ones for keeping us all warm and connected<br />
while snowbound.”<br />
• “What a super job by everyone involved. What a great job<br />
by all the people on the ground who got the job done and<br />
did it safely!”<br />
• “Thank you all employees of <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>. My family stayed<br />
warm and safe due to your efforts.”<br />
• “Everyone did an awesome job assisting during the Blizzard<br />
of <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. So glad everyone had their power restored in<br />
a timely manner.”<br />
The blizzard ended up as the second-snowiest event ever<br />
recorded in Amarillo. Wind gusts averaged between 50 and<br />
60 mph, with hurricane-force gusts of 75 mph recorded at Rick<br />
Husband Amarillo International Airport.<br />
8 XTRA APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>
NEWS BRIEFS<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> donates to Colorado teacher<br />
training program for math and science<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> recently announced that it will be the<br />
sole industry partner in a state-wide effort to train and<br />
place 150 science and math teachers for the <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>-2014<br />
academic year.<br />
The company is donating $50,000 to this effort,<br />
which helped leverage additional funding from a private<br />
foundation and the National Education Association, to<br />
bring the total money for the program to $400,000.<br />
The Lt. Governor’s Office and the Colorado Department<br />
of Education are developing a new statewide<br />
vision and plan for improving the Colorado Progressive<br />
Science and Progressive Math Initiative STEM (Science,<br />
Technology, Engineering and Math) teacher training<br />
program.<br />
The program was implemented in New Jersey and<br />
has seen increased student achievement in math and<br />
science proficiency with more students participating<br />
and succeeding in advance-placement courses.<br />
“Improving STEM education is imperative for<br />
the energy business and other sectors, as well as our<br />
overall economy,” said David Eves, president of PSCo.<br />
“More than half of our current jobs require STEM<br />
degrees or extensive math or science skills. These are<br />
positions critical to our business.”<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> also plans to use this partnership to<br />
leverage the expertise and energy of its employees as<br />
mentors and volunteers in an effort to peak student<br />
interest in STEM careers and educational opportunities.<br />
“In our business, we invest in what works,” Eves<br />
said. “We innovate, test and replicate new technologies,<br />
processes and systems to provide better value for our<br />
customers and shareholders.<br />
“We take this same approach with our charitable<br />
investments,” he added. “What better way to invest,<br />
than to invest in people.”<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> in Colorado has been ranked as one of<br />
the most generous companies by The Denver Business<br />
Journal for the past five years. In 2012 the company’s<br />
total giving in Colorado, including foundation grants,<br />
matching gifts for employee contributions and volunteer<br />
hours, and United Way was more than $3.5 million.<br />
Jerome Davis (second from left), regional vice president of<br />
PSCo, stands with a group of students at a recent education<br />
grant announcement.<br />
Monticello begins refueling outage<br />
and capacity-expansion project<br />
Operators at Monticello Nuclear Generating<br />
Station recently began a scheduled refueling outage<br />
during which work to increase the plant’s output by<br />
71 megawatts will be completed.<br />
“Our Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants<br />
generate some of our lowest-cost, carbon-free electricity,<br />
which provides great value to our customers,”<br />
said Judy Poferl, president and CEO of NSP-Minnesota.<br />
“We are expanding investments in our nuclear<br />
plants to retain those benefits for another 20 years.”<br />
During the Monticello outage, workers will complete<br />
major equipment upgrades to increase the plant’s<br />
generating capacity, and to ensure continued safe and<br />
reliable operations. The work will increase the unit’s capacity<br />
to 671 megawatts and improve plant efficiency.<br />
Approximately 2,000 contractors – many of<br />
whom come to the Monticello area from other parts<br />
of the country, providing a boon to the local economy<br />
– also will help plant staff complete maintenance and<br />
construction work. The work will prepare the unit for<br />
its next operating cycle, including placing new fuel<br />
assemblies in the reactor. Refueling outages generally<br />
last from four to six weeks. Because of the added<br />
work during this outage, however, this outage is<br />
expected to run a few weeks longer than usual.<br />
APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> 9
Federal<br />
Government<br />
Affairs<br />
D.C. staff always moving to help shape policy<br />
On a recent Friday, the morning started<br />
out as a normal one in Washington, D.C. –<br />
meaning busy, but not crazy busy. Then the<br />
invitation arrived, and <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s Federal Government<br />
Affairs staff moved into high hear.<br />
Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO, had<br />
been invited to testify on Capitol Hill in front of a subcommittee<br />
of the U.S. House of Representative’s <strong>Energy</strong><br />
and Commerce Committee. The topic: the Role of<br />
a Diverse Electricity Generation Portfolio.<br />
Once Fowke signed on to travel to D.C. for the testimony<br />
a few short days later, the company’s small staff<br />
in the nation’s capital had plenty of work on its hands.<br />
Among the tasks:<br />
• Start work on both oral and written testimony, joining<br />
with other company resources to work through<br />
the process.<br />
• Look into travel arrangements for Fowke, Roy Palmer,<br />
senior vice president of Public Policy and External<br />
Affairs, and Frank Prager, vice president of Envi-<br />
10 XTRA APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>
onmental Policy and Services. The trio would need<br />
to leave Minneapolis by 5 a.m. on Tuesday.<br />
• Make numerous visits to the U.S. House offices of<br />
committee members to discuss the hearing and any<br />
thoughts around the testimony.<br />
• Meet with <strong>Energy</strong> and Commerce Committee staff<br />
leadership and other members involved in the hearing.<br />
• Touch base with the other companies invited to testify,<br />
checking on who will be appearing and what<br />
will be their main points.<br />
The list goes on from there, and this singular day is<br />
a good example of the work and service that <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s<br />
D.C. contingent provides the company. (Please<br />
see related story about Fowke’s subcommittee testimony<br />
at the hearing on Capitol Hill on page 14.)<br />
“We’re always moving,” said John O’Donnell, vice<br />
president of Federal Government Affairs. “Government<br />
regulation dictates to a great extent what we can and<br />
cannot do as a company, so we need to play a role in<br />
helping shape that policy on behalf of our customers.<br />
APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> 11
12 XTRA APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong><br />
“We do that by always telling the truth, always following<br />
up,” he added, “and always maintaining and building relationships<br />
with members of Congress and their staff.”<br />
One of the issues currently being discussed is the Consumer<br />
Renewable Credit (CRC).<br />
“The CRC is a bipartisan legislative proposal that creates<br />
a powerful new demand-side incentive for wind and solar,”<br />
said Steve Plevniak, one of the company’s two lobbyists. “It<br />
provides a tax credit for utilities and their customers to help<br />
offset integration costs.”<br />
The concept has been endorsed by a wide coalition, including<br />
business, labor, the environmental community and the<br />
nation’s largest wind developers. The list includes the U.S.<br />
Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers,<br />
the Building and Construction Trade Department–AFL-<br />
CIO, and others.<br />
Other issues the company’s D.C. office is currently advocating<br />
for include:<br />
• Credit for Early Action – <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> was a leader in reducing<br />
emissions early and significantly, and the company<br />
needs to ensure that its customers don’t pay twice for emissions<br />
reductions.<br />
• Clean Air Act Rulemaking by the EPA – The Environmental<br />
Protection Agency has an aggressive emissions-control agenda,<br />
and <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s D.C. team is working to ensure that rules<br />
will allow for things like renewables and that state energyefficiency<br />
programs count toward emissions reductions.
• Tax Policy – A major issue that was recently settled (for the<br />
time being) was the increased taxation of dividends. But<br />
there are many other tax proposals, such as the deductibility<br />
of interest expense, which could impact the company.<br />
• Nuclear – Post Fukishima regulation and spent-fuel storage<br />
are just a few of the issues being debated now in Congress.<br />
• Cybersecurity – This is now a major initiative for all corporations,<br />
but especially for utilities. It is complex, and<br />
some of the congressional proposals would be expensive<br />
to implement.<br />
For these many issues and others, Federal Government<br />
Affairs’ job is to continually raise the issue, so members of<br />
Congress become familiar with the concept and are supportive<br />
as it moves through the legislative process.<br />
“It’s about follow-up,” Plevniak said. “It needs to be repeated<br />
so everyone knows about the issue and how it will<br />
benefit consumers. Usually an idea needs to be cultivated for<br />
months or years before Congress considers it. We spend most<br />
of our time working to tell the <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> story.”<br />
It’s fair to say that the company’s D.C. contingent thrives<br />
on human interaction and loves all things political. The group,<br />
which includes O’Donnell, Plevniak, lobbyist Chris Kearney and<br />
specialist Erica Jenkins, has a vast array of connections across<br />
Capitol Hill.<br />
“It’s interesting work,” Kearney said. “I love politics and<br />
policy, and have worked on both sides of the equation, both for<br />
government and for the private sector.”<br />
Connections<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s D.C. staff has a vast array of connections<br />
across Capitol Hill. Above (left to right), John O’Donnell,<br />
Chris Kearney and Steve Plevniak meet in O’Donnell’s office.<br />
Below, Plevniak discusses the Consumer Renewable Credit<br />
with Congressional staff at a U.S. House office building. On<br />
pages 10 and 11, a view over the Washington Mall. The company’s<br />
offices sit off to the right, out of the photo, close to<br />
Pennsylvania Avenue.<br />
APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> <strong>13</strong>
Fowke on Capitol Hill to address<br />
U.S. House energy subcommittee<br />
Emphasizing fuel diversity and credit for<br />
early action on environmental leadership as important<br />
components of national energy strategy, Ben Fowke addressed<br />
the U.S. House Subcommittee on <strong>Energy</strong> and Power<br />
on March 5.<br />
“The topic of the hearing – fuel diversity in the power sector<br />
– could not be more important at this critical juncture in<br />
the energy sector,” said Fowke, chairman, president and CEO,<br />
citing <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s diverse mix of fuel sources that includes<br />
coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, hydro, biomass and solar.<br />
“Our strategy has put us on track to reduce our carbondioxide<br />
emissions by 20<br />
percent from 2005 levels<br />
“<br />
by 2020,” he added. “And<br />
at the same time, we have<br />
been able to maintain power<br />
prices at or below the<br />
national average.”<br />
In his remarks, Fowke<br />
discussed the importance of<br />
allowing individual states to<br />
develop strategies that include<br />
energy-efficiency, renewable-energy<br />
and emissions-reduction<br />
programs,<br />
such as Colorado’s Clean Air<br />
Clean Jobs. Equally important, he said, is giving credit to states<br />
and energy companies that have already acted early to address<br />
carbon issues.<br />
Fowke joined a handful of other utility executives to testify.<br />
They included leaders from Entergy, American Electric<br />
Power, American Municipal Power, Nebraska Public Power<br />
District and the American Wind <strong>Energy</strong> Association.<br />
“We all share the goal of satisfying the country’s growing<br />
energy demands in the least expensive, most reliable<br />
and cleanest way possible,” Fowke said in his testimony.<br />
“<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> has been successful in pursuing a strategy that<br />
has reduced customer risk and promoted clean energy, while<br />
maintaining reliable service at a competitive price.<br />
“Fuel diversity is an important part of that strategy,”<br />
he added. “Our system is a strong example of an ‘all of the<br />
above’ strategy.”<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s generating mix includes a wide range of fuel<br />
sources, he said, and the<br />
company is unique among<br />
utilities in its commitment<br />
to renewable energy, with<br />
“<br />
We are achieving great<br />
results by maintaining<br />
a robust and diverse<br />
system.<br />
nearly 5,000 megawatts of<br />
wind power on its system.<br />
The company also is a leader<br />
in energy efficiency and<br />
innovative state emissionreduction<br />
and fleet-modernization<br />
programs.<br />
“We are achieving<br />
great results by maintaining<br />
a robust and diverse<br />
system,” he said. “Although<br />
clean energy plays an important role in our electric system, we<br />
continue to rely on coal and nuclear power to provide the lowcost<br />
base on which our system depends.”<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> has achieved significant emissions reductions<br />
despite the recent addition of a large, new coal unit at Comanche<br />
Generating Station in Pueblo, Colo., he said. The company<br />
14 XTRA APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>
also is in the process of extending its two nuclear generating<br />
plants in Minnesota for another 20 years of service. Coal and<br />
nuclear energy remain critical to the efficiency and reliability of<br />
the company’s system, he said.<br />
“For that reason, we have been proactive in seeing the<br />
need either to invest in coal-fleet improvements or to retire and<br />
repower aging coal plants through programs like the Colorado<br />
Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act and the Minnesota Emission Reduction<br />
Project,” Fowke explained. “Like many utilities, we have<br />
taken advantage of low natural gas prices to serve growing<br />
customer demand and allow replacement of aging coal plants.<br />
“However, because of our renewable portfolio, we’ve<br />
been able to avoid becoming too reliant on the natural gas market,”<br />
he added. “Wind energy acts as a natural hedge against<br />
fuel-price risk, reduces our emissions and meets our customers’<br />
interest in clean energy.”<br />
In fact, wind is key to <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong>’s strategy, he said. The<br />
company recently contracted for wind power in Colorado at<br />
a price that is competitive with natural gas-fired generation,<br />
even at today’s low gas prices.<br />
“As a result, we’re now integrating wind at levels that we<br />
never before imagined at certain times on our system,” Fowke<br />
said. “Our annual average wind energy will reach 20 percent<br />
this year in Colorado and 14 percent in Minnesota.”<br />
Much of the company’s diversification strategy results<br />
from its longstanding desire to prepare for federal regulation<br />
of carbon dioxide emissions, he added.<br />
“Without passing judgment as to the wisdom of such regulation,<br />
we do believe there are principles that should guide<br />
government action in this regard,” Fowke said. “These principles<br />
include the belief that legislation is better than regulation,<br />
state flexibility is key, and credit for early action is essential.”<br />
Because future legislation is uncertain, the company<br />
is preparing for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)<br />
regulation of carbon dioxide from existing power plants.<br />
“We hope that the EPA will allow states to develop diverse<br />
emission-reduction strategies like those that have been<br />
successful in Colorado, Minnesota and elsewhere,” he said.<br />
“For us, it is most critical that any carbon-dioxide regulation<br />
give credit to states and energy companies that have already<br />
acted early to address carbon issues.”<br />
Many customers already are paying for clean-energy<br />
programs, he added, and should be rewarded for having done so.<br />
“With these approaches to policy, the nation can assure<br />
continued diversity of its energy resources,” Fowke said<br />
in closing, “and achieve what <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> has been working<br />
toward in our states for more than a decade – clean energy<br />
and environmental improvement at a competitive price.”<br />
Hearing Video<br />
On page 14, Ben Fowke (second from right)<br />
prepares to testify at a recent hearing on Capitol<br />
Hill. To see a video of the hearing, scan this code<br />
with a smart phone app or visit the following link:<br />
http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearing/AESI-rolediverse-electricity-generation-portfolio<br />
NEWS BRIEFS<br />
Fowke named to national<br />
cyber-security committee<br />
Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO,<br />
has been named to a committee that formed as a<br />
result of a National Infrastructure Advisory Council<br />
(NIAC) recommendation in a 2010 report on electric<br />
and nuclear sector resilience.<br />
The committee, composed of CEOs from the<br />
utility and nuclear sectors, will receive regular<br />
briefings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation,<br />
National Security Agency, Department of <strong>Energy</strong><br />
and Department of Homeland Security, and will<br />
begin cooperative efforts to protect cyber-security<br />
issues.<br />
“As one of the largest electricity and natural gas<br />
utilities in the United States, <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> is very<br />
involved in the cyber-security debate,” Fowke said.<br />
“While we have worked hard already to implement<br />
security measures on all levels, we are very aware<br />
of the threat posed by this evolving issue.<br />
“I am pleased to be a part of a group that will<br />
bring more focus to this issue and shape potential<br />
federal legislation that will likely impact all U.S.<br />
utilities,” he added.<br />
In 2010, the NIAC published a report that outlined<br />
recommendations on how to establish c<br />
ritical infrastructure resilience. One of the focal<br />
points included the electricity and nuclear sector.<br />
Specifically, the first recommendation in the report<br />
suggests:<br />
“The White House initiates an executive-level<br />
dialogue with electric and nuclear sector CEOs<br />
on the respective roles and responsibilities of the<br />
private sector in addressing high-impact infrastructure<br />
risks and potential threats…”<br />
“The group has already received several<br />
directives and is eager to move forward based<br />
on initial conversations,” Fowke said. “Ultimately,<br />
we will be representing a cross-section of the<br />
industry, and we are honored to take that role and help<br />
develop measures that will benefit national<br />
security.”<br />
NIAC advises the U.S. president through<br />
the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security on the<br />
security of critical infrastructure sectors and their<br />
information systems. Several advisory committees<br />
work with NIAC on a variety of security issues,<br />
including communications infrastructure and<br />
emergency management.<br />
APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> 15
Power Pioneer<br />
Karadza’s home runs on renewable energy, along with his EV<br />
As we explore more efficient and environmentally<br />
friendly energy alternatives, it’s helpful to look<br />
to folks who are already walking down that road and<br />
putting into practice some viable options.<br />
Bosko Karadza is one of those people. <strong>Energy</strong> for his home<br />
is supplied completely by sunlight, and his<br />
primary vehicle is electric.<br />
Karadza, senior plant engineering analyst<br />
at Prairie Island Nuclear Generating<br />
Station, was first encouraged to install a<br />
photovoltaic (PV) system at his home when<br />
he learned of new solar installations in his<br />
local community and interesting renewable<br />
energy incentives offered by his cooperative.<br />
“Our family supports environmental<br />
stewardship and has the desire to improve<br />
the world we live in – today and for the sake<br />
of generations to come,” Karadza said. “I<br />
wanted to take advantage of technological<br />
advancements that have made it more costeffective<br />
for people to install PV systems. It<br />
just makes good sense – we need to explore<br />
energy alternatives.”<br />
Bosko Karadza<br />
In January 2010, he decided to install a ground-mount PV<br />
system at his family’s home. The PV system is made up of 36<br />
Kyocera 210-watt panels and has a total system rating of 7.56<br />
kilowatts – more than enough to meet all the electric needs of<br />
his home.<br />
Karadza calculates that since he installed his<br />
PV system, he has reduced CO2 emissions by 21<br />
metric tons due to his renewable generation capability.<br />
And recovery of the PV system costs was<br />
achieved within two years, thanks to his handiwork,<br />
and rebate programs offered through Great<br />
River <strong>Energy</strong>, the State of Minnesota and federal<br />
tax credits.<br />
Karadza admits he has an advantage over<br />
most people who want to install PV systems. He<br />
was able to do much of the installation work himself,<br />
which saved a good deal of money and made<br />
the option all that much more attractive.<br />
“With my mechanical and electrical background,<br />
I was able to do most of the work myself<br />
and realize a tremendous savings,” he said.<br />
“But others who are considering a PV installation<br />
should look at it as long-term investment in some-<br />
16 XTRA APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>
thing that makes economic sense over time. And the more people<br />
invest, the more the technology will advance and become more<br />
cost effective for others.”<br />
Karadza pointed out, for example, that with incentive programs<br />
offered by utilities and state and federal governments,<br />
he’s seen the costs of production decrease. When he first installed<br />
his PV system, the PV cell price per watt was $2.40, and<br />
today it is as low as 80 cents per watt.<br />
“The PV system has worked flawlessly,” he said. “It’s been<br />
a reliable and maintenance-free system.”<br />
The obvious success of his PV system encouraged him to explore<br />
other energy-efficient possibilities. He purchased a Toyota<br />
Prius hybrid gas/electric vehicle, and loved it.<br />
But he wanted to see about increasing the vehicle’s range<br />
by making modifications to the car’s battery system. He realized,<br />
however, that it would be more cost-effective to purchase a fully<br />
electric vehicle (EV) due to the high cost of batteries required for<br />
the modification.<br />
Karadza eventually found a Nissan Leaf that had been salvaged<br />
and required extensive body and front-end work. He decided<br />
to purchase it, and set about restoring the EV.<br />
“I’ve always had an interest in high-tech, state-of-the-art<br />
technologies,” he said. “So the possibilities of owning an EV<br />
were very attractive.<br />
“The Nissan Leaf I purchased needed a lot of work to get<br />
it back on the road,” Karadza said. “The cost of reconstruction<br />
wouldn’t make sense for most people, but with my past experience<br />
in vehicle restoration and passion for pursuing the project,<br />
it became a reality.<br />
“My EV purchase was based on the same principles of environmental<br />
stewardship and compliments the PV system,” he added,<br />
“as my excess generation capacity now supports EV charging.”<br />
The only drawback with his Nissan Leaf is the limited range<br />
of only 80 to 100 miles. That is fine for his daily 12-mile commute<br />
to Prairie Island, he said, but added that it would be nice to take<br />
the vehicle on vacation trips.<br />
In Minnesota, however, as well as many other states, a network<br />
of charging stations for EVs is not yet well developed. But<br />
there are definitely possibilities for this to happen in the future,<br />
he said.<br />
“Many EVs can recharge in about 20 minutes, about the<br />
time it takes to sit down and have a cup of coffee,” he said.<br />
“Perhaps charging stations could form a strategic alliance with<br />
coffee shops or similar businesses. I look forward to the spread<br />
of dedicated EV charging stations as this technology is hopefully<br />
embraced by a larger population of commuters.”<br />
Renewable<br />
Karadza was able to do much of the installation work<br />
himself on the solar system at his house (pictured<br />
on page 16), which saved a good deal of money and<br />
made the option all that much more attractive. In addition,<br />
he did plenty of work on a damaged Nissan<br />
Leaf (top, before and after) that he bought at auction,<br />
and also has a wind turbine on his property.<br />
APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> 17
PEOPLE<br />
FRIENDS WE’LL MISS<br />
Alvin F. Baal<br />
77, senior environmental analyst, Environmental<br />
Services, Colorado, died on Feb.<br />
25, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for PSCo from 1957<br />
to 1994.<br />
Garlind Blair<br />
89, custodian thereafter, Colorado, died<br />
on Feb. 1, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for PSCo from<br />
1945 to 1988.<br />
Frederick R. Bones<br />
80, field supervisor, Underground<br />
Construction, Chestnut Service Center,<br />
Minneapolis, Minn., died on Feb. 8, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>.<br />
He worked for NSP from 1952 to 1988.<br />
James D. Chambers<br />
80, manager, Englewood, Colo., died on<br />
Feb. 18, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for PSCo from<br />
1951 to 1992.<br />
Teddy M. Crownover<br />
78, died on Feb. 4, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
SPS from 1959 to 1996.<br />
Duane W. Dahl<br />
75, gas street helper, Lakeland, Minn.,<br />
died on Feb. 4, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for NSP<br />
from 1969 to 1974.<br />
Carmen S. Elliott<br />
85, died on Feb. 14, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
SPS from 1975 to 1991.<br />
Forest E. Erickson<br />
93, gas load controller, Colorado, died on<br />
Jan. 31, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for PSCo from<br />
1946 to 1984.<br />
Deloris A. Holland<br />
72, died on Feb. 8, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. She worked for<br />
NSP from 1962 to 1996.<br />
Catherine M. Hopp Thibault<br />
74, died on Feb. 16, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. She worked for<br />
NSP from 1957 to 1993.<br />
J. E. Hutchinson<br />
76, engineering supervisor, Pueblo Service<br />
Center, Pueblo, Colo., died on Jan.<br />
23, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for PSCo form 1964<br />
to 1992.<br />
E. J. Kilpatrick<br />
86, died on Jan. 26, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
SPS from 1969 to 1991.<br />
Gerald J. Nelson<br />
75, shift supervisor, Operations, Sherco<br />
Plant, Becker, Minn., died on Jan. 30,<br />
<strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for NSP from 1976<br />
to 2003.<br />
Henry G. Preiner<br />
81, customer accounting administrator,<br />
Metro Regional Operations, died on Jan.<br />
29, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for NSP from 1951<br />
to 1988.<br />
Eduardo Z. Quijada<br />
77, died on Feb. 19, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
SPS from 1974 to 2000.<br />
Richard F. Schultz<br />
76, gas utilization serviceman, Gas<br />
Operations, Fargo Service Center, Fargo,<br />
N.D., died on Feb. 7, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
NSP from 1955 to 1991.<br />
Norma D. Smith<br />
82, operation clerk, Colorado, died on<br />
Jan. 24, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. She worked for PSCo from<br />
1963 to 1986.<br />
Wendell D. Wickwar<br />
91, shift supervisor, Production, Colorado,<br />
died on Jan. 26, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
PSCo from 1968 to 1986.<br />
Rose L. Womack<br />
95, died on Feb. 14, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. She worked for<br />
SPS from 1967 to 1982.<br />
RETIRING<br />
Tom Amen<br />
(123Hunting@gmail.com), e-learning<br />
developer, Learning Services, GO, 414<br />
Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn., retired<br />
on Feb. 27, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for <strong>Xcel</strong><br />
<strong>Energy</strong> for 30 years.<br />
John Beckius<br />
(johnbeckius@msn.com), trouble foreman,<br />
Trouble Dept., Chestnut Service<br />
Center, Minneapolis, Minn., retired on<br />
March 29, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for <strong>Xcel</strong><br />
<strong>Energy</strong> for 38 years.<br />
Mark H. Bliss<br />
fitter serviceman, Pueblo Service Center,<br />
Pueblo, Colo., retired on <strong>April</strong> 15, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He<br />
worked for <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 34 years.<br />
Mike Clemens<br />
(mclemens@greatermngas.com), gas<br />
operations manager, Gas Construction<br />
Support and Utilization, St. Paul, Minn.,<br />
retired on March 8, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 39 years.<br />
Steve Erickson<br />
electric meter tech, Electric Meter, Minnetonka,<br />
Minn., retired on <strong>April</strong> 26, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>.<br />
He worked for <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 32 years.<br />
Garland L. Holland<br />
(garlandh@suddenlink.net), journeyman<br />
maintenance mechanic, Maintenance,<br />
Amarillo, Texas, retired on March 1, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>.<br />
He worked for <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 35 years.<br />
Faron Jackson Sr.<br />
field representative, Collections, Chestnut<br />
Service Center, Minneapolis, Minn.,<br />
retired on March 1, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 31 years.<br />
Russell D. James<br />
(Russell@mac2.net), line working foreman,<br />
Amarillo Line, Amarillo, Texas,<br />
retired on <strong>April</strong> 1, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 38 years.<br />
Brian E. Johnson<br />
(BJohnson1@gra.midco.net), line crew<br />
foreman, Line Crew, Grand Forks, N.D.,<br />
retired on <strong>April</strong> 1, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 28 years.<br />
Nancy Luehman<br />
service designer, Design West, Amery Service<br />
Center, Amery, Wis., retired on Feb. 22, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>.<br />
She worked for <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 31 years.<br />
Frank Neibauer<br />
operations supervisor, Gas Production,<br />
Eau Claire, Wis., retired on <strong>April</strong> 2, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>.<br />
He worked for <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 33 years.<br />
Jan Nelson<br />
(janels@comcast.net), senior market<br />
research analyst, Market Research, GO,<br />
414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn.,<br />
retired on Nov. 15, 2012. She worked for<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 11 years.<br />
18 XTRA APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>
PEOPLE<br />
John Ridlon<br />
(johnrdln@yahoo.com), shift supervisor,<br />
Operations, Plant X, Earth, Texas, retired<br />
on March 31, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for <strong>Xcel</strong><br />
<strong>Energy</strong> for 35 years.<br />
Ronald D. Roberts<br />
(melindaphotography@mac.com), GOTS,<br />
HPG, Mesa County Operations Center,<br />
Grand Junction, Colo., retired on Feb. 28,<br />
<strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 31<br />
years.<br />
Paul F. Seipel<br />
(pfseipel@gmail.com), principal rate<br />
analyst, Regulatory Affairs, Sky Park, Eau<br />
Claire, Wis., retired on Feb. 28, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He<br />
worked for <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 40 years.<br />
Heather Truog<br />
customer service representative, Customer<br />
Service, Sky Park, Eau Claire, Wis.,<br />
retired on March 19, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. She worked for<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for <strong>13</strong> years.<br />
Bennie (Butch) Walhood<br />
(bd_walhood@hotmail.com), nuclear<br />
plant helper, Facilities, Monticello<br />
Nuclear Plant, Monticello, Minn., retired<br />
on March 25, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for <strong>Xcel</strong><br />
<strong>Energy</strong> for 20 years.<br />
Steven D. Willert<br />
(sdwillert@hotmail.com), account manager,<br />
Minnesota C & I Account Management,<br />
Mankato Service Center, Minn.,<br />
retired on <strong>April</strong> 1, <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong>. He worked for<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> for 36 years.<br />
Xtra retiree web portal<br />
available on xcelenergy.com<br />
The latest issue of Xtra is posted<br />
each month on a webpage on the company’s<br />
website at: xcelenergy.com/retirees.<br />
Retirees and employees are invited<br />
to visit the page to view the latest issue,<br />
as well as a number of back issues of Xtra.<br />
Links on the page also provide access to<br />
various utility shareholder groups.<br />
NEWS BRIEFS<br />
Cherokee agreement reached;<br />
environmentally beneficial projects<br />
targeted for north Denver<br />
<strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> and WildEarth Guardians reached<br />
an agreement last month on a dispute concerning<br />
emissions at Cherokee Generating Station in<br />
Denver. The agreement includes funding of several<br />
community and environmentally beneficial<br />
projects slated for areas in north Denver near the<br />
power plant.<br />
Court proceedings in the case – which was<br />
filed by WildEarth Guardians in August 2009<br />
against Public Service Company of Colorado –<br />
will be dismissed as part of the settlement. <strong>Xcel</strong><br />
<strong>Energy</strong> has agreed to provide funding for projects<br />
– such as solar installations, energy-efficiency<br />
programs and improvement of natural areas in<br />
Denver Council District 9 (the Globeville, Elyria<br />
and Swansea neighborhoods).<br />
“We have always strived to operate our power<br />
plants – including Cherokee Station in Colorado<br />
– in compliance with the Clean Air Act,” said<br />
Frank Prager, vice president for Environmental<br />
Policy. “This case ends without further litigation,<br />
and the agreement avoids substantial cost associated<br />
with protracted proceedings.<br />
“We are pleased that we were able to work<br />
with WildEarth Guardians to ensure that dollars<br />
destined for legal expenses will instead fund valuable<br />
projects in north Denver,” he added. “These<br />
projects are in keeping with our other environmental<br />
efforts throughout the state and are in the<br />
public interest.”<br />
Since the lawsuit was filed, <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> –<br />
through legislation it supported known as the<br />
Clean Air Clean Jobs Act – has decided to end<br />
coal generation of electricity at Cherokee by 2018.<br />
The facility, which remains a vital part of the company’s<br />
Colorado generation resources, is being<br />
converted to use natural gas for generation. That<br />
process started in October 2012.<br />
The agreement will not become final until<br />
after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency<br />
and the U.S. Department of Justice review it and<br />
provide comment.<br />
APRIL <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> 19
414 Nicollet Mall,GO-7<br />
Minneapolis, MN 55401<br />
xcelenergy.com<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
US POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
DENVER CO<br />
PERMIT NO 1818<br />
Xtra<br />
Published monthly by <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong><br />
Kevin Graham, Editor<br />
1800 Larimer Street, 16th Floor<br />
Denver, CO 80202<br />
Phone: 303-294-2417<br />
Fax: 303-294-2968<br />
email: Kevin.Graham@xcelenergy.com<br />
Contributors: Becka Anders<br />
and Carrie Krueger<br />
Design: Steve Berry<br />
FEEL THE ENERGY<br />
of a<br />
DYNAMIC ECONOMY<br />
JOBS, PROJECTS AND MORE. <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> brings more<br />
than energy to the homes and businesses we serve.<br />
We bring resources, programs and projects that help<br />
support dynamic local economies. Because in today’s<br />
world, prosperity requires energy.<br />
xcelenergy.com<br />
Visit xcelenergy.com for more information.<br />
© <strong>20<strong>13</strong></strong> <strong>Xcel</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> Inc.