April 2013 - Volume 13 - Xcel Energy

Fowke on Capitol Hill to address
U.S. House energy subcommittee
Emphasizing fuel diversity and credit for
early action on environmental leadership as important
components of national energy strategy, Ben Fowke addressed
the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Power
on March 5.
“The topic of the hearing – fuel diversity in the power sector
– could not be more important at this critical juncture in
the energy sector,” said Fowke, chairman, president and CEO,
citing Xcel Energy’s diverse mix of fuel sources that includes
coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, hydro, biomass and solar.
“Our strategy has put us on track to reduce our carbondioxide
emissions by 20
percent from 2005 levels
“
by 2020,” he added. “And
at the same time, we have
been able to maintain power
prices at or below the
national average.”
In his remarks, Fowke
discussed the importance of
allowing individual states to
develop strategies that include
energy-efficiency, renewable-energy
and emissions-reduction
programs,
such as Colorado’s Clean Air
Clean Jobs. Equally important, he said, is giving credit to states
and energy companies that have already acted early to address
carbon issues.
Fowke joined a handful of other utility executives to testify.
They included leaders from Entergy, American Electric
Power, American Municipal Power, Nebraska Public Power
District and the American Wind Energy Association.
“We all share the goal of satisfying the country’s growing
energy demands in the least expensive, most reliable
and cleanest way possible,” Fowke said in his testimony.
“Xcel Energy has been successful in pursuing a strategy that
has reduced customer risk and promoted clean energy, while
maintaining reliable service at a competitive price.
“Fuel diversity is an important part of that strategy,”
he added. “Our system is a strong example of an ‘all of the
above’ strategy.”
Xcel Energy’s generating mix includes a wide range of fuel
sources, he said, and the
company is unique among
utilities in its commitment
to renewable energy, with
“
We are achieving great
results by maintaining
a robust and diverse
system.
nearly 5,000 megawatts of
wind power on its system.
The company also is a leader
in energy efficiency and
innovative state emissionreduction
and fleet-modernization
programs.
“We are achieving
great results by maintaining
a robust and diverse
system,” he said. “Although
clean energy plays an important role in our electric system, we
continue to rely on coal and nuclear power to provide the lowcost
base on which our system depends.”
Xcel Energy has achieved significant emissions reductions
despite the recent addition of a large, new coal unit at Comanche
Generating Station in Pueblo, Colo., he said. The company
14 XTRA APRIL 2013