Dive Summary:
- Frank Prager, Xcel's vice-president of environmental policy, contends that, as tax credits for wind production expire and utilities are increasingly meeting statewide standards for renewable energy, wind providers will struggle to continue the growth seen over the past decade.
- Wind generation currently makes up for 17% of Xcel Energy's electricity, more than four times the national average; however, Prager argues that percentage will not increase until the price of wind becomes competitive.
- NextEra Energy Resource currently sells wind to Xcel at about 3 cents per kilowatt-hour, which includes the now-expiring tax credit of 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour; without it, the wind market is expected to shrink by as much as 90%.
From the article:
"... The future of wind power in Colorado, however, is uncertain as the U.S. Congress has failed to extend a key wind project tax credit and Xcel says it has all the renewable energy it needs to meet state requirements.
'Wind will be an important part of our energy mix,' said Frank Prager, Xcel's vice president for environmental policy. 'But it has to become competitive on its own.' ..."