Xcel Commits To Go 100 Percent Carbon-Free By 2050

BOULDER, CO -- Xcel Energy, Boulder’s utility provider, threw down the gauntlet Tuesday with the announcement of the company's new goal to be 100-percent carbon free by 2050. The utility also revealed plans to reduce emissions by 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Meanwhile, Boulder remains embroiled in a nearly decade-long effort to leave Xcel and form its own municipal utility, an effort prompted in large part by the belief that the separation would better allow the city to meet its ambitious carbon reduction goals.

In fact, Xcel's announcement came just hours before the Boulder City Council was set to hold a public hearing on the process of acquiring Xcel's assets, the necessary next step in the city's municipalization process. City Council would go on to approve an ordinance authorizing condemnation of Xcel's assets with an 8-1 vote, with councilman Bob Yates dissenting.

Xcel's announcement was lauded by energy policy experts nationwide as a step that could signify a changing landscape in energy policy.

“Ambitious efforts to slash carbon dioxide pollution are urgently needed," said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund at today's Denver announcement. "Xcel Energy’s vision will help speed the day when the United States eliminates all such pollution from its power sector, which is necessary to seize the environmental and economic opportunity of powering cars, trucks, homes and businesses with cost-effective, zero-emitting electricity.”

Xcel serves eight states and is the largest energy provider in Colorado. If Boulder stays the course in its municipalization bid, the next step will be condemnation of Xcel's property interests. This process will determine the costs associated with buying the infrastructure. Once city officials are able to determine the price of acquisition, the decision will return to voters in 2020.

Read more about Xcel's announcement from the Denver Post

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