Company: Xcel Energy
Company Description: Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company, with operations in 8 Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Utilities

Nomination Title: Xcel Energy

Tell the story about what this nominated organization achieved since January 1 2012 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Xcel Energy’s clean energy strategy works for the communities they serve by balancing costs and environmental benefits with a reliable utility system. Xcel Energy reduces emissions through a combination of renewable energy, customer energy efficiency and plant improvement projects.

Xcel Energy’s Climate Action Plan goals include a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 to be achieved through:

• Increasing system wind capacity from about 3,400 MW in 2010 to to about 5,000MW by 2018 and solar capacity from about 90 MW in 2010 to about 480 MW in 2018

•Expanding the size of customer energy efficiency and conservation programs, resulting in a reduction in retail energy demand

• Improving generating plant fleet through upgrades to existing plants, retirement of older plants and development of new, efficient facilities

By the end of 2012, the company had reduced CO2 emissions 18% from 2005 levels.

In 2012, Xcel Energy achieved several milestones that meet or exceeds their goals making them a true leader in energy efficiency:

Wind - At the end of 2012, Xcel Energy had nearly 4,900 MW of wind energy generating capacity on its system, enough to power 1.5 million homes and at least 600 MW more than the next leading utility.

• Wind turbines make up 12% of Xcel Energy's electricity(17% in Colorado),
• XcelEnergy’s Windsource program is one of the largest voluntary, green energy programs in the nation.
• In April, 2012, Xcel was serving nearly 57 percent of its total, one-hour demand for electricity with wind generated in the state.
• Xcel Energy is the No. 1 wind power provider in the United States for the ninth consecutive year

Solar – At the end of 2012, Xcel Energy had 266 megawatts of solar power on their system — enough to power about 93,000 homes.
 
• The Solar Electric Power Association ranked Xcel 5th among utilities for solar electric capacity in 2012
• In 2012, Xcel’s Solar*Rewards Community program ,designed to provide solar opportunities to customers who previously could not access existing programs closed the application after an hour due to overwhelming participation.

Biomass

• Xcel ‘s Bay Front Power Plant used a record 277,117 tons of waste wood in 2012, exceeding the record of 253,548 tons set in 2009.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation, In 2012

• Xcel exceeded energy savings goals by 22% by helping its business and residential customers save a record 401million kWh from energy efficiency programs implemented., equal to a $170 million net savings for customers
•  Xcel launched a 2 year home energy pilot program providing a professionally installed home energy management system helping  customers manage their energy use.
•  Xcel Energy earned ENERGY STAR’s highest honor, the Sustained Excellence Award, for continued leadership in delivering energy efficiency to its customers.
• Xcel was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America for the 6th year
• Xcel received the 2013 Inspiring Efficiency Impact Award from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance for encouraging Dell and HP to design and manufacture energy-efficient computers, and for its Kilowatt Crackdown program for businesses.

Xcel recently announced it is on track to surpass its 2020 carbon-cutting goal by 7% by continuing to find the balance of costs and renewable energy deployments to pass the savings on to their customers.

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Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the leader of this nominated organization:

Benjamin (Ben) G.S. Fowke III is chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Xcel Energy. He previously served as president and chief operating officer (COO) with responsibility for overall corporate operations as well as Xcel Energy's four operating companies, which do business in eight states.

Prior to the 2000 merger of Northern States Power Co. and New Century Energies (NCE) to form Xcel Energy, he was a vice president in the NCE Retail business unit.

Fowke earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and accounting from Towson University and obtained his CPA in 1982.