Xcel Energy 2011 Annual Report Download - page 7

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Our clean, reliable nuclear plants also
provide value. In 2011, the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) extended
the operating licenses of both units at our
Prairie Island nuclear plant for 20 years.
The NRC previously extended the operating
license of our Monticello plant. We are
awaiting NRC approval of our proposal
to increase generating capacity at the
Monticello plant and plan to complete the
upgrade in the spring of 2013 if approved.
Meanwhile, we are asking the Minnesota
Public Utilities Commission to reconfirm
our plan to increase generating capacity at
Prairie Island due to recent developments
Our portfolio of wind energy is a good
example. Xcel Energy is the No. 1 provider
of wind power in the nation, with about
4,100 megawatts on our system at the end
of 2011. We are fortunate to have plentiful
wind resources in our service territory, and
we took advantage of those resources early.
Even more important, we added that wind
power at a competitive price, making wind
a reasonable hedge against volatile natural
gas prices. We like to say that we build
at the speed of value. That means we
take a disciplined approach to adding
renewable resources, making sure our
customers reap the benefits both
financially and environmentally.
XCEL ENERGY 2011฀ANNUAL฀REPORT฀•฀5
WASTE WATER
TREATMENT PLANT
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA