Yes, I know all about the photo caption~ctm
As the world turns its back on promises to curb carbon emissions, one of America’s largest utility companies has stepped up and promised to eventually eliminate its own. Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest electric utility, announced Tuesday that it intends to go 100 percent carbon-free in all eight states it serves by 2050, while reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent of its 2005 emission levels by 2030. Xcel is the first major U.S. utility to make such a commitment.
The announcement was made at the same time a new report revealed that global carbon emissions increased in 2017 by 1.6 percent after staying relatively flat for the three years prior. Emissions are expected to have increased by 2.7 percent in 2018, dashing hopes that the world had finally turned a corner on carbon dioxide production.
The utility explicitly did not commit to 100 percent renewable energy, as Summit County and the town of Breckenridge have. Mark Stutz, spokesman for Xcel Energy Colorado, said that Xcel’s goal aligns with those set by communities like Summit, but does not want to limit itself to renewables. Instead, Xcel intends to explore future technology like advanced nuclear power plants and fossil fuel power with carbon sequestration, which could offer the benefits of fossil fuel-based energy without the emissions.
“We think it matches up very well with Summit’s goals,” Stutz said. “Clearly, both sides have the same goal: improving air quality and getting to zero carbon emissions. Our approach differs slightly in that we are not limiting ourselves to current technologies. There might be some technology we’re not aware of today, something that comes out in 10 to 20 years that accomplishes the same goal without relying entirely on renewables.”
Stutz pointed out reliable wind and solar energy was considered far-fetched a few decades ago, but is now cheaper to produce than many fossil fuel counterparts. He also said that improved battery technology in the future might allow for long-term energy storage on a mass scale from renewable and emerging energy sources, eliminating the need for constant real-time generation that drives the need for fossil fuel energy today.
Summit County Commissioner Dan Gibbs applauded Xcel’s announcement.
“We believe climate change is one of the greatest threats to our economy and to our way of life here in Summit,” Gibbs said. “This is such a positive step in the right direction, for one of the nation’s major utility companies to move to 100 percent clean energy.”
HT/SF
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stating the impossible does not make it possible.
In an update, they added that they will provide free electricity in the year 2100.
Free rides to the moon in 2150.
But not to include free health care or retirement. /sarc
“As the world turns its back on promises to curb carbon emissions, one of America’s largest utility companies has stepped up and promised to eventually eliminate its own. Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest electric utility, announced Tuesday that it intends to go 100 percent carbon-free in all eight states it serves by 2050, while reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent of its 2005 emission levels by 2030. Xcel is the first major U.S. utility to make such a commitment……………………………………………………………
The utility explicitly did not commit to 100 percent renewable energy,”
Reporting on the green industry has become so deceptive now; that they contradict themselves within 2 paragraphs of each other.
Alan,
As I posted above, Xcel hopes to go carbon free by: ” Xcel intends to explore future technology like advanced nuclear power plants and fossil fuel power with carbon sequestration”
The 1st part – nuclear – is exactly what many skeptics say power plants should be, as it is indeed essentially carbon free.
The 2nd part – fossil fuel with carbon sequestration – is a good goal to announce, because, when carbon sequestration technology doesn’t pan out they still have a reliable, capable, affordable power plant.
I think this announcement was a very good way to satisfy Greenies while continuing to behave rationally.
SR
Xcel is just pandering to Colorado’s new Marxist governor. In fact, CO turned dark blue with Dem’s taking the governorship, AG, SecState, Treasurer, House and Senate. No doubt it will devolve into a blue state sh*thole like CA or IL within the next few years.
100 Per-cent Carbon free by 2050? Even now Wind and Solar are “brown energy”.
Not possible without major breakthrough in Fusion Energy.
Otherwise – it is “Let the Bastards Freeze in the Dark” all over again.
This may be a pre-emptive strike. Our Governor-elect is looking to help line Tom Steyer’s pockets.
BTW, picture is the Boulder power plant.
“We believe climate change is one of the greatest threats to our economy and to our way of life here in Summit,” Gibbs said…..YOU PATHETIC, IGNORANT FOOL.
Keep in mind, Summit (county) is big-time ski area. What they mean is that the feared global warming may affect their lifestyle.
They mean deluded greens might force closure of power plants.
I don”t really know anything other than the fact that Xcel has been in a stinky battle with The City of Boulder over ownership of the utility’s equipment. Boulder wants to take it over and convert to “renewables”. That battle has strung out over several years and has cost both money and image. Colorado is growing fast and many of those people are coming from the California Koolaid Bar. The money spots are on the Front Range and along the I-70 corridor into the Ski Meccas. In terms of strategy, it may serve the company to quiet the forces that want to take over the utility, and possibly others. At the current projected growth rate we will rapidly approach 7 million people jammed into relatively small areas of the state. Our new and very California Democrat governor signals the sea change that is about to overtake Colorado. Also, a bit of a side show, Bank of The West made a corporate decision to no longer do business with fossil fuel companies. I realize that is only one Bank but as has been said this is a Virtue Signaling Festival right now; it could spread. The West Slope won’t be immune but the Bank of the West stunt pissed off a lot of people who work, and depend on, a perfectly functional coal mine and power plant at Twenty Mile in the North West part of the state. And, Certainly there is the economic force of Jim Bridger Power in South West Wyoming. This will be quite a mashup.
The free market, huh? Does that mean those of us under Xcel’s thumb won’t have to buy our energy fro Xcel?
And I promise to invent a 100% flying pig by 2050, and become a billionaire. By 2030, the pig will only fly about 80% of the time, and I will be an 80% billionaire.
Or, that you’ll get 80% of the pig to fly, and the rest will be ground(ed), perhaps into sausage.
Just so you know, large scale solar costs continue to plunge and will turn even the uninformed heads by 2020. They will still need some natural gas plants to go with solar though.
Did you forget a /sarc tag? Without storage, solar is worth less than zero on a grid. Electric grids are a service, not a commodity provider.
Just how much power does solar produce at 1:00 AM?
Even if solar were free it’s only useful when the sun shines. An industrialized economy runs 24/7. I hope you realize that.
I do, but you evidently don’t know what a combined cycle gas plant is.
This is great. When will Xcel break ground on the new series of nuclear plants??!!!
Yes, right after a quark-gluon plasma freezes over.
Wow! That’s awesome! Whether they manage it or not, it’s a great pledge. They must see an economic interest in it. It’s the free market factor working, I guess. Whaddaya know. Xcel is my electricity company, though I subscribe to a solar farm – Xcel owes me money now.
But everyone is condemning them. That’s rich. Probably the same people who’ve been moaning about subsidies and letting the free market do its thing. Americans are spoiled by cheap energy, makes them wasteful.
They must see an economic interest in it.
Naw. What they see is Jarad Polis’s rear end up close since they stuck their nose up it in an effort to curry favor with the new boss. Gotta’ suck up to the incoming lefty administration in order to bend regulations Xcel’s way.
By 2050 ? Wow how bold . And in 2049 they will extend it another 30 years ,that is unless Time magazine and the National Enquirer have declared global cooling is freezing the planet again .
No Colorado you won’t be deforesting to save the planet to play the virtue signal card .
A more realistic prediction is none of the dumb ass politicians who are trying to sell such utter crap will be around . Something to look forward to .
From the article: “Xcel Energy . . . intends to go 100 percent carbon-free in all eight states it serves by 2050.”
Well: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” — attributed, arguably, to John Ray, 1670