US utility Xcel Energy has issued a call for 1.5GW of new wind energy to take advantage of “great wind pricing” supported by federal production tax credits (PTC).
The request for proposals is part of the company’s drive to more than double its renewable energy portfolio and deliver 63% of its energy from carbon-free resources within 15 years.
“We’re already the nation’s leading utility wind energy provider, but today we take another major step to transform our energy fleet to cleaner more renewable energy sources, reduce our carbon footprint, and do so at an affordable cost,” said Xcel Energy-Minnesota president Chris Clark.
The company seeks wind projects that would achieve commercial operation before 31 December 2020 and that would qualify for 100% of the current PTC.
Bids are due by 25 October 2016. Projects must be at least 75MW and interconnect to Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Proposals may be for power purchase agreements or for build-own-transfer deals to Xcel.
The utility expects to choose the winning bids by 8 December and file for regulatory approval in spring 2017.
Image: Xcel Energy
