agdaddy04 said:
If it's really a feasible plan or not and if there's decisions being made besides just what sounds good for the environment. Seems like they've been taking some coal units offline prior to when they should.
80% is achievable with current technology. There's a longer term goal to get to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050 that will require technology that does not yet exist.
Part of this is a function of living in the state with the current political climate and people in power over the last decade or so. The entire world is going that way, some faster than others. Colorado (and Xcel) have to operate in a regulated environment with governor-appointed regulators. :They were going to be pulled that direction if they didn't make the first move. It might have been slower in a red state, but even utilities in those states will be going that direction at some point, if only because of ESG-based investor pressure.
Economic feasibility is there with renewables right now, but a lot of that has to do with the cost of natural gas. There won't be another coal plant built in a developed country. Gas plants will be built because they are needed to balance days when renewables aren't available or can't cover the load.
Xcel is actively closing coal plants earlier than their initial retirement date, as you mentioned.