Xcel Energy's toughest critics are mostly singing the praises of the state's No. 1 provider of electricity and natural gas.
Environmentalists used words such as "innovative" and "precedent setting" to describe Xcel's announcement this week that it plans to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent by 2017 — and 20 percent by 2020.
"It is one of the most significant resource plans being submitted by any utility anywhere in the country," said Matt Baker, director of Environment Colorado.
"It gets us on the path to reducing carbon emissions. It provides a significant boost to the new energy economy. And it will help protect ratepayers."
To reach its goals, Minneapolis-based Xcel told Colorado regulators it will close two coal-fired power plants here and add 800 megawatts of new wind generation and up to 200 megawatts of solar power. A megawatt can power 800 average U.S. homes.
Xcel also will build a natural gas-fired power plant to replace the coal-fired plants, and will take steps which it did not elaborate to spur consumers to use energy more efficiently.
In addition, Xcel pledged to reach Gov. Bill Ritter's goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020.
John Nielsen, energy project director of Western Resource Advocates, said he hopes other utilities follow Xcel's lead.
"It's the only western utility to put forth a plan to cut it's carbon-dioxide emissions," said Nielsen. "It's precedent setting."
Said Vickie Patton, deputy general counsel of Environmental Defense: "In the fine tradition of Colorado's pioneers, Xcel Energy is charting the innovative and cost-effective path forward to cut global warming pollution, protect human health and propel Colorado's clean energy economy."
Not everyone is lining up to applaud Xcel, however.
Gina Hardin, an attorney for Ratepayers United of Colorado, a consumer and environmental advocacy group, said Xcel doesn't go far enough to spur consumers to use less energy. Examples include incentives to install compact-fluorescent bulbs or buy energy-efficient appliances.
"While we applaud Xcel's closure of the two coal-fired power plants and other measures to reduce its carbon-dioxide emissions, we are concerned about Xcel's efforts for energy efficiency," said Hardin. She singled out California, saying per-capita energy use there is 40 percent less than elsewhere in the U.S.