Big Wind Power Purchases Competitive with Natural Gas

• Xcel Energy increased its ownership of installed wind capacity from 325 MW to 675 MW at the end of 2015 by acquiring the 150 MW Border Wind Farm in North Dakota and bringing online its 200 MW Pleasant Valley Wind Farm in Minnesota.
• This doubling of its wind generation moved Xcel closer to its goal of getting 35% of its power for its Upper Midwest customers by 2030 from wind and, in these cases, it came at a price that is "competitive with new natural gas generation," according to Regional President Chris Clark.

[Utility Dive]