100
Millions of Tons
90
80
Energy and Carbon Emissions Reporting
70
60
2016 Summary
At Xcel Energy, we are transforming how we produce, deliver and encourage the efficient use of energy, while continuing to provide
50
customers with reliable,
Our successful clean energy
three key areas:
2005 affordable service.2010
2015 strategy focuses on2020
• Increasing the use of wind and solar power through cost-effective new projects
• Offering customers additional renewable and energy-saving options, while advancing technology that will make new options possible
• Transitioning our conventional power plant fleet as we retire aging coal units, add flexible natural gas and continue operating
carbon-free nuclear plants
An important driver of our strategy is the need to reduce carbon emissions. We are on a path to significantly cut emissions as we build
a more efficient, advanced system for the future, at a reasonable cost to customers.
Xcel Energy’s Clean Energy Strategy is Driving Reductions in Carbon Emissions
100
At Least 45% Reduction
Projected by 2021
90
Avoided Emissions
Millions of Tons
80
Wind and
Solar Projects
70
Customer
Options
60
Conventional Plant
Transition
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
50
40
2005
2010
30% =
Emissions
Reduction
2016
27
Million Tons
per Year
2021
=
Taking Five Million
Cars off the Road
Xcel Energy had extraordinary emission reductions in 2016 due to a number of factors, including an increase in wind and solar production with the
addition of 1,900 megawatts of wind and 650 megawatts of solar capacity since late 2014. Our performance also reflects the shutdown of three
coal units in 2015 and records we achieved in nuclear and hydro production in the Upper Midwest.
Learn more about Xcel Energy’s environmental, social and economic impacts in our corporate responsibility report, revised annually in June at
xcelenergy.com/CorporateResponsibility.
Xcel Energy's Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Electricity Generation
Xcel
Xcel
Xcel Energy
6
73.267.6
67.6
62.0
Total
62.0
30.6
95
95
35
80
80
30
60
60
40
40
25
20
0
70.1
20
15
20
70.1
58.7
18.8
18.8
14.5
2005
1,572
0
Owned
10
25
25
25
20
20
20
15
15
10
2005
2012
2012
2015
2015
2016
2016
2005
2005
2012
1,572
1,346
1,346
1,237
1,237
1,115
1,115
1,284
1,284
1,053
26.2
5
4.4
0
3.6
35
30
30
25
25
20
20
15
5
10
10.9
5
25.5
22.6
Total
22.6
24.3
15
10
23.1
Owned
10.9
0
4.0
3.6
3.6
2012
2015
2015
2016
2016
1,053983
983881
881
10.9
5
5
0
0
Purchased
5
22.522.1
4.3 3.4
22.1
20.6
3.4 2.0
20.6
Purchased
2.0
0
24.322.3
22.319.5
19.5
18.2
18.2
1,849
1,8
15
10
Owned
20.8
18.8
3.5
0
16.214.7
14.7
3.53.5
18.816.2
3.5 3.3
3.3 3.5
3.5
2016
2005
2005
2012
2012
2015
2015
2016
2016
2005
2005
2012
2012
2015
2015
2016
2016
881
1,849
1,849
1,545
1,545
1,459
1,459
1,308
1,308
1,694
1,694
1,574
1,574
1,374
1,374
1,278
1,278
Emission Rates
Lbs/MWh
Total
20
5
10
200
25
20.8
23
2005
Emission Rates
Lbs/MWh
25% EMISSIONS
25% EMISSIONS
REDUCTION
REDUCTION
FROM 2005
FROM
WITH
200545%
WITH 45%
PROJECTED
PROJECTED
BY 2021BY 2021
20
22.5
17.7
Southwest
25
4.3
0
26.825.5
6.7
4.0
18.6
17.7
10
(New Mexico, Texas)
15
23.1
10
34.026.8
17.4
18.6
Owned
10
34
15
23.1
SPS
SPS
Millions of Tons Carbon Emissions
17.7
35
17.4
26.2
6.7
4.4
10.79.0
34% EMISSIONS
34% EMISSIONS
REDUCTION
REDUCTION
FROM 2005
FROM
WITH
200545%
WITH 45%
PROJECTED
PROJECTED
BY 2021BY 2021
34.0
34.0
30
14.5
10.7
Emission Rates
Lbs/MWh
Total
30
Purchased
9.0
0
21.3
30
53.0
5
22.6
21.3
35
56.9
53.0
56.9
58.7
24.122.6
35
Colorado
21.3
30.6
24.1
34% EM
FRO
PR
35
PSCo
PSCo
Millions of Tons Carbon Emissions
7
88.9
73.2
30% EMISSIONS
30% EMISSIONS
REDUCTION
REDUCTION
FROM 2005
FROM
WITH
200545%
WITH 45%
PROJECTED
PROJECTED
BY 2021BY 2021
Millions of Tons Carbon Emissions
Millions of Tons Carbon Emissions
88.9
P
(Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Wisconsin)
30% EMISSIONS
30% EMISSIONS
REDUCTION
REDUCTION
FROM 2005
FROM
WITH
200545%
WITH 45%
PROJECTED
PROJECTED
BY 2021BY 2021
CTION
5%
21
3
NSP
NSP
Upper Midwest
Purchased
Emission Rates
Lbs/MWh
About Xcel Energy’s emissions reporting
In this summary, the emissions charts provide carbon dioxide emissions in short tons for Xcel Energy and each of its three operating
systems. We provide emissions from the electricity that we produce and that we purchase from third-party suppliers. A system
emission rate is included for each year that provides the pounds of carbon emissions produced for each megawatt hour of electricity
supplied. Emissions for 2016 are preliminary, and may slightly change during third-party verification, which should be completed
by the end of 2017. Our 2021 projections for emissions and energy mix are based on current energy forecasts and the approval of
proposed renewable energy plans.
What’s included in this emissions summary
We have only reported carbon dioxide here, not methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) because these two emissions make up
less than 0.5 percent of our total CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. To provide transparent and
complete emissions information for customers, we report biogenic carbon dioxide from biomass generation, as well as emissions from
fossil fuel generation. We consider biogenic carbon emissions effectively neutral, since compared to fossil fuels, these emissions from
biomass combustion are part of a relatively short-term cycling of carbon dioxide between ecosystems and the atmosphere.
Other emissions reporting
Xcel Energy publicly reports annual carbon dioxide emissions, as well as other greenhouse gases, through a number of different
reporting programs, including The Climate Registry, CDP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mandatory greenhouse
gas reporting rule. These programs each use a unique reporting protocol and may represent emissions differently. While reporting
protocols and formats vary, the information we provide comes from the same foundation data.
To find more extensive emissions reporting for Xcel Energy, please visit xcelenergy.com/CorporateResponsibility.
Third-party assurance and verification
We recognize the value of having a formal emissions protocol and completing third-party verification for emissions reporting. In 2007,
we became a founding member of The Climate Registry, a nonprofit organization established to provide consistent and transparent
standards for calculating, verifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions into a single registry for North America. All of our
greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 to 2015 have been third-party verified and registered with The Climate Registry.
To learn more about The Climate Registry and to find our reporting information online, visit theclimateregistry.org.
How to calculate emissions associated with your annual energy use
Customers interested in calculating emissions from all
generation types (including biomass) can use the
following method:
Electricity:
Customers reporting emissions under The Climate Registry (TCR)
or World Resources Institute (WRI) protocols can use the following
preliminary 2016 emission factors for their Scope 2 market-based
reporting:
CO2 Intensity
CO2 Intensity
(MT/MWh)
(Lbs/MWh)
Upper Midwest (Michigan, Minnesota,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
0.365
805
Natural Gas:
Colorado
0.599
1,320
Start with the CO2 coefficient for natural gas from the U.S.
Southwest (New Mexico, Texas)
0.580
1,278
S tart with Xcel Energy’s 2016 lbs/MWh for your location
(Colorado, Southwest or Upper Midwest)
lbs/MWh ÷ 1,000 = lbs/kWh x your annual
kWh use = lbs of CO2
Environmental Protection Agency (11.7 lbs/therm)
11.7 lbs/therm x your annual therm use = lbs of CO2
Region
Per TCR's electric power sector protocol, emission intensities provided here exclude
CO2 from biomass and distributed solar generation.
Preliminary emissions information for 2016 is not yet third-party verified. For customers participating in Xcel Energy's renewable energy programs,
these emission rates do not apply.
Nature
Gas
Nature
Gas
12
56%
56%
Coal
Coal
12
%
%
37%
Xcel Energy’s Changing Energy Mix
37%
The charts here provide a snapshot of all the electricity by fuel type on our systems in 2005, 2016 and projected for 2021. We have included energy
Coal
Coal
that Xcel Energy plants generated,
35
35energy that we purchased and energy that we supplied or made possible for customers under Xcel Energy
renewable energy programs, Windsource®, Solar*Rewards® and Solar*Rewards® Community®. We count nuclear and renewable energy sources
as carbon free.
UpperMidWest
UpperMidWest
%
%
Upper Midwest
Xcel Energy
Wind
34
(Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
Nuclear Nuclear
34
%
20212021
Nuclear Nuclear
Wind
19
12%
Wind
19
%
%
12%
Wind
30
%
Nuclear Nuclear
20212021
Natural Natural
Gas
Gas
20162016 23 23
20052005
%
13%
Wind
3
%
13%
Wind
3
%
%
38%
Nuclear Nuclear
12%
12%
Carbon
21%Free
21%
Carbon
Free
53%
Carbon
38% Free
Carbon
Free
53%
Wind
30
%
Wind
15
Carbon
Free
%
25%
6%
Hydro - 5
Biomass - 1%
%
30%
30%
67%
55
15
3%
5
Carbon
Free
44
Carbon
Free
Other
Other
Other Other
Renewable Renewable
Other
Other
Renewable Renewable
%
Renewable Renewable 10%
10%
10% 10
Natural Natural
Gas
Gas
%
%
%
Carbon
Free
Wind
3%
Carbon
Free
55
%
Carbon
Free
2844%%
%
%
67%
Carbon
Free
Nuclear Nuclear
2005200528
Wind
5
27%
Nuclear Nuclear
20162016
Wind
Carbon
Free
Other
Other
Other
Other
Renewable Renewable
Other
Other
Renewable Renewable
%
%
% 7 %
Renewable Renewable 6%
6Hydro - 3 Hydro7- 3%
Natural Natural
Gas
Gas
25%
27%
Wind
%
%
13
13
%
%
%
- 5%
Hydro - 5%
Hydro - 7%
Hydro - 7Hydro
- 3% Biomass - 3%
Hydro - 11% Hydro Biomass
- 11% - 3% BiomassBiomass
- 3%
%
Solar
- 2% Solar - 2%
Biomass - 2% Biomass Solar
- 2% <1% Solar <1
6
% - 4%
Hydro
HydroBiomass
- 4% - 1% Biomass - 1%
- 1% - 3% Solar - 3%
HydroBiomass
- 5% - 1% Biomass Solar
Biomass Solar
- 1% - 1% Solar - 1%
Natural Natural
Gas
Gas
12%
12%
Coal
Coal
56%
56%
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
51%
51%
Natural Natural
Gas
Gas
Coal
37
16%
Coal
37
%
16%
%
29%
29%
Natural Natural
Gas
Gas
Coal
6%
Coal
35%
6%
35%
Colorado
27%
Colorado
27%
Texas/New MexicoTexas/New Mexico
Colorado
Wind
Southwest
(New Mexico, Texas)
Wind
34%
34%
Wind
Wind
43%
2021
2021
2016
8
%
Natural
Natural
Gas
% Gas
25
18
%
23%
29
Natural Carbon
Gas
Free
25
41%
2005
4
%
Carbon
Free
4
Carbon
Free
2%
Hydro
2%
2021
2016
%
30%
Wind
Carbon
Free
29
%
Natural
Gas
%
41%
Carbon
Free
Gas
30%
2021
Wind
23%
2016
Natural
2005
tural
s
Wind
%
Other
Renewable
Other
Renewable
Other
Renewable
%
Hydro - 1%
Hydro - 4%
Other
7%Renewable
WindHydro - 1%
6%
%Solar -
%
%
6
%
Solar - 2
2
Hydro
Hydro - 4%
7%
Solar -
%
Natural
Gas
15
%
Natural Natural
Gas
Gas
38% 15%
Wind
23
Natural Carbon
Gas
Free
2005
2
%
43%
38%
Wind
2%
2%
Other
2%
Solar
1%
1%
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
41%
46%
41%
Carbon
Free
Wind
Solar - 2
Coal
46%
23
Carbon
Free
%
Natural
Gas
Coal
66%
Car
Fre
%
2
Carbon
Free
Coal
66%
45
Carbon
Free
%
Gas
43%
Wind
22%45%
22%
2016
Natural
2005
Carbon
Free
43%
54%
39%
40%
Other
1%
Solar Solar
%
2%
1
54%
39%
40%
For every megawatt hour of electricity that renewable sources produce, we receive a renewable energy certificate or credit (REC). Each year we retire RECs to comply
with our state renewable energy standards or save RECs for future compliance. Based on market opportunities, we also sell some of our extra RECs and share any
profits with customers. To find more information about our RECs, please visit xcelenergy.com/CorporateResponsibility.
xcelenergy.com | © 2017 Xcel Energy Inc. | Xcel Energy is a registered trademark of Xcel Energy Inc. | 17-02-327