Xcel Energy's Planned Emissions Reductions

While some utilities are resistant to the EPA's new clean air rules, others, like Xcel Energy are more supportive and they are already working on reducing emissions.

"From our perspective it's almost a moot point," said Mark Stutz, a spokesman for Xcel Energy. "We support it because we've come up with a plan of action."

In 2010, Colorado passed legislation called the Clean Energy-Clean Jobs Act. Xcel was part of a diverse group that helped to create the measure initiated by former Gov. Bill Ritter. The law calls for Colorado utilities to reduce their emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury and carbon dioxide.

Xcel is expected to close a coal-fired unit at a Boulder plant and three at a plant in Denver. They plan to replace these plants with power from new cleaner natural gas-powered plants. The utility will also install modern emissions controls to cut emissions.

These measures will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by about 85 percent and sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions by about 80 percent. These significant emissions reductions come at a very modest cost to consumers. Xcel has indicated that these changes will result in rate increase of roughly 2 percent annually over the next decade.

Xcel will reduce its carbon emissions by 28 percent below a 2005 baseline, which is the goal stipulated in the Clean Energy-Clean Jobs Act.© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Bill McKibben and the 350 Team's Global Strategies for 2011

Bill McKibben and the 350 team's conference call on April 3, 2011, involved organizers from all over the world including Brunei, Ghana, Sweden, Spain, England, the Maldives, Italy, Canada, India, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Georgia, Burundi, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and South Africa. During this call, the 350.org team also shared their regional strategies for 2011.

Sarah Rifaat, the mideast coordinator based in Cairo, and the newest member of the 350.org team, said "this is a very exciting time for Egypt." The aspirations of the 350 team are truly global in scope. As Rifaat explained, "Everyone, no matter where they come from have common desires," she said in the conference call. She went on to say that this is an opportunity for more social movements to happen in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East and around the world.

In additon to the "Moving Planet" campaign, The 350 team has plans for various regions around the globe in 2011. Chaitanya Kumar from Hyderabad, India, described the 350 goal of putting pressure on governments. The South Asia 350 coordinator indicated that their goal is to encourage grassroots activism against coal fired power emissions as well as redefining development.

African initiatives will urge people to take to the streets. Due to the fact that Africa has some of the highest unemployment rates in the world, the emphasis will be on climate jobs and local significance of 350.org.

All regions including the Pacific and Europe are pushing for renewable energy laws and sustainable transportation.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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