Xcel Energy’s electric customers in eastern and southeastern New Mexico now have a way to cut down on their carbon footprint.
According to a news release, Xcel (NASDAQ: XEL) is offering its customers a way to harness electricity through a new program called Solar*Connect. The program will be powered by a new, 1.98-megawatt solar facility in Clovis.
“Solar*Connect allows our customers to tap into the efficiencies of a utility-scale solar generating plant while reaping the benefits of clean, renewable energy and supporting New Mexico’s clean energy economy,” Xcel Regional Manager for Community and Economic Development in Roswell Mike McLeod said in a prepared statement. “It’s a convenient option for customers who have considered adding solar panels to their rooftops but don’t care to invest the time and money into buying and maintaining a rooftop system.”
Wes Reeves, a spokesman for Xcel, said the Solar*Connect program has been two years in the making.
The program allows residential customers to pay an average of $10.80 a month on top of their current electric bill. Reeves said the extra charge pays for the energy generated at the facility.
But Solar*Connect also offers customers a community credit, which offsets the cost of fossil fuels needed to provide electricity. Businesses that have sustainability goals can also claim renewable energy certificates through the program.
“They have a market value because they can be sold to businesses, institutions or even individuals who are seeking to offset their carbon footprint,” Reeves said. “We are acquiring not only the energy from this solar plant but also the [renewable energy certificates] it generates and selling them to offset the cost of energy production and passing that savings on to customers enrolled in Solar*Connect.”
Xcel serves over 100,000 customers across six counties in New Mexico, Reeves said. The company’s service area covers a total of six counties. Xcel Energy has customers spread across eight states across the West and Midwest.
The company has previously said it wants to reach 100% carbon free electricity by 2050.