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.& _ .-. <br />Page 2 of 2 <br />renewable sources such as wind and waste materials. <br />But in prepared remarks, Brunetti said Xcel's support for renewable energy stops when it runs <br />the risk of harming the utility's system reliability or costs. <br />"If renewable energy is going to be truly viable for the future, we have to do it right," he said. <br />"We have to balance the obligations to customers with our commitment to protect the <br />environment." <br />Xcel is proposing to add 500 megawatts of wind - generated power in Colorado as part of a new <br />resource plan that also includes the new coal -fired power plant in Pueblo. <br />A Colorado environmental group issued a report Wednesday criticizing Xcel's coal plant proposal <br />and the company's opposition to Amendment 37, which would require state utilities to generate <br />10 percent of their power from renewables by 2015. <br />"Wayne (Brunetti) can't have it both ways," said Mark Detsky, an energy attorney with <br />Environment Colorado. "You can't pursue renewable energy and proclaim yourself as a champion <br />of renewable energy and at the same time pursue the largest coal plant in Colorado in the last <br />three decades." <br />The report by Denver -based Environment Colorado and the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project <br />in Boulder said the proposed coal plant would contribute to global warming, emit toxic mercury <br />and consume large quantities of water. <br />The report said that by using renewable power and efficiency incentives instead of the coal plant, <br />Xcel could save customers $2 billion over 20 years. <br />Xcel has said the plant is. needed to meet the fast - growing demand for power at a time when <br />prices for natural gas - another major generating fuel - are rising. The coal plant would use the <br />best available emissions technology, officials said. <br />Xcel officials said the utility is opposed to the ballot measure because it requires customers to <br />pay for renewables regardless of cost. In addition, it is unneeded, they say, because of Xcel's <br />proposal to triple existing wind -power capacity with the addition of 500 megawatts. <br />Staff writer Steve Raabe can be reached at 303 - 820 -1948 or sraabe(@denverpost.com . <br />http:// www. denverpost. com/ cda/article /print/0,1674,36 %7E33 %7E2374569,00.html 9/3/2004 <br />