Here’s a pleasant surprise: Xcel Energy is retiring two coal-fired plants in Colorado and adding 850 megawatts of wind power and a 200-megawatt solar concentrating power plant -- one of the world's largest -- instead.

It’s the company’s first stab at utility-scale solar. Even better: It’s the first time a utility in America has volunteered to shut down a coal plant (let alone two) to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

And therein lies the point. The announcement suggests a serious intention from one of America’s largest coal burners to turn the tide of fossil fuels at a time of economic and energy danger for the nation.

Shares in Denmark's Vestas -- the world's #1 wind turbine maker -- shot up 8 percent last Friday on news that the company had an order backlog worth $10.7 billion. The backlog grew 67 percent since a year ago -- a strong indication of continued robust growth.

The company also announced it was investing $120 million in a new factory in Colorado -- on top of $200 million it's already sinking into another factory -- which will bring 1350 new jobs to the state. That is going to put a total of 2450 people on the Vestas payroll in Colorado.

It's nice that this Danish company that owns a 25% market share in wind turbines globally is outsourcing clean tech jobs to the US, ain't it?

The best part, though, is that the development is playing into the volatile energy politics of the state. As renewable energy takes on a new attractive luster, incumbent oil and gas industries in Colorado are being rocked back on their heels.

Might this be the preview of a larger national drama?

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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