Chicago sited Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, parts of WEC Energy Group, will contribute more than $1 million in funding, as well as personal protective equipment, to help 42 community organizations across the region provide vital services in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

Wisconsin regulators have ordered the state’s utilities not to disconnect residential service during the ongoing public health emergency. The Public Service Commission has also ordered gas, electric and water utilities to make “reasonable attempts” to reconnect service to any occupied dwellings that have been disconnected.

Under 2000 customers had been disconnected for nonpayment before the announcement. The moratorium has been extended until the crisis has passed.

SOLAR FARM PLANNED NEAR MITCHELL AIRPORT
In late July, crews are expected to begin building an eight-acre solar farm with more than 7,000 panels near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport that will be the largest of its kind in the city. It also could be followed by more major solar projects by the City of Milwaukee and partner WEC Energy Group Inc. The initial installation, when complete in fall, will cover about 8 acres of a former city landfill between East College Avenue and the 128th Air Refueling Wing base near Mitchell airport.

The city owns about 45 total acres of former landfill in that spot, and will have discussions over putting more solar cells there in the future, according to Erick Shambarger, director of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office. The initial installation will generate 2.25 megawatts of electricity, which is the maximum amount state regulators allowed for a single customer under the WEC Energy program that will finance the project.

WISCONSIN’S SECOND-LARGEST SOLAR FARM PLANNED IN KENOSHA COUNTY

Xcel Energy has hit a significant milestone in its quest to deliver one-hundred percent carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050. The company recorded its largest single-year drop in emissions in 2019, cutting carbon by 5.6 million tons, a more than ten percent reduction in one year. Since 2005, the company has reduced carbon emissions by forty-four percent as it leads the nation’s clean energy transition.

“We’re making tremendous progress on our clean energy journey. Our 2019 carbon results demonstrate our ability to transition to low-carbon energy resources while keeping service reliable and customer bills low,” said Ben Fowke, Chairman, President and CEO of Xcel Energy.

Several factors contributed to these results. The company increased wind generation on its system, with wind energy making up more than 20 percent of its energy supply last year. The increase is due to the completion of three significant wind projects in 2018 and 2019, including Rush Creek in Colorado, and Hale and Bonita in Texas. Other factors include flexible coal plant operations, strong performance from the company’s nuclear fleet and low natural gas prices, which allowed Xcel Energy to continue reducing coal generation.

Xcel Energy’s 2019 carbon reductions are well ahead of its industry, which is ahead of any other part of the economy. The electric industry is on pace to reduce carbon emissions about 30 percent in 2019 from 2005 levels, according to preliminary results from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

“Just as we’re committed to reducing carbon emissions from the electricity we provide, we’re also working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our natural gas business, and we’re taking several ambitious steps to do so,” according to Fowke.

Xcel Energy has joined ONE Future, which is a consortium of natural gas companies working together to voluntarily reduce methane emissions below one percent by 2025, a level that studies show minimizes impact on the environment.
Xcel Energy has pledged to keep its own methane emissions to less than two percent in its natural gas operations. The company will report its methane emissions annually to ONE Future, which has reporting standards that go beyond what regulations currently require.

Xcel Energy has also invested more than $1 billion to improve its natural gas pipelines and tighten its system. The company also participates in EPA’s voluntary Natural Gas STAR and its Methane Challenge program.

Xcel Energy has received a national 2020 Climate Leadership Award from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and The Climate Registry, in partnership with America’s Pledge. The company was recognized with an Organizational Leadership award for its industry-leading carbon reduction efforts and its support for communities and customers in achieving their clean energy and climate goals.

“We are honored to receive this award for our commitment to addressing the risk of climate change through innovative policies and programs,” according to Ben Fowke, Chairman, President and CEO of Xcel Energy. “It’s an exciting time in the energy industry, and we are proving that by working together, we can achieve great things both for our customers and the environment.”

The award honors Xcel Energy for multiple industry-leading clean energy initiatives that are helping the company to achieve ambitious carbon reduction goals. Xcel Energy is making the nation’s largest multi-state wind investment that will increase its wind capacity 70 percent by 2022 under its Steel for Fuel strategy. It also is implementing or has proposed transformative clean energy plans that will retire half of its coal capacity between 2006 and 2027.

Gov. Tony Evers has appointed Tyler Huebner to the Public Service Commission filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Mike Huebsch effective February 3, 2020. This appointment was effective March 17, and Huebner will serve out the rest of Huebsch’s term that expires March 1, 2021.

“Tyler has spent his entire academic and professional career focused on energy and efficiency,” said Gov. Evers. “He is a passionate leader, whose experience will serve the Commission and the people of Wisconsin well. I look forward to seeing his good work to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable utility services for folks across our state.”

“I believe my leadership approach and firsthand experience will greatly benefit the Commission because I understand the importance of balancing the needs of utilities and customers, while accelerating Wisconsin’s transition into the 21st century,” said Huebner. “It is an honor to be appointed to the Commission and to continue my career of public service in this new role.”

Huebner has served as the Executive Director of RENEW Wisconsin since 2013 promoting the use and improving accessibility of renewable energy in Wisconsin. Prior to his time with RENEW, Huebner worked as an advanced program and policy analyst for the Wisconsin Division of Energy Services at the Wisconsin Department of Administration and as an energy technology program specialist at the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy Division. He earned a Master’s degree in Atmosphere and Energy from the Stanford University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2007 and a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Iowa. Huebner lives in Madison with his wife, Heather Driscoll, and their two children.

Peregrine Falcons Return to Nest Boxes at WE Energies Power Plants 

Looking for something to do to connect with nature while going through this period of social distancing?

Peregrine falcons are back at We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) power plants. Learn about an endangered species live via webcam. Tune into the high definition cameras 24/7 and watch as the raptors find love, lay eggs and raise their young. Find the webcam online at http://weenergies.blogspot.com/.

Xcel Energy has reported 2019 GAAP and ongoing earnings of $1,372 million, or $2.64 per share, compared with
$1,261 million, or $2.47 per share in 2018. Earnings reflect higher electric margins primarily due to non-fuel riders and
regulatory rate outcomes, higher natural gas margins and expenses, increased depreciation and interest expenses.
“We delivered strong financial results again in 2019, with earnings at the upper end of our guidance range. Xcel
Energy continues to deliver consistent and solid performance, meeting or exceeding earnings guidance for the 15th
consecutive year,” said Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy.

“We are proud of our continued progress in leading the clean energy transition on our path to 80% carbon reductions
by 2030 and 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050, all while providing great value for our customers, communities,
and shareholders. We took important steps on that journey this past year, completing three major Steel for Fuel wind
projects, which contribute to the almost 4,700 megawatts of additional wind expected on our system by 2021. We
begin the new year well-positioned to deliver on our financial objectives in 2020 and beyond.”

WEC Energy Group has reported net income of $1.13 billion, or $3.58 per share, for 2019. This compares to earnings of
$1.06 billion, or $3.34 per share, for 2018. For the fourth quarter of 2019, WEC Energy Group recorded net income of
$243.9 million, or 77 cents per share. This compares to earnings of $205.0 million, or 65 cents per share, for the fourth
quarter of 2018.
“From network reliability to customer satisfaction to earnings and dividend growth, the company continues to
perform at a high level,” said Gale Klappa, executive chairman. “And we’re poised for progress in 2020 as we work to
deliver a clean energy future that is safe, reliable and affordable.”
During the fourth quarter of 2019, two WEC Energy Group utilities — We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service —
were honored for superior reliability of their electric delivery networks. This is the ninth consecutive year that We
Energies has been named best in the Midwest and the first time Wisconsin Public Service has been recognized.

WEC Energy has announced that the company has agreed to increase ownership interest from 80 percent to 90
percent in three Midwest windfarms: Blooming Grove Wind Farm, Thunderhead Wind Energy Center and the Upstream
Wind Energy Center. The total investment is $118 million for an additional 75 megawatts of capacity.
“This agreement marks another step forward for the energy infrastructure segment of our five-year capital plan,”
said Gale Klappa, executive chairman of WEC Energy Group. “The plan calls for deploying $1.8 billion in high-quality
projects that will serve strong, vibrant companies for years to come.”
Invenergy, a leading developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions, is currently building the Blooming Grove
and Thunderhead projects which are expected to achieve commercial operation by the end of 2020. The Upstream
Wind Energy Center, also developed by Invenergy, began service in January 2019. All three wind farms have long-term
offtake agreements with affiliates of investment-grade multinational corporations.
Under the tax rules, the WEC Energy Group investment is expected to be eligible for 100 percent bonus depreciation
and production tax credits. The transactions are subject to receiving all necessary regulatory approvals

Ben Fowke, Xcel Energy’s Chairman, President and CEO, has announced that Bob Frenzel will be named President and Chief Operating Officer and that Brian Van Abel will be the company’s Chief Financial Officer, both effective March 31. As President and COO, Frenzel will have oversight for Xcel Energy’s four operating companies, including the company’s transmission, distribution and natural gas operations. He will continue to report to Fowke. 

Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. fell 2.9 percent last year, according to a new report. The International Energy Agency (IEA) found that the U.S. decline was the largest, at 140 million tons, of any country. It also noted that since 2000, U.S. emissions have decreased nearly one gigaton. “A 15 percent reduction in the use of coal for power generation underpinned the decline in overall US emissions in 2019,” the report said. Globally, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions flat lined at about 33 gigatons following two years of increases.