GREEN-E CERTIFIES XCEL ENERGY'S WINDSOURCE

RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCT

Growing Market for Green-e Certified Energy at 3 Billion KWh in 2003

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 2, 2005)-- The Green-e Program of the Center for Resource Solutions announced today that Xcel Energy’s Windsource® program in Colorado is now Green-e Certified. Xcel Energy joins the largest network of renewable energy providers to offer its customers assurance from the nation’s leading certification and verification program that they are receiving a high quality renewable energy product.

Xcel Energy became one of the first regulated utilities in the U.S. to offer customers a green pricing program. With over 40,000 customers, Xcel Energy's Windsource® program is currently ranked as the number one Utility Green Pricing Program in the U.S. according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Windsource enables customers to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while supporting the continued development and generation of wind power. The program allows customers to support wind power from wind farms in Colorado, displacing energy produced by non-renewable sources such as coal and natural gas. This contributes to a cleaner environment and creates skilled long-term jobs in the local community. To support the demand for Windsource, Xcel Energy has 44 wind turbines at the Ponnequin wind farm (Xcel Energy owns 37) and purchases all the output from 33 wind turbines at the Peetz Table wind farm. Both wind farms are located in northeast Colorado. Continued growth of program participation will lead to additional wind power development.

“Windsource is a simple and affordable way for our customers to demonstrate their support for clean Colorado wind energy. Thanks to ongoing customer support, Windsource continues to flourish in Colorado. We’re excited to team up with the Green-e Program and to uphold the high quality standards of excellence for which they are known,” said Product Manager Andy Sulkko.

Green-e is the national symbol for renewable energy excellence. As the leading renewable energy certification and verification program in the US, Green-e provides independent, third party certification to ensure certified renewable energy meets strict environmental and consumer protection standards. Green-e’s verification protects customers from paying for renewable energy that is ”double sold” to other customers or used simultaneously to meet regulatory mandates. Through the placement of the Green-e logo, growing numbers of consumers are able to easily identify high quality renewable energy that they can trust, as well as everyday consumer products that are “made with certified renewable energy.”

"Windsource customers are helping create a cleaner energy future in Colorado," said Dan Lieberman, Green-e Program Manager. “Green-e certification means corporate, government and residential customers who buy Windsource can be confident they are receiving the environmental benefits of green power as well as helping to expand the market for clean renewable energy."

Providers of Green-e certified renewable energy agree to abide by the Green-e Code of Conduct, and meet Green-e disclosure and truth-in-advertising requirements. Xcel Energy will undergo an annual verification audit to document that the company purchased or generated enough quantity and type of renewable energy to meet customer demand and marketing claims. Ninety-eight marketers and utilities throughout North America now offer Green-e certified renewable energy products. Collectively these suppliers sold 3 billion kWh of certified renewable energy in 2003.

About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company, with operations in 10 Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.2 million electricity customers and 1.7 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. In terms of customers, it is the fourth-largest combination natural gas and electricity company in the nation. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. For more information about Xcel Energy or to purchase Windsource please visit the company’s website www.xcelenergy.com or call toll-free 1-800-824-1688.

About Green-e and the Center for Resource Solutions
Launched in 1997, The Green-e Renewable Energy Certification Program is the leading voluntary certification and verification program that sets standards for renewable electricity-based products in three markets for renewable energy: restructured, regulated, and tradable renewable certificates. To learn more about certified renewable energy available throughout North America, visit www.green-e.org, or call 888.63.GREEN.

Green-e is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a national nonprofit organization that makes it easier for people and organizations to use renewable energy. CRS designs and operates national and international programs that support the increased supply and use of renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and low-impact hydroelectric power. To learn more about CRS, visit: www.resource-solutions.org.

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