NYTimes - Why a Big Utility Is Embracing Wind and Solar

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4. Xcel is looking long term

They are in an area where wind is prevalent and every time there's enough wind to produce power it's going to be used which means a fossil fuel plant gets less use. Reduce the number of hours a coal plant gets used and that increases the operational cost for that electricity. Couple that with the fact the wind farms don't have to pay for fuel and that windmills are getting cheaper and more efficient means that the closing of two coal power plants is just the beginning.

Interesting that the biggest nuclear supporter on this board is calling this a fraud as Iowa goes from 30% of it's electricity from wind to 50%.

The hermit says you have to have natgas to support wind and solar but totally ignores the increasing use of batteries to bridge the gap.

The clear trend is that wind and solar is getting cheaper (just like flat screen TV's) and is already at the point where's it's cheaper to build and bring online in some areas of the country than it is to operate coal and nuclear.

It's a process that will continue regardless of what the idiot in the WH does.