Xcel's investment in wind energy is a powerful hedge against rising coal and natural gas prices, which threatened the company's profitability in the past.
Increasing environmental awareness by consumers, especially in Xcel's key markets of Minnesota and Colorado, is very likely to lead them to accept higher energy prices as the trade for greener energy sources.
Increasing environmental awareness by the government has the potential to give regulators the incentive to raise prices for Xcel, thereby ensuring the company higher profits.