It is National Clean Energy Week, a time to celebrate our collective progress toward systems that power our lives without greenhouse gas emissions.

In my role at Xcel Energy, which has advanced one of the most ambitious clean-energy visions in the U.S., I see enormous potential for our state to develop more sustainable and cost-effective systems to reliably serve us through extreme weather events and to serve our growing need for reliable electricity to charge vehicles and run appliances.

The path forward requires us to both use every tool now available to us and to add new technologies as they mature. Our Clean Energy Plan charts the course, helping Colorado continue to lead the way on clean energy while keeping our systems reliable and affordable. We aim to double our renewable energy resources and strengthen them with next-generation energy storage, saving a portion of what they generate for periods of greater demand. An expanded transmission network will reliably move renewable energy where it’s needed, adding to the 37,000 miles of lines we built during the past 15 years. Strategic use of our natural gas plants will add to our system’s stability, and we are working to integrate clean-burning fuels like hydrogen into our combustion turbines. And smart electric meters will give customers insight into their energy use and help them participate in energy efficiency programs to further lower emissions.

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It’s an extraordinary time in the energy industry, with new technologies approaching commercialization more rapidly than ever before. The 100-hour iron-air battery slated for Pueblo’s Comanche site uses more abundant materials than lithium-ion batteries. If this system can power 2,000 homes for up to five days, we are excited for what a larger system could accomplish. Right now, 42% of our energy comes from carbon-free sources, with yearly emissions 17.3 million tons lower than in 2005. New technologies will help us surpass our goal of 80% carbon-free by 2030.

Those apprehensive about the move to clean energy may find comfort in the fact major energy transitions are not new. Decades ago, the grid shouldered the demand of Coloradans installing their first air conditioners. Two decades ago, we became an early adopter of wind energy, setting the stage for wind farms that have saved customers more than $700 million from 2017 to 2021 in avoided fuel costs and earned energy credits that today provide 35% of our energy. We will reach a cleaner future not through leaps of faith, but through careful planning, new technologies and practical decision-making.

We do not expect to make this transition alone. We appreciate the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s leadership as we collaborate with them, the industry, the legislature, Gov. Jared Polis, researchers, technology developers and early-stage investors. Together, we’ll find solutions that bring down costs while testing and scaling new technologies. Federal grants and provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act will catalyze projects and lower the overall costs, benefiting our customers. Our Clean Energy Plan, which aims to invest up to $15 billion across Colorado, would take advantage of $10 billion in Inflation Reduction Act tax-credit benefits to reduce costs.

Ultimately, a successful energy transition must involve our customers across Colorado. We encourage every household and business to get involved in the way that best fits their situation – whether that’s weatherizing their home or enrolling in programs to source more of their electricity from wind and solar. Cleaner upcoming heating alternatives, like renewable natural gas, heat pumps, and potentially clean-burning hydrogen, will help customers further lower their impact.

During Clean Energy Week, take a moment to celebrate Colorado’s progress toward a carbon-free future and the inspiring changes we will see in the decades to come. Through a commitment to steady, responsible progress, we will get there without sacrificing the safety, reliability and affordability of the systems we depend on.

Robert Kenney is president of Xcel Energy – Colorado.