Eau Claire, Wisconsin (March 27, 2020) – Xcel Energy announced today the company is donating 20,000 protective surgical masks to help combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in western Wisconsin.

“Xcel Energy is committed to our communities and doing our part to keep the places where we live and work safe and healthy,” Mark Stoering, president, Xcel Energy-Wisconsin. “We have been engaged with our local emergency management teams and this donation of surgical masks supports Gov. Evers’ personal protection equipment initiative as one way we can help safeguard medical professionals and support our communities’ response to the global pandemic. Our health care workers and first responders are serving on the front lines and deserve our debt of gratitude for all the work they are doing.”

“Keeping our health care workers and first responders safe is one of our top priorities, and there has been some challenges with supply and demand of personal protective equipment. This donation by Xcel Energy to our region will greatly aid our response efforts, and we are so grateful for their partnership and for all of our partners who are responding generously,” said Lieske Giese, Eau Claire City-County Health Department director.

Xcel Energy will donate 10,000 masks each to La Crosse County Emergency Management and Eau Claire City/County Health Department to prioritize for distribution in their areas.  

Xcel Energy stocks protective masks to help keep employees safe when working in situations such as heavy construction, dusty conditions and wildfires. During this pandemic, employees will continue to use masks to protect themselves from exposure while they conduct certain activities to keep natural gas and electric operations going. Fortunately, the company has an adequate supply to meet employee needs and still donate some to aid area medical professionals. 

Xcel Energy is also making plans to utilize hand sanitizer that is being made by local distilleries such as Chippewa River Distillery in Chippewa Falls, La Crosse Distillery in La Crosse, and 45th Parallel in New Richmond. These hand sanitizers will be provided to Xcel Energy employees doing ‘mission critical’ work.  

“We are 100% committed to ensuring our front-line employees – such as linemen, gas technicians and Control Center operators – remain healthy. These employees are critical to ensure safe and reliable energy service to our communities,” said Stoering. 

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About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.