EAU CLAIRE, Wis.- (April 9, 2020) – Xcel Energy is donating an additional 192,000 surgical masks, including over 4,000 N95 masks, in the eight states it serves, including Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and New Mexico. Earlier this week, Xcel Energy also announced plans to give more than $20 million in short and long term corporate giving, including COVID-19 relief efforts.
The masks will go to healthcare workers and other first responders on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19. Last month the company donated another 130,000 protective masks.
“We are all in this together and it’s important that we do what we can to support the healthcare workers and first responders who are on the frontlines of this pandemic,” said Ben Fowke, chairman and CEO of Xcel Energy. “We are equally committed to doing all we can to protect our employees who are doing essential work in our plants, transmission facilities and in the field.”
Xcel Energy stocks protective masks to keep employees safe when working on heavy construction, in dusty condition and during wildfires. During the pandemic the company is supplying employees with non-surgical masks and other face coverings to help protect them while doing critical work to keep electricity and natural gas flowing to our communities.
Nearly 47,000 protective masks, including 925 N95 masks, will be donated in Wisconsin and Michigan. Last week Xcel Energy donated 10,000 protective masks each to the Eau Claire and La Crosse County Health Departments.
“These donations are going where they are needed most,” said Mark Stoering, president, Xcel Energy-Wisconsin & Michigan. “They will be distributed to county health departments, tribal clinics and first responders in our service area, along with other businesses through Wisconsin and Michigan’s COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment initiatives.”
The masks will be shipped and distributed later this week.
