Texan by Nature (TxN), a Texas-led conservation nonprofit, has named Xcel Energy as one of 20 honorees of the 6th annual Texan by Nature 20 (TxN 20) – an official ranking of companies with Texas operations that have made a demonstrative commitment to conservation.
The TxN 20 recognizes the best and most innovative work in conservation coming from business based or operating in Texas. As part of the TxN 20, Texan by Nature honors companies across 12 industries in the Lone Star State whose ingenuity cultivates impactful programs and forges new, beneficial paths in conservation.
With 171 million acres of land and global leadership across multiple industries, Texas is fortunate to have industry leaders who see the value in partnering with conservation initiatives while also developing innovative, environmentally sustainable methods and processes within their business.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be honored by Texan by Nature. This accolade is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, who are not just our employees but also our friends, neighbors, and relatives in our Panhandle and South Plains communities. Together, we will continue to innovate and lead the way in sustainable energy practices,” said Adrian J. Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy-Texas.
Xcel Energy’s Texas-New Mexico base of operations is in Amarillo, and the company serves 80 towns and cities in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains region.
The company’s long-term commitment to water conservation, its commitment to net-zero carbon emissions and leadership in sustainability practices in the region were among the attributes that ranked Xcel Energy among Texas’ top sustainable companies.
A catalyst for thought leadership, innovative partnerships, and community-led solutions, Texan by Nature has been working with the Texas business community to implement Texas-led conservation practices.
The TxN 20 provides not only recognition to honorees, but a catalogue of best practices and metrics to industry peers.
“We believe in building a sustainable future through action, collaboration, and innovative models,” said Joni Carswell, CEO & President of Texan by Nature. “It’s an honor to recognize Texasbased industry leaders who demonstrate that integrating business with conservation drives valuable global impact.”
“I’m happy to celebrate this year’s TxN 20! They are pioneers, collaborators, and changemakers. I encourage other companies to follow their example and engage in conservation. Together, we can set the standard for sustaining a prosperous economy, rich natural resources, and a secure future for the next generation,” said former First Lady and Texan by Nature Founder, Laura Bush.
To select the 2024 TxN 20, company data submissions were evaluated and independent research across 2,000+ of Texas’ publicly traded and private companies was conducted for 12 industry sectors.
All companies were evaluated on key criteria through a 17-point scoring system to narrow down the list to the top 60 companies in Texas. Key scoring criteria included: stated commitment to conservation; reported metrics related to conservation; measured investment in conservation; reported Return on Conservation™ results; positive conservation impact on land, water, wildlife, people, waste, energy, and more; and activities such as infrastructure, production and supply chain, employee engagement, and more.
Other 2024 TxN 20 honorees include: Acme Brick, Cemex, Cirrus Logic, Citi, City of San Antonio Office of Sustainability 6. Darling Ingredients, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Farmer Brothers, GM, H-E-B, HOLT CAT, IBM, Marathon Petroleum, Mary Kay, North American Development Bank, Overland Partners, Texas Health Resources, WM andWSP.