MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Xcel Energy Inc. (NYSE:XEL) applauded 10 Colorado companies for energy-saving efforts, announcing awards and $138,000 in rebate checks for Coors Brewing Company.

Xcel, which provides electricity and natural gas for 70 percent of Colorado's population, began the rebate system as a concession to environmental groups when it was seeking permission to build a coal-burning power plant in Pueblo, Colo., bizjournals.com reported.

The energy company agreed to spend $196 million on energy-saving initiatives that would save 320 megawatts and 800 gigawatt hours in eight years, the report said.

In the announcement Wednesday, Xcel said the energy savings by the 10 companies avoided production of 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide -- equal to the carbon dioxide output of 5,800 cars in the course of a year.

Coors Brewing Company won the category of overall electricity savings and was awarded rebate checks totaling $138,000.

The company's energy efficiency saves 7.5 million kilowatt-hours a year, the report said.

Coors Brewing Company-Rocky Mountain Metal Container won for Best Compressed Air Efficiency; Denver Newspaper Agency won for Best Cooling Efficiency; Wal-Mart Stores Inc.- Colorado won for Best Energy Design Assistance.