affecting the nuclear industry and the  availability of more comprehensive and  updated information about that proposal.  Keeping our nuclear fleet strong is  fundamental to customer value. That’s why  we were especially pleased in 2011 to reach  a settlement with the federal government  regarding costs incurred because of the  U.S. Department of Energy’s failure to  begin removing used fuel from our nuclear  plant sites by a 1998 deadline. Under the  settlement, about $100 million is in the  process of being returned to customers in the Upper Midwest.  Working with state and federal regulators  and legislators to achieve constructive  regulatory and public policy decisions is  vital to our long-term success. We refer to  those efforts as “getting the rules right,”  and we’ve helped establish a variety of  regulatory and legislative mechanisms that  ensure fair recovery of our investments. It’s a regulatory and public policy compact  that protects the welfare of both customers  and shareholders. We work hard to ensure  our regulators and other public policy  officials understand our business plans and challenges.  When the situation merits, we take action  on behalf of customers and shareholders. In  2011, we joined a lawsuit filed by numerous  states and utilities in the U.S. Court of  Appeals in Washington, D.C., against the  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The lawsuit challenged and sought a stay of a new Clean Air Act rule called the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR).  When it issued CSAPR, the EPA  unexpectedly required power plants in  Texas to comply with its emission reduction  Employee volunteerism takes many forms. In September 2011, almost 700 Colorado employees and family  members took part in a Day of Service to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack. Volunteers contributed their time and talent to 39  nonprofit organizations, with a combined  total of 4,610 volunteer hours. The Day of Service also kicked off our United Way campaign in Colorado.  Energized also describes Xcel Energy  employees, who support their communities  through volunteerism and financial  contributions. No effort demonstrates that  commitment better than the support of  our employees and retirees of local United  Way organizations. In 2011, we achieved  our highest United Way campaign goal ever,  pledging $2.76 million, which the company  matched for a total of $5.52 million going  back into the community.  Our work for the communities in our  service territory is just as purposeful as  our work with policymakers because we  recognize that we are only as strong as  the communities we serve. In 2011, we  contributed $4 million in grants through  the Xcel Energy Foundation to promote job  training and placement, science and math  education, environmental stewardship and  access to the arts.  requirements. The rule would have required  that the company comply by January 2012,  creating significant cost concerns and  potential reliability problems for our Texas  and New Mexico customers. At the end of  2011, the D.C. Circuit Court issued a stay  on CSAPR. We are hopeful that the court’s  decision on the merits of the rule, expected  later this year, will enable us to comply in a  more reasonable, cost-effective manner. Xcel Energy’s  Jeremy Thompson  (left) worked with  Simon Property  Group’s Laurie Van Dalen (center)  and Jennifer Lewis  on ways to save  energy and money at  two shopping malls  in Minnesota. Simon  Property Group took  advantage of lighting  retrofit, central  plant modernization  and roof insulation  programs. In addition  to saving energy  and money, Simon  Property Group also  earned rebates for  their efforts. That  prompted them  to encourage their  property managers  in other parts of the  country to explore  energy efficiency  programs.  “We’ve become the model for other  malls in the country,”  Van Dalen said. XCEL ENERGY  ! . . 5 ! , 2 % 0 / 2 4 s Caring for our communities Working toward constructive outcomes