AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Xcel Energy is giving back in a big way.

It is awarding more than $220,000 in grant funding to 31 nonprofit groups in Texas and New Mexico. The energy company said the grants were made available through the Education and Environment focus areas of the Xcel Energy Foundation.

That foundation awards funding to nonprofit groups that work in the cities served by Xcel.

"Communities that value education and the environment are healthy communities," said Riley Hill, president and CEO of Southwestern Public Service Company, an Xcel Energy company. "By supporting the nonprofits that promote these values, we hope to contribute to the overall health and prosperity of the communities we are privileged to serve."

Xcel said two of the four of its grant programs focus on nonprofit organizations. The other programs focus on economic sustainability and arts and culture.

Education Funding
· Amarillo Area Foundation - Amarillo, Texas
· Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Foundation - Amarillo, Texas
· Amarillo Education Foundation (Women in Science Endeavors) - Amarillo, Texas
· Canadian Educational Foundation - Canadian, Texas
· Chaves County CASA - Roswell, N.M.
· Eastern New Mexico University - Portales, N.M.
· Frank Phillips College Development Corp. - Borger, Texas
· Girl Scouts of Texas-Oklahoma Plains, Inc. - Amarillo, Texas
· Golden Spread Council Boy Scouts of America - Amarillo, Texas
· Green Education Foundation - Amarillo, Texas
· Inquiry Facilitators, Inc. - Hobbs, N.M.
· MyPower, Inc. - Hobbs, N.M.
· New Mexico Junior College Foundation - Hobbs, N.M.
· Opportunity School - Amarillo, Texas
· Shallowater Education Foundation - Shallowater, Texas
· South Plains Council Boy Scouts of America - Lubbock, Texas
· South Plains College Foundation - Levelland, Texas
· Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME) - Amarillo, Texas
· Wayland Baptist University - Lubbock, Texas
· West Texas A&M University Foundation - Canyon, Texas
· Women in Science Endeavors (WISE) - Lubbock, Texas

Environment Funding
· Amarillo Education Foundation - Amarillo, Texas
· Amarillo Zoological Society - Amarillo, Texas
· Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Texas Panhandle - Amarillo, Texas
· Class 4 Winds & Renewables - Amarillo, Texas
· Don Harrington Discovery Center - Amarillo, Texas
· Friona Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture - Friona, Texas
· Keep Roswell Beautiful - Roswell, N.M.
· Ogallala Commons - Nazareth, Texas
· Rio Blanco Heritage Foundation - Crosbyton, Texas
· Tascosa High School Excellence Council - Amarillo, Texas