Despite the good news, last month still set a global record for the warmest June in 174 years of data collection
Colorado Springs Utilities
Posted inWater
Aurora cuts one of its lawn watering days, which should be a warning for other Colorado cities
Two days a week instead of three, and a surcharge, for 2023 is a reminder that it’s never over until the runoff is counted
Posted inClimate, Energy, Environment, News
Colorado regulators approve 3 utilities’ clean energy plans despite environmentalists’ objections
Colorado regulators have signed off on clean energy plans from three utilities despite objections from environmental groups claiming the plans include vague promises of green electricity and didn’t account for nearly 200,000 tons of dirty coal emissions. State clean energy officials say they’re satisfied the plans from Colorado Springs Utilities, Holy Cross Energy and Platte […]
Posted inClimate, Economy, Energy, Environment, News
Life after coal: How workers at Colorado Springs’ shuttered power plant are transitioning to new careers
COLORADO SPRINGS — Head first in a dust-choked coal pulverizer, a heavy wrench knocking against a balky part hidden out of sight, body encased in an insulated safety suit as temperatures soared to 140 degrees, Chris Cox’s mind could have wandered to other career paths. How about a switch to an easier job without imminent […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News
An obituary for coal at the Martin Drake Power Plant in Colorado Springs, by the numbers
COLORADO SPRINGS — After 95 years of pumping electricity and belching smoke across downtown Colorado Springs, the Martin Drake Power Plant stopped burning coal Saturday. Long targeted by angry neighbors and local and national environmental groups decrying the intense air pollution, Drake was one of the few downtown coal plants remaining in any large American […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, Growth, News, Water
Watering restrictions work. But only 53% of Colorado cities have them.
By Sarah Kuta, Fresh Water News Despite a stubborn, 20-year drought and reservoirs whose supplies are below normal, Colorado communities remain split on whether to impose permanent outdoor watering restrictions, according to a Fresh Water News analysis of local watering rules. According to the analysis, which examined rules in 15 cities representing the state’s different […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, Growth, News, Outdoors
Aurora, Colorado Springs get federal OK to test if controversial reservoir in Eagle County wilderness is feasible
White River National Forest officials on Monday said Aurora Water and Colorado Springs Utilities can move ahead with test drilling to determine whether a controversial dam on Homestake Creek in Eagle County is technically feasible. The decision to let the Front Range water utilities move forward in taking more Western Slope water is only one […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, Growth, Housing, News, Water
Aurora and Colorado Springs want more water. The proposed solution — a new reservoir — would have far-reaching impacts.
By Michael Elizabeth Sakas, CPR News While most people in Colorado live on the Front Range, most of the state’s water is on the Western Slope. That’s where the snowpack melts and makes its way into the Colorado River. Much of that water flows to places like Denver through a series of dams, reservoirs, pumps […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News
Xcel Energy floats “Power Pathway” plan to bring wind, solar power to cities from rural Colorado
Xcel Energy on Tuesday filed a plan with state electricity regulators for a $1.7 billion project to build 560 miles of transmission lines encircling eastern Colorado designed to bring wind and solar electricity to Front Range population centers from rural areas. The project – Power Pathway – would be done in collaboration with at least […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, News
Governor warns Colorado utilities again over storm-surge fees as Xcel tallies request at $264 per customer
As Xcel Energy alerted the governor they may seek more than $250 from their average user over two years, Gov. Jared Polis demanded again Tuesday that Colorado utility consumers not be stuck with the full emergency-fuel bill boosted by the February cold snap if power companies didn’t do enough to warn about storm surcharges. The […]