The Colorado Public Utilities Commission on Friday balked at approving a billion-dollar price tag to shut down Xcel Energy’s five remaining coal-fired generating units — to be paid by customers — and instead is seeking more detailed financial analysis. The proposed closing costs were part of a settlement agreement between Xcel Energy, the state’s largest […]
Hayden Station
Posted inBusiness, Economy, Energy, Equity, News
Xcel Energy to raise residential electric bills by 6.4% in April, two more rate increases loom
The average electric bill for Xcel Energy’s residential customers will go up $5.24 a month — a 6.4% increase — starting in April under a $182 million rate hike approved Wednesday by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. The PUC voted 3-0 to accept the increase, which was agreed upon in rate-case negotiations that included the […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Coloradans, Economy, Energy, Environment, Growth, News, Outdoors
Xcel Energy may fill the hole left by closing its Hayden coal-fired power plant with salt. And fish.
There is molten salt in the town of Hayden’s future – maybe trout, too – but almost definitely molten salt. The idea of using molten salt energy storage to fill part of the gap in employment and taxes left by the planned closure of the Routt County town’s coal-fired power plant is being planned by […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Economy, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Closing all of Xcel’s coal-fired power plants will cost Colorado consumers $1.4 billion
The price tag for Xcel Energy closing all its Colorado coal-fired plants will be $1.4 billion spread over decades — a sum that will be paid exclusively by the utility’s residential and commercial customers. The closure estimates and their financing are part of the $8 billion electric resource and clean energy plan submitted last month […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News
Xcel plans to double its renewable energy generation by 2030. It’ll cost consumers $8 billion to do it.
Xcel Energy will spend $8 billion to double its renewable energy generation and storage and add new transmission lines, while closing all of its coal-fired power plants in Colorado by 2040. The initiative, unveiled Wednesday, would reduce Xcel’s carbon emissions in Colorado 85% from 2005 levels by 2030. A state law requires regulated utilities to […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News
Wind power cut Xcel Energy’s carbon emissions last year. But is the utility moving fast enough to meet goals?
Xcel Energy cut its carbon emissions by 5% in 2020 compared with 2019, in large part due to the addition of new wind generation, according to the company, Colorado’s largest electricity provider. Carbon emissions declined a record 12% in Xcel’s companywide service area, which includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas and New […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Economy, Energy, Environment, Politics and Government
Dollars, not politics, are driving Colorado’s accelerated embrace of solar energy
HUDSON — Standing in the shade of a massive, utility-scale array of solar panels on farmland east of Interstate 25, you don’t have to look far for real-time examples of renewable sun power supplanting fossil fuels in the arc of Colorado’s historical energy supply. Electricity generated by the Rattlesnake solar array uploads to United Power’s […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Delays in closing Colorado coal plants are costly in money and air quality
Under the Regional Haze provision of the federal Clean Air Act, states must submit a plan to reduce haze to the Environmental Protection Agency. This rule — aimed at limiting air pollution in national parks and wilderness areas — requires that Colorado submit its plans to the EPA by July 2021 and reduce pollution by […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Economy, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Xcel Energy moves up closure dates for coal-fired power plant near Steamboat Springs
The coal-fired Hayden Generating Station will close ahead of schedule, marking the latest in a steady stream of Colorado coal plant closures, Xcel Energy announced Monday. The plant’s 44-year-old Unit 2 will close by the end 2027, and Unit 1, which came online in 1965, will be shuttered by the end of 2028. The two […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, Health, News, Politics and Government
Three coal-burning power plants in Colorado face orders to close early. Their owners aren’t happy about it.
Tri-State, Xcel and Platte River Power had the closures slated for 2030. But Colorado air quality regulators say it must be done earlier to meet greenhouse gas targets. Colorado air quality regulators on Friday moved to order three coal-fired power plants to close by the end of 2028 to cut regional haze and meet Colorado […]