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 […]
Platte River Power Authority
Posted inClimate, Energy, Environment, News
Is Colorado’s power grid in shape for a Texas-size storm? Yes, mostly.
We see families huddling for warmth and light in Texas and wonder if the same thing can happen here. It can. And it does. Think of every major wildfire that threatens utilities and water. Think the 2003 St. Patrick’s Day blizzard that paralyzed much of the Front Range for days. Think the 2013 northern Colorado […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Economy, Energy, Environment, Health, Housing, News, Politics and Government
Colorado is behind on targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions. How far should the state push industry to get there?
The Polis administration is set this month to complete its “roadmap” for cutting Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions, but critics question whether the route is clear enough — and the milestones realistic enough — to get Colorado where it needs to go. In a nod to some of the challenges, air quality and energy officials are […]
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, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Order to close three Colorado coal-fired power plants early reversed, regulators cite “incomplete” information
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, at the urging of utility companies, did a regulatory two-step on Wednesday, rescinding the order for early closure of three coal-fired power plants that it issued last month. The November decision, made as part of the state’s plan to reduce regional haze at national parks, was based on incomplete […]
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 […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Tri-State increases the amount of greenhouse gases it will cut in Colorado by adding wind and solar generation
Colorado’s second biggest electricity provider – Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association – upped its goal for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to an 80% cut by 2030 – putting itself in line with other utilities in the state. Tri-State’s original 70% target for cutting carbon dioxide emissions had lagged other Colorado utilities, such as Xcel […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, Health, News, Transportation, Wildfire
Wildfires make work to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions even more crucial, Gov. Polis says
Even as massive wildfires swept across northern Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday urged state air regulators to “never take our eye from the ball of the climate crisis.” The fires that have engulfed the state for months only underscore the need to meet the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which have been […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Platte River Power Authority must commit to 100% renewable energy. Period.
The Colorado Sun published a story on Aug. 19 with the headline “Colorado must cut half of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It will lean on oil and gas to do it.” The story discussed why we need emissions reductions from the oil and gas sector in order to meet Colorado’s goal of a […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
We now know how many billions of gallons of water Colorado will save by closing coal-fired power plants
The closing of 30 coal-fired generating units across the West – including 10 in Colorado – could free-up more than 76 billion gallons of river and groundwater a year in the increasingly parched region, although utilities appear cautious about giving up their water rights. An analysis by the Energy and Policy Institute, a non-profit, utility […]