The clock is ticking. Each day climate-altering, man-made gases are building up in the atmosphere and Colorado’s effort to help stem the tide is running late. The Air Quality Control Commission missed a July 1 deadline to issue draft rules to meet Colorado’s greenhouse gas reduction targets – or perhaps it didn’t. It all depends […]
PUC
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Environment, News
Tri-State’s clean energy battles with two Colorado electric co-ops now threaten the utility’s finances
The battle between the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and two of its Colorado electric cooperatives seeking to ditch their memberships has become so pitched that it is now sprawling across state and federal regulatory agencies and the courts. The two – Brighton-based United Power and the Durango-based La Plata Electric Association – want to […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Energy, News
Xcel pushes natural gas rate hike for Colorado customers even as regulators ask for coronavirus-related delay
Xcel Energy is pressing ahead with a proposed $145 million natural gas rate increase despite concerns by consumer advocates and a state regulator about its impact on customers in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic. In a March 18 ruling, Colorado Public Utilities Commission Administrative Law Judge Steven Denman said he “strongly encourages” Xcel […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Western Slope utility serving Delta, Montrose settles on $136.5 million fee to break up with Tri-State
The electric cooperative serving the cities of Delta and Montrose has agreed to a $136.5 million fee to exit the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association – showing that breaking up is not only hard to do, but expensive. The Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) has since 2016 been sparring over renewable energy with Tri-State, a wholesale […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, News, Politics and Government
Wyoming coal interests funneled money, experts to influence Colorado PUC decision on closing parts of Pueblo plant
When Xcel Energy proposed shuttering two coal-fired power generating units at Comanche Station in Pueblo, a group of “small business” customers intervened to oppose the closure. The group, organized by the Independence Institute, did not reveal it received backing from Wyoming coal interests. The Coalition of Ratepayers, formed by the libertarian-leaning Independence Institute, said in […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Growth, News
Want cheaper electricity? Xcel Energy wants to help — if you’re willing to do your laundry at 2 a.m.
Lisa Ferreira’s hot tub became a little less hot and her washing machine a little more nocturnal when she and her husband tested out the new electricity rates that Xcel Energy now wants to extend to all 1.2 million of its residential customers in Colorado. Ferreira and her husband were part of Xcel Energy’s two-year […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government, Technology
Bold $500 million offer to replace 3 coal-powered plants with renewables, gas met by reluctance from Tri-State
Guzman Energy made the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association an offer that it apparently could refuse. The Miami-based energy contractor is ready to pay about $500 million to buy three coal-fired power plants and a coal mine near Craig from Westminster-based Tri-State with plans to close them. In their place Guzman would build a combination […]