In the jockeying for a new relationship between Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and the rural cooperatives it supplies with electricity, three Colorado co-ops are seeking partial contracts with the power wholesaler — instead of leaving outright. Tri-State and some of its cooperatives have been battling over the association’s long-term contract, which requires members to […]
Solar energy
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Colorado law should give geothermal energy equal standing with other renewables
Geothermal energy taps into natural subsurface heat to generate clean, reliable 24/7 electricity. This renewable energy source could have a huge impact on the fight against climate change in Colorado and around the world. So why isn’t geothermal treated as favorably as wind and solar in Colorado’s energy and environmental laws and regulations? That’s a […]
Posted inEnergy, News
A Longmont farm wants to teach people how to grow food under solar panels
Time for a pop quiz: What’s the definition of agrivoltaics? For readers new to the intersection of farming and green energy, agrivoltaic is the word used to describe the use of land for both agriculture and solar photovoltaic power. And since 2020, Byron Kominek has been trying to make the case that farming for clean […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, Energy, Environment, News
Pueblo’s steel mill is an American success story. And it’s owned by Russians.
The story of Pueblo’s steel mill is steeped in the lore of American industry, from its rise backed by ingenuity and perseverance to its near demise at the hands of foreign competition. The mill has risen again in recent years, modernizing operations and winning back business from overseas rivals — with the help of its […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News
Western Slope county rejects solar project over fear of losing a sliver of farmland
A plan to provide solar power to a Western Slope rural electric cooperative ran aground last week when the Delta County Board of Commissioners rejected a zoning change for the 472-acre project, citing concerns over the loss of farmland in the county. The 80-megawatt solar project proposed by Guzman Energy would have supplied the Delta-Montrose […]
Posted inBusiness, News
Colorado electric co-op abandons plan to raise rates for second-home owners after solar users protest
The Sangre de Cristo Electric Association board last week rescinded a plan to restructure its electric rates that raised protests from residents using solar panels. The rural co-op’s board canceled its plan that raised costs for members who used less electricity, raised its fixed monthly fees and increased electrical rates for owners with solar panels […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, Energy, News, Outsider
Solar-powered homes caught in crossfire as a rural Colorado electric co-op aims to squeeze more from second-home owners
A plan by the Sangre de Cristo Electric Association to squeeze more money from absent property owners is sparking a revolt among the cooperative’s members. The electric co-op wants to increase its monthly service charge while cutting the cost of power for customers who use the most electricity. As Colorado’s mountain communities struggle with the […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment, News
What’s the state of solar power in Colorado? Here’s a Q&A with a key player to find out.
Where’s all that clean solar power promised to sunny Colorado? The solar industry, which had its annual Colorado meetup this week, says a lot of that clean power is already here, a lot more is on the way, and there’s a lot that state regulators and lawmakers could be doing to bring even more, even […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment, News
Unaweep Canyon is central to Xcel Energy’s big plans for renewable energy production in Colorado
Xcel Energy has a low-tech plan for creating clean power in one of Colorado’s geologic wonders. As Colorado’s largest utility, with 1.5 million electricity customers, pushes toward its goal of delivering 100% carbon-free power by 2050, the company is seeking federal approval for the state’s largest hydropower project on the Western Slope in Unaweep Canyon […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, News
These cells could be the key to efficient, cheap solar energy. But they have to make it in the “torture chamber” first.
The little perovskite solar cell was sweating it out in the “torture chamber.” Well, it wasn’t actually sweating, since a solar cell doesn’t have sweat glands, but if it had, at 185 degrees Fahrenheit and 85% humidity, it’d be sweating. The 6-inch-by-6-inch cell would be in the chamber – a Xenon Exposure System locker – […]