CEA will be holding PUC Citizen trainings! Plus - a short summary of the Colorado legislative session, solar gardens growing food, and other stories we are reading!
PUC Citizen Trainings

April 25, 2019 (Boulder) 
April 29, 2019 (Lakewood)

As the Legislature winds down, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is getting ready to set the rules in the  next couple of weeks  for how much clean energy (and how many fossil fuels) we use for electricity in the next decade. The PUC  has set the next 
public  comment hearing for
Wednesday May 1, from 4-6 pm.
 
Clean Energy Action is planning two citizen trainings on these PUC rules and we hope you can attend.

Thursday April 25, 2019: 6 pm
Boulder Main Public Library, 
Eldorado Room
1001 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302  
 
Monday April 29, 2019: 6 pm
Lakewood Library, Meeting Room 
10200 W 20th Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215  

contact  info@cleanenergyaction.org if you have any questions.
 
We need citizens to help ensure that key aspects of the rules are given strong consideration.
 
How do we protect Colorado's solar industry?
 
How can we burn fewer fossil fuels and use  more of Colorado's abundant clean energy?
 
How do we ensure robust competition  in the light of Xcel's monopoly?
 
Hope to see you at one of the citizen trainings above. 
 
The PUC rulemaking proceeding is known as  Docket 19R-0096E and the proposed rules and comments of several parties are available from the PUC website under the docket number. 
But don't worry if you don't have time to wade through any of the PUC information! We'll walk you through the important parts!!
 
Whether you can attend the hearing or not, submitting comments in support of clean energy will help move our state forward in addressing climate change and using more of our abundant, low-cost clean energy!! 

Send comments to  dora_PUC_complaints@state.co.us  
 (Please reference Docket 19R-0096E)
 
Please pass the word to your networks. Thanks!

Solar Garden to Grow Food
A new experiment with solar farms will soon be taking place in Colorado. A partnership between Colorado State University, The University of Arizona, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratories will be exploring the viability of growing crops and wildflowers beneath solar panels. 

The site, known as " Jacks Solar Garden" is located between Longmont and Niwot. This project will see the transformation of a third generation family farm into an exciting experiment in sustainability. For more information check out this news story. 
What We Are Reading

D espite a rise in oil prices last year, a study by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis has found that US fracking companies continued to lose money in 2018, and underperform financially.  

Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) will be allowed to present their case to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regarding its attempt to separate from Tri-State Generation and Transmission. A ruling from an Adam's County district judge allows DMEA's request for the PUC to help determine an "equitable" exit fee from their contract with Tri-State to move forward.

In Pueblo, the push for municipalized electricity is moving forward, after an initial feasibility study found that the city could save hundreds of millions of dollars over 20 years by municipalizing its electrical grid, Pueblo's Electric Utility Commission voted to urge city council to move forward with phase two and its own cost and feasibility reports. 

In Colorado Springs, protesters recently rallied outside a meeting of Colorado Springs Utilities to demand that renewable energy take precedence in plans for the city's energy future. 
Colorado 2019 Legislative Update

Making Progress on Climate, Energy and Health and Safety
 
After many years of precious little movement on climate and energy issues in the Colorado Legislature, 2019 has seen considerable progress. Please be sure to thank your favorite legislator for all their hard work on behalf of Colorado 
and the planet!

Bills That Have or Are Likely to Pass That Move Us Forward in Getting Beyond Fossil Fuels

SB19-181: Putting public health and safety first and providing important regulatory "guardrails" for Colorado's oil and gas industry is passed and signed by the Governor.
 
HB19-1261:  While many climate activists who understand the need to reduce emissions as soon as possible believe this bill should be stronger, it would be a good step forward for Colorado.
 
SB19-236 - PUC Reauthorization:
Likely to pass and make some progress on clean energy, but the details are still being negotiated.
 
Bills that Clean Energy Action hopes are postponed for further consideration

HB19-1037 - Securitization:
This complex bill is a "tool" that will likely make customers responsible for Xcel's mistaken expenditures on coal plants in this 21st century.  We should take our time and create a more equitable, direct and effective solution for legacy fossil fuel assets.

HB19-1313 -  Known as Xcel's Carbon Reduction Bill: It is great to see Xcel moving forward on carbon reduction, but this bill could lead to renewable energy that is more expensive than it needs to be and to less than robust competition in Colorado.

Bills we hope to see return (or get introduced) in the 2020 Legislative Session

HB19-1270 - PERA fossil divestment study:  It is past time that the Colorado Public Employee Retirement Association fund took a hard look at its fossil fuel investments as called for in this bill.
 
HB19-1324 - Protection against SLAPP suits:  This bill was introduced late in the session. Protecting citizens that are exercising their free speech rights is something other states have done. Now it is time for Colorado to follow their lead so citizens aren't vulnerable to expensive lawsuits.
 
Competition and Regional Markets: Colorado is moving forward, but there is good reason to believe that we could get more optimal solutions with more competition for our electric investor-owned monopolies (Xcel Energy and Black Hills). The City of  Boulder's "Request for Indicative Pricing" or "RFIP" gave all Front Range communities a sense that high levels of renewable energy (think close to 90%!!) are available at costs significantly below the prices (think 30-40% lower) that Xcel would offer. It is past time to allow more electric suppliers into Colorado's electric market and we hope that the 2020 Legislature makes progress, allowing more competition and robust markets in Colorado. Check out this column for a breakdown of how the current system is lacking.
Colorado State House Photo credit: Hustvedt 



Clean Energy Action | 303-815-6866 | info@cleanenergyaction.org | http://www.cleanenergyaction.org
PO Box 1399
Boulder, CO 80306