Boulder-Xcel Action Alert, AQCC update, Colorado Coal Plant news, and More!
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ACTION ALERT:
Attend Boulder Public Sessions on
Boulder-Xcel Discussions
When: Wednesday, June 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
&
Wednesday, June 24, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The City of Boulder has renewed discussions with Xcel Energy about an agreement to help meet the community's energy goals. There are two remaining public informational meetings (with the same content) to provide an opportunity to learn what the negotiations are including.
The City expects to also hold other sessions going forward. For more information and a link to register, click
HERE
.
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AQCC GHG Inventory Rules Adopted,
Now We Need Rules to Reduce GHGs
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In May 2020, Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) adopted rules requiring emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide and methane to report those emissions. They also took steps to start phasing out powerful hydrofluorocarbon greenhouse gases. You can read about those rules in the Colorado Public Radio story
here.
Now that that the inventory rules are adopted, the next step for Colorado is to establish rules to start reducing our GHG emissions as called for in state law (See
CRS 25-7-140
), which calls on the AQCC to:
By July 1, 2020, publish a notice of proposed rule-making that proposes rules to implement measures that would cost-effectively allow the state to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
Sadly, the staff for the AQCC are not indicating that they plan to meet Colorado’s statutory deadline to issue this "Notice of Proposed Rule-Making" by July 1, 2020. A strong effort will be made during June by many groups to move this process forward. Global CO2 levels hit
417 ppm in
May 2020
-
there is no time to lose!
Stay tuned for action alerts to ensure that the AQCC follows the law!
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Investigatory Docket on the
Comanche 3 Coal Plant
On May 13, 2020 the Colorado Public Utilities Commissioners indicated that they intend to open an investigatory docket on the "Comanche 3" (Unit 3*) coal plant in Pueblo. The Chairman of the PUC, Jeff Ackermann, stated that early retirement should be “on the table.” The Unit 3 coal plant in Pueblo has had numerous operational problems and there is a growing consensus that it doesn’t make sense to keep spending money to repair a large coal plant that will only intensify the climate crisis.
Clean Energy Action got its start
opposing Xcel’s plans
to build the Unit 3 coal plant in Pueblo and to keep it operating until 2070. We look forward to moving beyond this environmental mistake so that we can accelerate the adoption of Colorado’s abundant wind, solar, storage and demand management potential.
You can read a story by long-time Colorado energy journalist Allen Best about the pending review of the Unit 3 Pueblo coal plant
here.
When a written order is issued by the PUC, Clean Energy Action will submit a detailed statement on the Unit 3 plant and its troubled history.
*Note that Clean Energy Action has never been comfortable with naming a large coal plant after an Indigenous tribe, and we attempt to avoid the usage as often as we can while still being clear.
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Legislative Update
The Colorado Legislature returned on May 26 to resume the legislative session. While the focus is on matters related to COVID-19, the budget, and time-sensitive bills like sunsets, etc., others are being included. Of those CEA is following, the following are moving forward and likely to pass:
- SB20-204: Additional Resources To Protect Air Quality: Concerning the provision of additional resources to protect air quality, and, in connection therewith, increasing fees, creating the air quality enterprise, and making an appropriation.
- HB20-1143: Environmental Justice And Projects Increase Environmental Fines: Concerning additional public health protections regarding alleged environmental violations, and, in connection therewith, raising the maximum fines for air quality and water quality violations.
- SB20-030: Consumer Protections For Utility Customers: Concerning increased consumer protections for customers of investor-owned utilities, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
COVID Relief Related likely to be heard in the next 2 weeks
- HB20-1413: Small Business Recovery Loan Fund: $250 million of state and private dollars for first loss capital on loans to small businesses to help stimulate small businesses and support the state’s economic recovery and resiliency.
- HB20-1412: Coronavirus Relief Funds for Utilities: Allocates $10 million to the Energy Outreach Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund to assit households facing economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 bill once the utility disconnection moratorium is lifted.
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What We Are Reading
City of Fountain strikes electricity deal through 2039 to lower costs
The remarkable part about this deal is that Guzman Energy has agreed to pay Fountain $12.2 million in monthly installments through 2027 in order to serve the city as a customer from 2028 through 2039, with more flexibility than in the city's current contract. Read the story
HERE.
Excellent summary of the current federal climate policy landscape
This long but comprehensive summary lays out the direction that a federal policy to address climate change could go. Three key areas of focus have emerged, they are Standards, Investment, and Justice. Read the story
HERE.
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Meet CEA Board Member
Marguerite Behringer
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Marguerite has served on the board of Clean Energy Action for nine months, following four years of direct experience in the Colorado energy industry. On the board, Marguerite helps manage interns, communications, and coffee supply. Marguerite currently works as an energy research consultant with E9 Insight, an electricity regulatory advisory service provider. She specializes in covering renewable energy markets, utility resource plans, smart grid development, and the impacts of COVID-19 on the utility industry.
See her national COVID-19 coverage page here.
Marguerite graduated magna cum laude with a dual degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and certificates in Eco-Social Justice and Public Health from CU Boulder. Other professional experience includes four years of recycling facility experience, a fellowship with Hunter Lovins at Natural Capitalism Solutions, work with the VesselW0rks circular economy projects, and a sustainable buildings internship with SToK. In her spare time, Marguerite performs in cabaret shows and supports local cooperative housing development.
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Connect with CEA on social media
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