Xcel ERP Recap, PUC Update, Action Alert, What We Are Reading, and More! |
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"If [Suncor] continues to do business as usual, we will be choked out and flushed out of our homelands."
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Action Alert:
Ask the EPA to Investigate Suncor
Watch a ten-minute video on the impact of Suncor's pollution on its residents and ask the US EPA Administrator Michael Regan to investigate and act on the Suncor oil refinery violations and the state of Colorado's negligence. Watch the video and write to the EPA HERE.
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Thank You!
Colorado Gives Day was a great success! We received $4500, which is about a quarter of our annual budget. Thank you for continuing to support CEA and the fight for a sustainable future, not just on Colorado Gives Day but throughout the year.
We would also like to take this time to thank you for all of your other engagement as well, whether it's responding to CEA actions, being involved with other organizations, or acting individually to make your voice heard. Grassroots power to drive institutional change is one of the best levers we have to confront the climate emergency.
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Xcel's Energy Resource Plan
Hearing Details
The digital public comment hearing for Xcel's Energy Resource Plan, held on December 2, lasted over four hours, giving space to an estimated 70+ community members to share their support for a cleaner, more ambitious resource plan.
A recording of the hearing can be viewed HERE, and an additional 150+ comments and e-mails in the docket can be reviewed HERE.
Thanks to everyone who participated and made their voices heard!
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Xcel Energy's New Backroom Deal is Bad for Coloradans and the Climate
While CEA and others were preparing for the Colorado Public Utility Commission (PUC) public comment hearing on Xcel's proposed Energy Resource Plan (ERP), Xcel was busy making last-minute, expensive, and polluting changes to it in negotiations with the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, state agencies, and city representatives, including Boulder.
While they proposed to move up the closing date of Pueblo Unit 3 to 2035, it's still not early enough, they want to charge ratepayers for the remaining cost so they can still profit from it, and they want to replace it with natural gas. Read Sierra Club's breakdown HERE.
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Xcel Tries to Push Through Expensive Transmission Plan
Xcel is proposing 2.2 to 2.3 billion dollars on new transmission to meet its renewable energy goals despite evidence that much of it can be handled, and sooner, with existing transmission and much less costly upgrades. This is part of Xcel's attempts to spend, and of course profit on, $9.9 billion(!) in the next five years, even as generation is getting cheaper, because their focus is on profits over people. Read the deep dive HERE.
To add injury to injury, gas utilities are also saddling consumers with 11-50% gas price hikes this winter, arguing that they're just passing increases through from their suppliers. Xcel is even charging 3% more for electricity because it uses gas to generate much of it. At the same time, Xcel's CEO made $16 million last year, 139 times higher than the median employee pay and the second highest disparity in the nation.
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An Environmental Justice Review of Xcel's Denver Gas Plants
Xcel Energy’s Denver gas plants, named Cherokee and Arapahoe, are textbook examples of environmental racism since they are located in the two areas of Denver with majority Hispanic/Latino populations. The Cherokee plant is in the same area as Suncor, exacerbating the problem there. See HERE for a report that provides insight and data about the disproportionate harms these communities face.
The EPA has taken a step toward more accountability by requiring the plants to report their benzene and other emissions, though it doesn't start until 2023.
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Suncor Getting Tougher Air and Water Regulations
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) gave preliminary approval to move up installation of sulfur dioxide-removing equipment to reduce regional haze and, more importantly, improve the air quality of nearby neighborhoods. Deeper dive HERE.
The Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) drafted a permit that would require Suncor to monitor and limit runoff of PFAS, dangerous "forever chemicals" used in firefighting and manufacturing. See HERE.
Both efforts will have a public comment period before final approval.
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Denver Looking to Phase Out
Natural Gas in Commercial and Multifamily Buildings
The Denver City Council in November unanimously approved an ordinance to curb GHG emissions by requiring such buildings to gradually switch from natural gas to electric heating and cooling systems “when cost effective.” See more details HERE.
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U.S. Board on Geographic Names Approves Petition to Rename Peak
The peak formerly known as Sq**w Mountain has been officially renamed to Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain! Mestaa’ėhehe, meaning Owl Woman, was an influential Cheyenne translator that was inducted into the Colorado Hall of Fame in 1985. Several roads with the old name will now be addressed by Clear Creek County. More on this good news HERE.
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PUC Update
Xcel filed a non-unanimous partial settlement agreement with various parties, including the City of Boulder, proposing to generally support Xcel's Clean Energy Plan as proposed. Notably, the Pueblo "Comanche" Unit 3 was scheduled for reduced operations starting in 2022.
CEA opposes the settlement agreement because we know that Xcel can do better. Read Leslie Glustrom's letter to the Daily Camera editor HERE to learn more, or read more about November PUC activities HERE.
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What We Are Reading
Meet the Unstoppable Entrepreneur Bringing Solar, EVs and Jobs to His Native Community and Beyond
See HERE to learn about Solar Bear owner Robert Blake and his booming business, extensive nonprofit work and the $6.6M DOE grant he just landed.
Big Pivots Gleanings
Denver climate tax paying $26 million for 12-plus solar projects, with 30% of generation going to low-income housing and public schools. More details HERE.
Nuclear engineer warns against cost of nuclear ambitions in Wyoming HERE.
New Mexico IOU also trying to get ratepayers to pay for closing coal plants early. Read about it HERE.
Electric School Bus Charging Hub Could Provide ‘Blueprint’ for Grid Support
By connecting the batteries of parked electric school buses to the grid, a first-of-its-kind electric school bus charging hub aims to provide enough backup power to support up to 10,000 homes. More HERE.
Microgrids Can Give EV Batteries a Second Life
Retired EV batteries often still have 70% to 80% of their initial capacity. Read more HERE about how reusing them for microgrids can give them a second life and make the microgrids more cost-effective.
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Spotlight on Organizations That Do Great Work
This month's organization is Empower Our Future (EOF). EOF is composed of resident volunteers that primarily have worked to advance Boulder's municipalization effort and other clean energy goals such as ballot measures, city council engagement, etc. Many members were also members of CEA in the past and CEA continues to work closely with EOF on local Boulder efforts.
This year, EOF has expanded its education efforts to include more general clean energy topics in its Empower Hour series. Check them out HERE!
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Thank you for a great year!
- The Clean Energy Action Team
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