Next Colorado PUC Commissioner John Gavan "consensus choice" of Governors Hickenlooper and Polis12/20/2018
By Joe Smyth | joe@cleancooperative.com | @joesmyth Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper announced this week that John Gavan will serve as the next Commissioner of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), beginning January 7, 2019. Gavan will replace PUC commissioner Wendy Moser, whose term ends next month, and join Commissioner Frances Koncilja and Chairman Jeffrey Ackerman, whose terms continue until January 2020 and January 2021, respectively. "We appreciate Wendy’s service to the PUC," said Hickenlooper press secretary Jacque Montgomery in an email, "Mr. Gavan was a consensus choice of both the Governor and Governor-elect Polis. He is an engineer and brings experience in energy and telecommunications. We believe Mr. Gavan will be an excellent addition to the PUC." The Colorado PUC regulates electric utilities in the state, and will likely play a significant role in efforts to shift the state toward renewable energy. Governor-elect Jared Polis campaigned on a goal of moving Colorado to 100% renewable energy by 2040 or sooner, and said after the election that goal will be among his top priorities. The Polis campaign website highlighted the importance of “Appointing Public Utilities Commissioners who support consumers and renewable energy” among the ways that "We can spur investment in new local renewable energy projects."  Image from Jared Polis campaign website during the election
By Joe Smyth | joe@cleancooperative.com | @joesmyth
Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) took a major step forward in its effort to end its contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, by filing a formal complaint last week requesting that the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) "exercise its jurisdiction over Tri-State as a public utility" and "establish an exit charge that is just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory."
On Monday morning, the Colorado PUC ordered Tri-State "to satisfy the matters in the complaint or to answer the complaint in writing within 20 days." On Monday afternoon, DMEA filed a request that the PUC establish a schedule for the hearings process that would result in a decision by July 11, 2019.
DMEA has sought for years to loosen the restrictions that Tri-State imposes on electric cooperatives, which prevent DMEA and other Colorado co-ops from pursuing more local renewable energy projects. In October, DMEA members voted to give the electric cooperative more financial options to pursue a buyout of its Tri-State contract.
DMEA noted in a press release that it "will partner with Guzman Energy," the same power supplier that supported Kit Carson Electric's $37 million buyout of its contract with Tri-State. Guzman Energy announced today that it is seeking Requests for Proposal for up to 200 megawatts of wind energy and 50 megawatts of solar energy, and has obtained a $200 million capital commitment to help bring on that new renewable energy. Guzman Energy President Chris Riley confirmed that a portion of the 250 megawatts of wind and solar would be used to serve DMEA, if the co-op succeeds in ending its contract with Tri-State. Colorado Energy Plan approval will mean new renewable energy investments in rural Colorado8/28/2018
By Joe Smyth | joe@cleancooperative.com | @joesmyth
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy’s Colorado Energy Plan yesterday, greenlighting the plan to close two units at the Comanche coal plant in Pueblo Colorado, and replace that power with a mix of new renewable energy and battery storage projects along with existing natural gas plants.
Xcel Energy’s plan attracted national attention this year due to the proposals for large scale battery storage projects and unprecedented bids for cheap new wind and solar energy. In Colorado, the plan attracted support from labor, business, environmental, and community organizations, thanks to its expected economic and health benefits. A report this week from the Colorado Fiscal Institute found that closing the two coal units would reduce air pollutants in Pueblo and Colorado, leading to fewer asthma attacks, emergency rooms visits, and other health problems. A June report from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder found that the plan would create hundreds of new jobs, boost local tax revenue, and provide a net positive economic impact to the state - mostly by avoiding nearly $1 billion in coal purchases from Wyoming. 
By Joe Smyth | joe@cleancooperative.com | @joesmyth
Two reports this month provide new details about Xcel Energy’s Colorado Energy Plan, including a glimpse at even lower bid prices for new renewable energy projects in the state, and an analysis of the impacts of the plan to jobs and tax revenue in Colorado and Pueblo County.
Xcel Energy's proposal would close two of the three units at the Comanche coal plant in Pueblo, Colorado, and replace that power with a mix of new resources including 1100 megawatts of wind energy, 700 megawatts of solar energy, 275 megawatts of energy storage projects, and the purchase of 380 megawatts of existing natural gas capacity. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is considering the proposal, and several labor, environmental, business, and community groups in Colorado are engaged in that process. In January, we saw the bid prices for new renewable energy projects that Xcel Energy received, which showed that new wind and solar power in Colorado is now cheaper than existing coal plants. Those renewable energy project bid prices were so low, they attracted interest from a wide array of energy industry analysts and publications. But that earlier report only showed median prices of the bids that Xcel had received: $18/MWh for new wind energy, $30/MWh for new solar projects, and $36/MWh for solar with battery storage projects. This month, Xcel Energy filed a more in-depth report with the Colorado PUC, which provides additional details about the renewable energy project bids it received. And while the new report doesn't include pricing details for specific projects, it does show the price range of bids that came in below those median prices: The Preferred CEPP includes unprecedented low pricing across a range of generation technologies including wind at levelized pricing between $11-18/MWh, solar between $23-$27/MWh, solar with storage between $30-$32/MWh and gas between $1.50 - $2.50/kW-mo. The lower end of those ranges rival some of the record-breaking low solar energy prices we've seen in recent months around the sunny Southwest. |
Recent ArticlesNext PUC Commissioner John Gavan "consensus choice" of Governors Hickenlooper and Polis
Tri-State policy change discourages battery projects in rural Colorado and New Mexico Colorado Public Utilities Commission orders Tri-State to "satisfy or answer" exit charge complaint from Delta Montrose Electric United Power seeks solutions to "increasingly outmoded G&T business models" Clean Energy Means Business Summit highlights renewable energy opportunities and challenges in rural Colorado Governor-elect Jared Polis says moving Colorado toward more renewable energy will be a top priority Electric cooperative officials discuss cheap renewable energy and an “eroding monopoly” Delta Montrose Electric members vote for new financing options, supporting a potential buyout of Tri-State contract Poudre Valley Electric requests Tri-State policy changes and fuel mix study Holy Cross Energy plans to shift away from coal, aiming for 70% renewable energy What do corporate renewable energy commitments mean for electric utilities? Colorado Energy Plan approval will mean new renewable energy investments in rural Colorado Report: Tri-State could save $600 million by shifting from coal to renewable energy Delta Montrose Electric seeks new financing options to end contract with Tri-State Wind energy jobs in rural Colorado attract bipartisan support Colorado Energy Plan analysis shows switching from coal to renewable energy will boost jobs and local tax revenue Poudre Valley Electric and Xcel Energy Colorado President win national awards from Smart Electric Power Alliance Latest coal plant subsidy proposal could hit electricity bills in the West Moody’s report: “High quality renewable resources” could help Tri-State and Basin Electric navigate rising carbon transition risks Senator Heinrich highlights “frustrations in New Mexico” with Tri-State’s limits on local solar Moody’s report shows Tri-State’s coal plants are more expensive than new renewable energy Tri-State’s limits on local energy development are a growing problem for co-op members Governor Hickenlooper discusses Tri-State at the Climate Leadership Conference Bids for Xcel’s Colorado Energy Plan include a proposal for the world’s largest battery New wind and solar power in Colorado is now cheaper than existing coal plants Companies' 100% renewable energy goals are getting results in Colorado What does cheap solar mean for electric cooperatives? Colorado towns and cities are helping push utilities to embrace renewable energy How are electric cooperatives navigating the transition from coal to cheap clean energy? Blocked from building more solar projects, United Power shifts to community batteries Economic reality sets in for Tri-State efforts to expand the Holcomb coal plant Solar projects in the works in Grand and Jackson counties Mountain Parks Electric grapples with solar Categories
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