Category: Governor Hickenlooper

Next Colorado PUC Commissioner John Gavan "consensus choice" of Governors Hickenlooper and Polis

12/20/2018

By Joe Smyth | [email protected] | @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

Poudre Valley Electric and Xcel Energy Colorado President win national awards from Smart Electric Power Alliance

6/12/2018

By Joe Smyth | [email protected] | @joesmyth

Efforts by two Colorado utilities to expand access to renewable energy were recognized this week with national awards from the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Xcel Energy Colorado President Alice Jackson was named “Power Player of the Year” for her role in bringing together stakeholders to develop a plan for the company to exceed Colorado’s renewable portfolio standard. Poudre Valley Electric Association (PVREA) won the award for “Electric Cooperative Utility of the Year” for its role in developing the Coyote Ridge Community Solar Farm, which helped expand solar power opportunities for low and moderate income members of the co-op.

“To win this award is such an honor for Poudre Valley REA. We developed the Coyote Ridge Community Solar Farm as a mechanism to serve all our members with solar energy and we’re proud to be able to deliver that opportunity,” said PVREA President and CEO Jeff Wadsworth, “Many thanks to our partners and employees who worked on this innovative project that created solar energy opportunities for all our members, and to our members for supporting us in this endeavor.”

Governor Hickenlooper discusses Tri-State at the Climate Leadership Conference

3/1/2018

By Joe Smyth | [email protected] | @joesmyth

Denver - Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper delivered the keynote address to the Climate Leadership Conference in Denver today, highlighting the state’s efforts to accelerate the transition to renewable energy by working with companies and municipalities throughout the state.

.@GovofCO at @TheCLC2018: "We were proud to come out and support #AmericasPledge...at this point now there are 20 states, 110 cities, 1,400 businesses, and I feel the momentum is just beginning.” https://t.co/TX9YWX15it pic.twitter.com/ePxCNsOIqt
— America's Pledge (@AmericasPledge) March 1, 2018

How are electric cooperatives navigating the transition from coal to cheap clean energy?

11/13/2017

By Joe Smyth | [email protected] | @joesmyth

At the recent 21st Century Energy Transitions Symposium, former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter asked the governors of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming: How do you ensure that the residents of your state aren’t left out of the energy transition underway that Amory Lovins presented in his keynote remarks?

It was the final question that Ritter asked during the Governors’ Panel, and the only one he posed to all three members of the panel: Montana Governor Steve Bullock, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, and Wyoming Governor Matt Mead. Amory Lovins, chief scientist and co-founder of Rocky Mountain Institute, had earlier delivered the Symposium’s keynote address, showing that rapidly changing technologies, business models, and price trends are driving the energy transition from “the obsolete age of carbon” to “the modern age of silicon.”

It’s worth watching Amory Lovins' full presentation

Transcript of Bill Ritter’s energy transition question to the Governors of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming

11/13/2017

By Joe Smyth | [email protected] | @joesmyth

At the 2017 21st Century Energy Transitions Symposium, former Colorado Governor and Director of the Center for the New Energy Economy Bill Ritter asked the governors of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming: How do you ensure that the residents of your state aren’t left out of the energy transition underway that Amory Lovins presented in his keynote remarks? I summarized and wrote about the governors’ responses, and how we might ask similar questions of electric cooperatives. To help provide a more complete record, I’ve also transcribed the governors’ full responses below, lightly edited for clarity. Thanks to the 21st Century Energy Transition Symposium and Colorado State University for hosting the event and providing videos of the Governors’ keynote lunch panel and all the other sessions.

Next Colorado PUC Commissioner John Gavan "consensus choice" of Governors Hickenlooper and Polis

Poudre Valley Electric and Xcel Energy Colorado President win national awards from Smart Electric Power Alliance

Governor Hickenlooper discusses Tri-State at the Climate Leadership Conference

How are electric cooperatives navigating the transition from coal to cheap clean energy?

Transcript of Bill Ritter’s energy transition question to the Governors of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming

Recent Articles

Categories

Archives