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Governor Ritter, Xcel and Coalition Announce Energy Plan Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Xcel Energy and a coalition of Colorado lawmakers, energy companies and environmentalists announced their agreement on legislation that will lead the nation in cutting air pollution, creating jobs and increasing the use of cleaner energy sources.
The proposed Colorado Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act would require Xcel Energy to sharply reduce pollutants by retiring, retrofitting or repowering Front Range coal-fired power plants by the end of 2017 and replacing them with facilities fueled by natural gas and other lower- or non-emitting energy sources.
“Colorado’s New Energy Economy is already leading the country toward a cleaner and more secure energy future,” Governor Ritter said. “This proposal will keep Colorado at the forefront of America’s energy revolution. It will protect consumers, clean our air and protect public health, and create new jobs by increasing demand for Colorado-produced natural gas.”
The Governor thanked Xcel Energy for its national leadership and for partnering with Colorado to create a more diverse and secure energy portfolio and to protect the state’s environment. Governor Ritter said he hopes the proposal is supported by Democrats and Republicans alike.
Under the proposal, Xcel Energy would work with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to submit plans by Aug. 15 to the state Public Utilities Commissions to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions at coal plants by up to 80 percent over the next eight years, likely sooner. Xcel is Colorado’s largest utility, serving more than 1.1 million residential customers.
Xcel Energy’s plan would include an evaluation of retiring or retrofitting 900 megawatts of coal-fired capacity at metro-area power plants, giving primary consideration to replacing or repowering those plants with natural gas and other lower-emitting resources.
“Xcel Energy supports proposed legislation to establish a comprehensive process for addressing more stringent current and future federal Clean Air Act requirements,” said David Eves, president and CEO for Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company. “The company is optimistic that any final legislative proposal would focus on meeting these requirements in a fashion that is cost-effective for consumers and ensures ongoing system reliability. We look forward to working with the Governor’s Office and the General Assembly to develop the framework that will help us to meet these goals.”
State Senator Bruce Whitehead, who will be a sponsor of the legislation in the Senate: “This is a perfect example of how we in Colorado build broad coalitions to solve our biggest challenges. We once again are demonstrating to the rest of the country how to increase economic, energy and environmental security.”
Rep. Judy Solano, a House sponsor: “One of my top priorities is creating jobs in Colorado’s nationally recognized clean energy economy. This groundbreaking proposal will help ensure stable, reliable and affordable energy for the people and businesses of our state.” Martha Rudolph, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: “The proposed Colorado Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act would protect the health of Coloradans by significantly reducing many harmful air pollutants, including those that contribute to the formation of ozone, and improve visibility conditions in our most pristine parks and wilderness areas. Utilizing the cleaner-burning home-grown energy in this proposal would help Colorado make significant progress toward meeting federal Clean Air Act requirements." |
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