GOP utility regulator in Arizona defends Colorado PUC chairman, power overhaul

The Republican head of the Arizona Corporation Commission – the equivalent of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) – recently told The Colorado Independent that coal and mining industry attacks against PUC Chairman Ron Binz are “not plausible.” Binz drew considerable coal industry heat in the lead-up to last week’s ruling by the PUC on a plan by Xcel Energy to shut down several aging coal-fired power plants on Colorado’s Front Range, convert another one to natural gas and build a new natural gas-fired power plant.

PUC commissioners still split on fate of Cherokee 4 unit

The three Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) board members in charge of regulating the state’s publicly owned electrical utilities remain split on what to do about Xcel Energy’s coal-fired Cherokee 4 unit, according to the Associated Press.

The unit…

Utilities commission likely to make decision on Cherokee 4 today

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will likely decide this morning on the fate of the Denver-area Cherokee 4 coal-fired power plant unit – one of the last major sticking points in getting the state’s largest utility in compliance with…

PUC still deliberating on Clean Air, Clean Jobs

The Colorado Public Utilities Commissioner Monday kicked off more hearings on a plan submitted by Xcel Energy that would brings the utility giant into compliance with the Clean Air, Clean Jobs Act passed by the state legislature last session.

The…

Poll finds Coloradans back gas over coal as PUC weighs Xcel Energy plan

Colorado residents overwhelmingly prefer renewable energy and natural gas to coal as an energy source, according to a poll released Tuesday ahead of Colorado Public Utilities Commission deliberations over a controversial energy bill passed last legislative session.

Coal, gas clash has House race smoldering on Western Slope

The political ramifications of Gov. Bill Ritter’s “New Energy Economy” are likely to energize at least one state House race on the Western Slope, where coal mining and natural gas production are now at odds over the governor’s Clean Air Clean Jobs Act. In the south, sprawling House District 61 includes heavy coal mining along the North Fork of the Gunnison River, and in the north the district includes the eastern reaches of Garfield County’s mega gas patch.

State Senate passes Clean Air Clean Jobs bill, giving nod to gas over coal

The state Senate passed the Clean Air Clean Jobs Act (HB 1365) on third reading Wednesday, sending to Gov. Bill Ritter the bill that will retrofit or shut down several aging coal-fired Xcel power plants.

The push to convert to…

Odd bedfellows tour rolls on with Clean Air, Clean jobs rally at Capitol

About 300 people rallied on the west steps of the state capitol Monday morning to show their support for the proposed Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act, which would require Xcel Energy to mothball or retrofit three coal-burning power plants in favor of cleaner-burning gas-powered facilities.

Penry joins clean-energy effort, touts increase in gas industry jobs

State Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, the former quarterback and golden boy of the state GOP, has his name splashed all over a piece of clean-energy legislation that has the backing of his political nemesis, Gov. Bill Ritter, and a slew of conservation groups, including Environment Colorado, Colorado Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club.

Taking one for the natural gas team: Penry backs Ritter clean air plan

Gov. Bill Ritter’s Colorado Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act brought together some strange bedfellows this morning in the west foyer of the State Capitol in Denver, with frequent Ritter energy-policy critic Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, joining in a press conference…