Environmentalists propose 3 more questions in ballot-box battle over oil, gas drilling in Colorado
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Judith Kohler
4d ago
Environmentalists and community activists have filed three statewide ballot proposals in a counter-move against the oil and gas industry’s attempts to sway public policy by putting a slew of questions before voters. It’s the latest salvo in an escalating conflict over efforts to move away from fossil fuels in Colorado and the industry’s pushback against what it sees as attempts to shut down drilling. The filing of the three measures Thursday follows submission of seven proposals by the industry and its supporters that would ban state and local laws, ordinances and codes that favor or discrimin ..read more
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Xcel Energy customers may see slight drop in gas rates, small rise in electric bills
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Judith Kohler
1w ago
Xcel Energy-Colorado expects its rates to stay relatively flat in the second quarter of 2024, with a slight rise in electric rates and a small drop in natural gas bills. The utility said in a statement that based on natural gas costs, the typical residential customer could see a 4.17% decline, or $1.73, in the monthly bill. Rates for small commercial customers are expected to drop 4.82%, or $9.19, a month. Xcel said residential electric bills will likely increase on average 1.67%, or $1.49, a month and bills for small businesses will go up an average of 1.8%, or $2.26, a month. The increase re ..read more
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Legislation promotes construction of data centers. Not everyone supports the idea. Here’s why.
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Judith Kohler
1w ago
A bill that would provide state tax rebates to draw data centers to Colorado has run into opposition from critics who warn of the facilities’ large demands for energy and water and potentially higher costs for other electric customers. The legislation would offer state sales and use tax rebates for construction materials and equipment starting in 2026. Senate Bill 24-085 declares that investing in projects such as data centers “is crucial for the economy of the future” and Colorado, considered a growing high-tech hub, is falling behind in attracting the facilities. “I look at data centers as i ..read more
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Lawsuit accuses oil, gas companies of fraud after bankruptcy results in 200 “orphan” wells in Colorado
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Judith Kohler
3w ago
The land Cindy and Ronald McCormick bought for their “forever” home in the rolling hills of eastern Adams County came with a stunning view of the Front Range. It also came with an out-of-service oil well, an open pit, aging storage tanks, a dilapidated shed and a broken promise from a company to clean it all up. After learning that the company, Painted Pegasus Petroleum, went bankrupt, leaving nearly 200 wells across the county for others to take care of, the McCormicks decided to join a lawsuit seeking damages. The lawsuit filed by Denver attorney Christopher Carrington and attorney Cami ..read more
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Colorado’s “oil-gas wars” reignited by proposed bill, ballot measures
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Judith Kohler
1M ago
Four years after an overhaul of Colorado’s oil and gas rules that was meant to cool conflicts over drilling, a draft bill that would phase out new permits for wells is running up the temperature. Fanning the heat even more are ballot proposals that could restrict efforts to boost renewable energy. Gov. Jared Polis said he hoped a law approved in 2019 would end the state’s “oil and gas wars” by tightening regulations and putting protection of public health and the environment front and center. But growing concerns about climate change and Colorado’s failure to meet federal air quality standards ..read more
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Coloradans struggling to pay monthly utility bills, agencies say
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Judith Kohler
1M ago
Provided by Energy Outreach Colorado Agencies and organizations that help weatherize homes and help people pay their utility bills say Coloradans continue to struggle with energy costs. They say overall elevated costs of living are the reason. Natural gas prices are lower than a year ago, when many Coloradans saw big jumps in their heating bills, but the need for help to pay utility bills remains high, say agencies that offer assistance. For the week ending Jan. 21, the nonprofit Energy Outreach Colorado fielded 555 applications for assistance and spent $333,229, said spokeswoman Denise Stept ..read more
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Headaches and a $5.3K bill: Customers say Xcel making it difficult to disconnect from gas
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Judith Kohler
2M ago
After spending $40,000 to electrify her Boulder home, which included installing heat pumps, K.K. DuVivier was ready to disconnect from natural gas and have her meter turned off. Then she got the bill to flip the switch: $5,333. The bill marked due Dec. 12 arrived after what DuVivier described as frustrating rounds of calls and emails as she tried to stop the gas service she no longer needs from Xcel Energy. The bill didn’t say why she owed more than $5,000. When she contacted Xcel again, DuVivier got an email saying the bill was for demolishing and removing her gas line, something she had told ..read more
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Suncor’s Commerce City refinery reported more than a dozen pollutant-spewing malfunctions since December
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Noelle Phillips
2M ago
Suncor Energy’s oil refinery in Commerce City has reported 13 malfunctions since Dec. 1, sending excessive amounts of harmful pollutants into the air as the company provided little public information as to whether or not people’s health was at risk. The malfunctions caused Suncor to release more pollutants than the company is allowed under its two federal air pollution permits, and on at least two occasions those excessive releases lasted for days. In one incident on Jan. 13, the amount of hydrogen sulfide expelled from the refinery was more than 169 times higher than what is permitted. The ma ..read more
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Colorado residents face exploratory uranium drilling “right in the front yard of the community”
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Elise Schmelzer
2M ago
When Marijane Sisson looks out the kitchen window of her home outside Cañon City, she is greeted with views of rolling hills and a grassy meadow. Some days, when she’s lucky, a herd of elk appears in the meadow. Sisson and her husband purchased the property in June and moved from Louisiana to live in the South T Bar Ranch development. In the neighborhood of more than 100 properties, located a 45-minute drive northwest of Cañon City, they found a peaceful home nestled in a remote community. Then the couple received a notice they didn’t expect: Uranium drilling would begin in the coming year. Em ..read more
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Xcel Energy says customers’ natural gas bills may rise with plummeting temperatures
The Denver Post » Energy News
by Judith Kohler
2M ago
With the temperatures dropping, the natural gas bills for Xcel Energy-Colorado customers could increase. Xcel said Friday that increased wholesale natural gas prices might last a few days as freezing weather across most of the country affects natural gas production and demand. High temperatures in metro Denver are forecast for the low teens and single digits through Monday. Lows are predicted to drop to zero or below. Xcel Energy passes on increases in wholesale prices directly to customers. The company said in a statement that it expects the increases to be “significantly smaller” than the ju ..read more
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