Author: Scott Weiser
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Hiker dies in suspected mountain lion attack in Colorado
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Colorado wildlife officials euthanized two mountain lions on New Year’s Day after they suspected the predators killed a woman in Larimer County. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said it is investigating after hikers reported seeing a mountain lion near a person who was lying on the ground around 12:15 p.m. on Thursday on the Crosier Mountain…
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Feds order coal-fired Craig power plant to remain open
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The Trump administration’s energy agency has ordered one of three generating units at a Colorado power plant to remain available for operation amid an impending shutdown of the station and its supplying coal mines. The move is one of the latest attempts by the White House to revive coal production in the U.S. following President…
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Colorado eyes shift in particulate oversight amid EV push
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Colorado’s Air Pollution Control Division proposed shifting oversight of solid particulates as small as one-seventh the width of a human hair from federal to state-only authority on Dec. 19, citing more than 20 years of compliance with national standards. The proposal seeks to repeal EPA-approved particulate controls in seven areas once out of compliance with…
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Colorado PUC slates January hearings on natural gas plan, transmission line appeal, railroad rules
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The Colorado Public Utilities Commission announced January public comment opportunities on railroad safety rules, natural gas infrastructure, and a major transmission line siting appeal. The hearings form part of expanded outreach efforts the commission launched to increase public participation in regulatory proceedings. NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE Xcel Energy seeks approval for two projects in its proposed…
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Xcel customers face steep hurdles in suing over spoiled goods from power shutoffs
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Xcel Energy customers who lost refrigerated or frozen goods during the utility’s public safety power shutoffs face steep hurdles in recovering damages through lawsuits. Colorado law and utility rules issued by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission limit liability for service interruptions, even when outages result from proactive de-energization to prevent wildfires. Jack Luellen, senior counsel…
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Xcel Energy prepares for power shutoffs due to high winds
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Forecast high winds along the Front Range on Wednesday revive memories of the devastating 2021 Marshall fire that destroyed more than 1,000 homes when gusts downed energized power lines. Xcel Energy now weighs proactive power cuts to avoid similar ignitions amid dangerously dry conditions. The Marshall fire erupted under comparable wind events with gusts exceeding…
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Colowyo coal mine near Craig lays off 133 workers as mine closes
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Neil McCandless sat in a Craig coffee shop, reminiscing on his 94 years in a town that has gone from sheep ranching to coal mining to power production but which is now moving toward an uncertain future. Coal mining is ending in Craig, and the closure of power plants is in sight. And the latest…
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Colorado rolls out plan to supercharge clean-energy jobs boom
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A new state analysis released Tuesday warns that Colorado will face significant shortages of skilled trades workers, threatening the state’s ability to meet Gov. Jared Polis’ greenhouse gas reduction goals unless it dramatically ramps up training. The report shows gaps in the trades, such as electricians, wind turbine technicians, EV automotive technicians and HVAC technicians,…
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Can Colorado reinvent its uranium legacy?
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Uranium mining in Colorado has a bright future. George Glasier believes that. From his cattle ranch near Nucla, Colo., where sagebrush valleys give way to rugged canyons, Glasier leads a company working to restart old uranium mines and build a new ore processing plant. This push comes at a pivotal time for an industry that’s…
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Colorado, Xcel, petition to delay Comanche coal-fired generating unit shutdown
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Colorado’s largest utility company has petitioned energy regulators to push back the retirement of a coal-fired, electrical generating unit located in the Southern part of the state from December 2025 to the end of 2026. The Polis administration is backing the petition. Comanche Unit 2 is one of three coal-fired units at the Pueblo-based Comanche…
