Author: Scott Weiser
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Colorado allows big polluters to buy credits as it mandates local engagement
Colorado air quality regulators on Friday decided to require major industrial plants to hold in-person meetings with nearby communities and to cut certain pollutants on site. The same rules allow those plants to meet most of their greenhouse gas targets by buying credits instead of reducing emissions at the facilities. The Colorado Air Quality Control…
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Record utility rate requests hit $9.2 billion nationwide in second quarter
Colorado had no requests last quarter Electric and gas utilities sought a record $9.2 billion in rate increases nationwide during the second quarter, according to a new analysis by the consumer advocacy organization PowerLines, as utilities continue seeking billions for grid upgrades, reliability improvements and growing electricity demand. The filings would affect more than 56…
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Designs for Front Range Passenger Rail trains released
The Front Range Passenger Rail District on Sunday unveiled the new brand identity and personality for its planned Colorado Connector intercity train service, known as CoCo. The district said the branding is intended to be welcoming, optimistic and distinctly Colorado while presenting a trustworthy and approachable identity for the service, according to a news release.…
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CSU expert shares air awareness strategies amid rising smoke, ozone risks
Wildfire smoke is blanketing parts of Colorado this summer following a dry winter, with large fires such as the Aspen Acres fire burning tens of thousands of acres and sending plumes across the state. Combined with frequent high-ozone days on the Front Range, poor air quality is threatening public health. The metro Denver area and…
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2025 Energize Denver report shows progress as federal lawsuit proceeds
Denver released its 2025 annual report on the Energize Denver program as federal officials step into a growing legal fight over the city’s and state’s rules for cutting energy use and emissions. The 2025 annual report shows continued progress, with Denver cutting greenhouse gas emissions by a projected 4.5% in 2025. Key accomplishments include 2,000…
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Xcel franchise renewal clears first Denver City Council committee hurdle
More than $180 million a year in franchise fees, infrastructure relocation savings and undergrounding funds would continue flowing to Denver under a proposed 20-year franchise agreement with Xcel Energy. It cleared a major City Council hurdle Tuesday, while adding new shareholder-funded bill assistance and requirements for neighborhood-compatible substation design. The current agreement, in place since…
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Elbert County takes transmission dispute with Xcel to court
Elbert County filed a lawsuit in Elbert County District Court to challenge the state’s approval of Xcel Energy’s preferred route for a major transmission line, marking the latest escalation in a dispute over how much weight local land-use decisions should carry when they conflict with statewide transmission needs. The Thursday court filing comes after Elbert…
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Colorado’s haze lawsuit tests coal plant closure | ANALYSIS
Colorado is asking a federal appeals court to overturn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to reject the state’s plan to reduce haze at national parks and wilderness areas. At the center of the fight is a straightforward but difficult question: Can the federal government use air quality rules to force a power plant to…
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Polis administration awards $30 million for local climate policy projects
Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Energy Office announced $30 million in grants Thursday to 18 local and tribal governments for projects to reduce emissions, improve air quality and promote energy efficiency. This second and final round of the federally funded Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant program brings the total spending to $51.7 million. The first…
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Fight over Colorado and Denver building energy standards gains federal attention
The U.S. Department of Justice notified the U.S. District Court in Denver that it is considering filing a Statement of Interest in a lawsuit challenging Colorado’s and Denver’s building energy performance standards on federal preemption grounds. The notice says the federal government has questions about the preemptive scope of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act…