Author: Scott Weiser
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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…
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Grand Junction roundtable spotlights public access while Interior faces scrutiny over targeted land sales
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum joined Bureau of Land Management Director Steve Pearce in Grand Junction Wednesday for a roundtable focused on linking public land access to improved physical activity and public health outcomes. The officials promoted new initiatives including GetActive.gov, a website aimed at…
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Colorado governor signs bill requiring pollution controls, cost reporting for extended coal operations
Gov. Jared Polis signed into law a bill in reaction to orders from the U.S. Department of Energy to keep older coal units online. The federal government’s instructions applied to Craig Unit 1 in Colorado, one of five coal units affected nationwide. The state legislation requires installation of modern pollution controls and cost reporting for…
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Copper thefts threaten 911, emergency communications in Colorado
The theft of copper communications wire is endangering 911 service and other emergency response systems across Colorado, as thieves target infrastructure in Denver and beyond in search of quick profits, according to policymakers and industry representatives. At the state Capitol, legislators have responded by passing a bill aimed at cracking down down on the sale…
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Colorado’s proposed battery regulations target fire risks, raise enforcement, cost questions
Some worry consumers would face civil or administrative fines under the legislation Lawmakers have passed new regulations mandating sellers of lithium-powered batteries to register with the state and produce outreach plans before they can engage in business in Colorado. Under the proposal, providers must also collect “unwanted” propulsion batteries, ensure their “responsible managements,” and produce…