BLOGS & INSIGHT

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Viewpoint: The Billion Dollar Block of Concrete

The insider joke is that utilities always want to build the next “billion dollar block of concrete” — not for the power, but because it can be added to their “rate base” and thus earn these returns. Why is their return on capital far higher than you or I can make on a secure investment?

13Mar2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Viewpoint: Colorado Needs Uranium Bill

In anticipation of a resurgence of uranium mining in our state and subsequent milling, the measure - soon to be introduced by McFadyen in the House - would require operators of those mills to offer some fundamental safeguards to the communities in which they operate.

23Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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It’s Colorado Energy’s Time to Lead: Let’s not Screw it Up

At Altira Group, we believe 2010 can bring a significant change to Colorado energy. Our state can help lead the country in developing thoughtful, balanced energy policies that work towards ending the “either-or” debate and embrace both traditional and renewable energy development.

25Jan2010 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
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The Gold Standard –
Government Grants Leading Cleantech Astray

While the government has long had a role in advancing basic R&D, the concept that the U.S. will jump-start, let alone build, a sustainable energy economy through government handouts for implementation of manufacturing plants, production facilities or enhanced utility grids is, quite simply, ludicrous.

19Jan2010 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
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At Issue –
Energy Policy Needs To Be Science-Based

Colorado already is a sacrifice area from uranium exploration, mining, milling and dumping, yet we have no one qualified to inspect, monitor or act on water, chemical or toxic pollution or illnesses. We have 3,000 abandoned, ignored uranium mines.

23Sep2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Quest Sustainability Blog –
We Should Rethink the Concept of “Waste”

Our country needs a National Packaging Standard that mandates businesses to use biodegradable packaging within five years on both domestic and imported goods. Since ALL businesses would absorb the cost increase, there is no competitive disadvantage to changing.

8Sep2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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The U.S. Better Face Up to Its Water Shortage Crisis

Another problem comes in something that sounds relatively benign: renewable energy, at least in some forms. Refining one gallon of ethanol requires four gallons of water — a drop in the bucket compared with how much water it takes to grow enough corn to refine one gallon of ethanol: as much as 2,500 gallons.

24Aug2009 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
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Commentary –
Vestas Closes British Wind Plant, Expands to Colorado

Vestas will move its operation to Colorado because the U.S. market is much bigger and more vibrant – and will go head to head with General Electric and Mitsubishi to take advantage of Barack Obama’s program to subsidize wind farms as well as state-based utility clean energy mandates.

31Jul2009 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
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Western Resource Advocates Takes Issue
with Oil Shale Reporting

Says the WRA’s Roessmann, “The whole point of the RD&D program was to establish commercial and technical feasibility and assess environmental risks. The BLM’s efforts to develop a second round of oil shale leases essentially put the cart before the horse.”

20Jul2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Cap and Trade, or Smoke and Mirrors?

Is cap and trade the answer? Industrial interests seem to favor it because it buys them time, literally, to spend the real money that reduces the real pollution, or perhaps avoid it altogether by figuring out how to trade off their liability.

29Jun2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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My View — If We Play by New Gas-Industry Rules,
We’re Going to Get Burned

The new rules come at the worst time for the industry, as natural-gas prices are nearly a quarter of what they were just one year ago. Nationwide, the effect of gas prices on the drilling rig count has been devastating. When compared to the Colorado numbers, though, the nationwide drop doesn’t look so bad. Last year at this time, our state had 123 drilling rigs
working. Now we have just 45.

1Jun2009 | admin | 2 comments | Continued
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Carbon is a Four-Letter Word:
A Treatise to Fuel the Flame (and by doing so, regrettably, discharge some CO2)

Here’s where the science, in some people’s minds, falters. In the big scheme of things, can a case sans reasonable doubt be made that fossil fueled electric generating plants are causing the Wilkins ice shelf to break off and float away? After all, 40% of 3.2% is just 1.3%.

9Apr2009 | admin | 3 comments | Continued
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Reflections on the Aspen Environment Forum —
“Powering the Planet: Energy for the Long Run”

I posed my question: “Do you see a role for renewable energy payments in the future of the industry?” Chris Flavin gave a strong yes, while Keith Trent emphasized that for Duke Energy, it is a balancing act between price, reliability and clean technology.

2Apr2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Editorial: Despite Economic Hard times, Colorado Has
Energy Opportunities

Rebuilding long-neglected infrastructure and investing in research, new technologies and sustainable energy are part of what defines economic opportunity in the 21st century. Other countries know this.

18Mar2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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