Utilities

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Xcel Gets PUC Approval for Limon Wind Farm Deal

The utility says the move will be a hedge against natural gas price fluctuations. The charge for the electricity from the Limon facility will start at $27.50 per megawatt-hour. Xcel’s average purchase cost for wind since 2007 has been $42.16.

21Nov2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Coal Mine Decision Sounds Alarm Bells

With a decision looming, this week’s approval of a lease sale for a coal mine expansion in a roadless area near Paonia had the blessings of top officials in Washington, D.C. The bigger mine would require methane vents to be drilled in the roadless area.

17Nov2011 | admin | 3 comments | Continued
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Forest Service OKs Coal Lease Expansions on West Slope

The decision helps enable expansion of underground mining. But Jeremy Nichols of the WildEarth Guardians says the decision means nearly 50 well pads and miles of associated roads will be created in the Sunset Trail roadless area.

9Nov2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Obama Pledges Rapid Permits for Seven Major Transmission Projects

The White House said the move will create “thousands” of construction and operations jobs, while transforming the nation’s electric system into a “modern, 21st century grid” that is safer and more secure, giving consumers more energy choices.

6Oct2011 | admin | 2 comments | Continued
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TECH Update — Radiometrics Expands Systems for Wind Energy and Utility Industries

Utility companies are now using the company’s MP-3000A data to improve short-term energy demand forecasts, and wind stability prediction for wind turbine power generation.

22Sep2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Xcel’s Residential Electrical Rates to Drop in 4th Quarter

In an announcement on Friday, Xcel (NYSE: XEL) said the drop for residential customers is primarily because of the expiration of summertime tiered rates and lower costs to purchase fuel and energy.

19Sep2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Will Decreasing Demand Decimate the
Electric Power Industry?

Read the forecasts from the energy agencies and they all presume that consumption per capita will continue about the same. But consider these trends …

6Sep2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Retiring Xcel CEO: ‘OK if no more coal’

Kelly, who’s apparently moving from Minnesota (where Xcel is based) to Colorado, went on to question those in Congress denying the science behind global climate change and the need to move away from fossil fuels. “I think the science is pretty solid. Maybe we haven’t communicated it well enough.”

22Aug2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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PUC to Take Comment on Black Hills Rate Proposal

Black Hills is seeking to recover the costs of two new natural gas-fired turbines at Pueblo, along with associated infrastructure and other utility expenses. The company is asking that new rates be implemented on Jan. 1, 2012, the projected commercial operations date of the new Pueblo Airport Generation Station.

11Aug2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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State PUC Approves Black Hills’ 29 Megawatt
Wind Project

The approval of the settlement enables Black Hills Energy to construct and own 50 percent of the wind project and authorized the company to conduct a competitive solicitation for ownership of the other half. The development south of Pueblo will feature Vestas wind turbines built in-state.

10Aug2011 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
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Colorado Coal Increasingly Headed Overseas

28.8 million tons of coal valued at $1 billion is a lot of domestic energy. Except when it’s not. According to the second-quarter earnings report for Arch Coal, the St. Louis, Mo., company that owns Colorado’s West Elk Mine, 2011 is expected to be a banner year – based at least in part on increasing exports to overseas markets.

6Aug2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Xcel’s Chief Executive Vows to ‘Get a Fair Price’
for Assets From Boulder

“The bottom line is we believe municipalization would be a bad thing for the citizens and customers,” Fowke said, and predicted that the municipalization plan, supported by the Boulder City Council, would be rejected by voters in the fall.

28Jul2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Black Hills, Vestas Await PUC Approval for Huerfano County Wind Farm

The utility is proposing the 29-megawatt project as one piece of its plan to meet the state’s 30% renewable energy standard enacted last year. The turbine assemblies would be produced at Vestas plants here in Colorado.

12Jun2011 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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