The Rotten Political Incentives of the Utility Industry
The monopoly electric utility business model is rife with problems. Chief among them is the regulatory capture it invites. Monopoly utilities tend to reflect the political environment in which they are situated. This is no accident. They know where their bread is buttered and are more than happy to play along with the ambitious energy […]
Colorado’s Energy Future: The High Cost of 100 Percent Electric Home Heating
What began as a first-of-its-kind ban on new natural gas hookups in 2019 in Berkeley, California, has turned into a nationwide movement. To date, more than 100 cities plus the state of New York have since passed gas bans of their own to push their citizens toward electrification. It has even begun to spread in […]
Colorado’s Energy Future: The High Cost of 100% Renewable Electricity by 2040
Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D.) campaigned for his first term in office on a platform of transitioning the state to 100 percent renewable energy by 2040. In his first year in office, Polis unveiled an official government “roadmap” to do just that. Since then, he has signed into law no fewer than 55 climate bills […]
Jake Fogleman Talks Energy Bills at the Capitol, Nuclear Energy on the Jimmy Lakey Show
Policy analyst Jake Fogleman joined the Jimmy Lakey Show on 600 KCOL to talk about his article on the Democrats at the legislature killing a Republican-led clean energy bill. They also discuss how policymakers can keep energy affordable for Coloradans and what the future holds for the reliability of the state’s electric grid. Listen to […]
Dr. Polis Prescribes Even Higher Utility Bills
Primum non nocere. Translation: first, do no harm. It’s a phrase that has been part of the medical ethics lexicon since the 17th century. Coloradans would have been wise to apply it to energy policy some two decades ago, when the eco-left began politicizing energy production, electricity, and our grid. Flanked by low-income customers, Governor […]
Radical Reorganization of Colorado’s Electric Grid: The Cost of Keeping the Lights On
IP-3-2019 (October 2019) Author: Grant Mandigora with contributors: David Wojick, Ph.D., Isaac Orr, Mitchell Rolling, and Brit Naas. DOWNLOAD REPORT (PDF) Executive Summary: Colorado Governor Jared Polis wants to see a renewable energy transition within the next 20 years and has cited future savings as evidence that it should be undertaken. However, he has also […]
The Coalition of Ratepayers Case Study
The Coalition of Ratepayers is a Colorado non-profit composed of small businesses and individuals. It has been an active party in two electric utility regulatory proceedings: the Rush Creek Wind Farm and the Colorado Energy Plan (CEP). The Coalition first intervened against the Rush Creek Wind Farm, and although the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved […]
Microgrid Technology: The Option for the Individual
Third article in our series about microgrids By Casey Freeman The combination of new technology and the free market has given average people access to goods and services that until recently were readily available only to the upper echelons of society. For example, ordering a nice car to your door to chauffer you around town […]
The Cost & Impact of a 100 Percent Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard for the State of Colorado
As the 2018 Colorado governor’s race intensifies, two Democrat candidates have proposed extending Colorado’s existing Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) from 30 percent by 2020 to 100 percent by 2040. The purpose of this study is to highlight some of the main costs and impacts associated with a hypothetical 100 percent RPS in Colorado. Because few details have been released regarding the design of such a policy, this study evaluated the costs associated with two very different 100 percent RPS scenarios.
The unknown health risks of living in Big Wind’s shadow
For those living in the shadow of industrial wind farms, it’s like being in the dark.
Are Industrial Wind Farms Harmful?
Two issues surround whether industrial wind is the healthy alternative energy source some claim it to be. Both issues involve noise created from the constant turning of industrial blades: there is an obvious audible sound and a more subtle infrasound. These sound issues, audible sound and infrasound, are known to cause sleep disturbances and other […]
Lack of Sound Impact Study Brings NextEra’s Zoning Permit Into Question
By Kohl Watson with contributor Amy Cooke Is the Golden-View Wind Farm in Calhan, Colorado out of compliance with state law and county requirements? Since the industrial blades began spinning in 2015, residents have made 23 calls regarding noise levels from the industrial wind farm. Despite the numerous calls, which the El Paso County Sheriff’s […]
