ENERGY - Governing Bodies / Agencies - Independence Institute

Xcel paying power producers to take excess electricity?0
- May 2, 2017
I've documented that Xcel Energy has excess electricity generation capacity. I just didn't realize how much. According to a source close to an electricity wholesaler and generator, "Right now they can buy power cheaper than they can make it. A week or two ago Excel [sic] was paying us $18 a MW to buy power fromREAD MORE
Scathing PUC Chair dissent blasted economics of Demand-Side Management 0
- April 30, 2017
Supporters of so-called Demand-Side Management (DSM) say it’s an economic development tool. That’s not true. DSM is a misguided, harmful transfer payment from low income ratepayers with no choice to a preferred group of ratepayers, often commercial and industrial. No one makes this argument better than former Colorado PUC Chairman Ray Gifford, now a partner atREAD MORE
Lack of Sound Impact Study Brings NextEra’s Zoning Permit Into Question 0
- April 17, 2017
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
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New draft bill to put nail in coffin of coal, make impacted communities dependent on state 0
- April 3, 2017
Warning to the rural Colorado, remember Ronald Reagan’s nine most terrifying words in the English language, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” According to sources, industrial wind supporters and Xcel Energy are floating another Colorado version of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) titled “Colorado Energy Impact Assistance Act.” A better working titleREAD MORE
Energy Policy Center testimony on HB17-1116 0
- March 31, 2017
Mr. Chairman, members of the committee thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Michael Sandoval. I am the senior energy policy analyst for the Independence Institute, a state-based, free market think tank, headquartered in Denver. The Independence Institute is opposed to HB17-1116 not in intent, but in process. We do think
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PUC 2-1 vote forces utility to model costly social cost of carbon 0
- March 29, 2017
Colorado Public Utilities Commissioner Frances Koncilja’s concern for ratepayers is limited to the Pueblo area. She is more than willing to load up other low-income Coloradans with additional costs. In a 2-1 vote last Thursday, Koncilja and PUC Chairman Jeff Ackermann ordered the state’s largest monopoly utility to model a $40 per ton social cost
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