ENERGY - Renewable Energy - Independence Institute

Fossil Fuels Bail Out Colorado’s Grid Yet Again 0
- January 4, 2023
Coloradans might want to begin brushing up on their German. At least enough to be familiar with the word Dunkelflaute, which roughly translates to “dark doldrums.” The term describes a weather pattern of low wind and limited sunlight that makes generating electricity from renewables nearly impossible. The event is relatively common in northern and western Europe during
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New PUC Report Points to Future Reliability Risks to Colorado’s Grid 0
- December 5, 2022
A new report from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission is sounding alarm bells on the reliability risks posed to the state’s grid as wind and solar continue to replace fossil fuel plants. According to Colorado Public Radio: Heat waves and freezing temperatures won’t be the only risks for Colorado’s power grid in the future, state regulators
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As Wind Turbines Falter, Gas Saves the Day in the U.K.0
- November 28, 2022
Renewables advocates are constantly downplaying the risks associated with intermittency. When the wind isn’t blowing, or the sun isn’t shining, we’re assured that batteries and electricity imports from neighboring jurisdictions can fill in the gaps. The problem, of course, is that current viable battery technology is only capable of storing power in 4-hour intervals, and
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Governor Polis Again Downplays Nuclear Energy…But with a Catch 0
- November 18, 2022
Colorado’s Governor may not be a huge proponent of nuclear energy, but he at least isn’t ruling it out either. Fresh off his resounding reelection victory earlier this month, Governor Jared Polis took to the national stage with an appearance on the popular HBO political talk show “Real Time with Bill Maher” last week. During
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Xcel Gives Up Plan to Expand Hydropower in Colorado 0
- November 2, 2022
Pumped-storage hydropower won’t be the answer to Xcel’s need for dispatchable zero-carbon energy. At least not for now. According to the Colorado Sun: Xcel Energy has killed its plan to build a hydropower project in Unaweep Canyon. The utility on Wednesday morning told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that it was withdrawing its application for a
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Stringent Building Codes For Thee, But Not For Me 0
- October 19, 2022
The solar and wind industries (and Xcel Energy) are really, really mad that the International Codes Council (ICC) is considering beefing up resiliency standards for new wind and solar builds in the next iteration of its triennial building codes. According to Utility Dive: A Federal Emergency Management Agency advisory panel proposal that would increase construction
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