PUC “quasi-legislative”?

by Amy Oliver | 4:44 pm, January 26, 2012

In testimony before the House Transportation Committee for his bill HB12-1016 (detailed earlier) on January 25, Rep. David Balmer stated that he considered introducing a bill that would strip the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) of any legislative authority.
Since the PUC apparently has “quasi-legislative” powers and “quasi-judicial” power, shouldn’t PUC commissioners be elected so that the [...]

Questions about Baker’s ability to serve on the PUC

by Amy Oliver | 1:22 pm, January 25, 2012

Conventional wisdom in energy policy circles says that Governor John Hickenlooper will re-appoint current Public Utilities Commissioner Matt Baker to another four-year term on the PUC. His State Senate confirmation will be a mere formality, but it shouldn’t be.
Serious questions linger about his lack of honesty regarding energy costs and his ability to be an [...]

Energy in 2012 GA: Legislators address HB 1365, tiered rates and the PUC

by Amy Oliver | 8:17 pm, January 22, 2012

Two years after the passage of the fuel-switching bill HB 1365, Governor Bill Ritter’s “crown jewel” of the new energy economy, supporters would like the debate to go away. But like a nagging cough, it just won’t.
Several bills in the 2012 legislative session address issues raised surrounding the collusion to draft HB 1365, the cost [...]

Cozy relationship between Xcel and PUC?

by Amy Oliver | 7:18 am, January 12, 2012

In a surprising move to anyone who has watched the cozy relationship develop between Xcel Energy and the Public Utilities Commission, yesterday the PUC denied Xcel’s $142 million interim rate request.
Colorado News Agency columnist Peter Blake (then with Face the State) initially exposed how the PUC, Xcel, and Governor Ritter’s administration colluded on the cost [...]

Finally some outrage over the New Energy Economy

by Amy Oliver | 7:03 pm, December 30, 2011

I may have underestimated the outrage over two recent Xcel Energy rate increase requests.
The first, an attempt to recover the final $16.5 million in cost for Boulder’s Smart Grid City program. Ratepayers are not thrilled about paying for a Boulder project with massive cost overruns.
Check out these comments:
From Phil Carson, editor of the online energy [...]

Problems Abound?

by Amy Oliver | 7:14 am, November 29, 2011

Eric Wesoff of GreenTechSolar is curious about what is going on at Abound Solar. Are top executives just finding sunnier pastures elsewhere or are they jumping ship before it goes down Solyndra style?
In July 2010, President Obama announced that Colorado-based Abound Solar was the recipient of a $400 million taxpayer guaranteed loan as part of [...]

Goldman Sachs CO subsidiary gets $90.6 million taxpayer loan guarantee

by Amy Oliver | 7:46 pm, November 7, 2011

In the shadow of the Solyndra bankruptcy scandal, the embattled Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program announced on September 9, a $90.6 million loan guarantee to Cogentrix Energy of Alamosa for a solar energy project. A Cogentrix press release reported:
The loan guarantee will support the Alamosa Solar Generating Project, a 30 megawatt (MW) High [...]

Florida’s ‘fuel mix’ a warning to Colorado

by Amy Oliver | 3:32 pm, October 7, 2011

Florida has higher electric rates than those of neighboring states because of its reliance on natural gas to generate electric power according to a study released in September.
In a September 27, 2011, press release the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) said it requested the study from the Public Utility Research Center (PURC) located at the University [...]

Making sense of NREL’s budget math and job creation

by Amy Oliver | 10:20 pm, October 6, 2011

The story surrounding NREL’s possible $8 million reduction in 2012 doesn’t make sense. Is it a “savings” or a “cut”? Does NREL “create” green jobs or not? And NREL spokesman Bob Noun’s comments have not helped to clarify. Consider this story from CBS 4 Denver where Noun was questioned about NREL’s funding and stimulus money it received:

Noun said [...]

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