I’m so excited that Colorado’s largest utility, Xcel Energy, just announced their plan to go 100 percent carbon-free by 2050.
While the Trump administration has been making terrible decisions to roll back clean energy standards and boost the coal industry, utilities are playing a critical leadership role in transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Xcel’s decision comes at a critical time when we are seeing real impacts of climate change. The Southwest is drying up as droughts are happening more often and severely. So many of our jobs here in Southwest Colorado depend on a stable climate, from agriculture to the outdoor recreation economy.
Our own energy provider, LPEA, is unfortunately in a long contract with the wholesale power supplier Tri-State, which is tied largely to dirty coal. And, Tri-State is denying LPEA the ability to cut carbon and add more renewable energy. This is ridiculous.
Tri-State needs to do much more than spend money on “Renewable Randy” ads and allow rural electric co-ops to add local renewable energy to their grids.
Xcel is demonstrating great leadership. Now it’s time for Tri-State to step it up.
Rob Nichols
Durango
