Closing well- performing, environmentally superior units - already paid for - existing power plants that run 24 / 7 will hurt rate payers
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
“...Commissioners promise to ‘scrutinize this to a degree we’ve never done before’ ...”
True.
They’ll “scrutinize”.
Then they’ll approve it anyway.
And so goes the formerly great state of Colorado.
Xcel Natural Gas rates are already are up 117% over Nov. 2021, here in Colorado.
Green energy = you will freeze in the dark.
In the 1980s, California tried to DECREE lower prices for car insurance. Didn’t work, because they went after the wrong end of the problem. Rather than limiting costs, by taking uninsured vehicles off the road, limiting lawsuits, and attacking the huge fraud in the system, they simply deemed that insurance companies lower their prices to the public.
And they were determined to do just that. But the problem they had was that the insurance companies showed the regulators their books...so the regulators had a choice, either still demand the lower prices and watch the companies leave the state, or give up on that idea and keep approving rate increases. They (wisely) chose the second option.
I’ve seen worse.
Everybody needs to think of the benefits they receive.
Try living with out on demand power.
I just went through 48 hours without it due to a winter storm.
PITA without it.
I did just fine wood heat, generator, LP range.
But still it Was a PITA.
Much easier to flip the switch.
I’m reminded of how Colorado Springs has essentially voted to shut down their coal plant at Drake for a new natural gas plant outside of the city (https://www.cpr.org/2021/08/26/the-end-of-an-era-the-martin-drake-coal-plant-in-colorado-springs-burns-coal-no-longer/).
The greenies want everything to be solar or wind.
Gas is more flexible than coal when it comes to maintaining the grid due to the variability of renewables.
So instead of keeping a facility that’s already paid for, CSU bowed to the greenies.
And sure enough, electricity rates have been steadily increasing over the past several years...
I am out of state at the moment. -7 degrees out. Wind howling. Snow came in thru window frame at hotel overnite due to wind. Flights were cancelled. Now leaving monday, I hope.