COLORADO LOOKING TO NEW ENERGY

Fittingly for the state that is home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Department of Energy (DOE)'s premier research facility, Colorado is making an agressive move toward New Energy.

2008 Preview: Energy; Utilities less apt to give wind and sun options a coal shoulder
Steve Raabe, December 29, 2007 (Denver Post)

WHO
Xcel Energy, Colorado utilities, Colorado oil & gas producers, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

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WHAT
Because of concerns with climate change and emissions, Colorado utilities and energy producers are making plans to cut back on coal-fired power generation in favor of New Energies.

WHEN
- 2008 is expected to be a year of transition away from coal to New Energy. Xcel Energy will close a pair of coal-fired power plants and double its New Energy generation by 2015.
- Drilling permit applications in Colorado for natural gas are expected to grow.

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WHERE
Xcel Energy is Colorado's largest utility.

WHY
- In addition to closing its coal plants, Xcel is developing wind farms, solar electric installations and investigating the concept of solar thermal power plants, a solar technology that could displace coal and gas plants. (See XCEL ENERGY MOVES TO NEW ENERGY)
- Other Colorado utilities are canceling coal-fired power plants in favor of natural gas plants which generate significantly less emissions and increase demand for Colorado’s abundant natural gas resources.
- Gov. Ritter's new Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is expected, in defense of the environment, to make more rigorous the process of obtaining permits for natural gas drilling by oil and gas producers.

Xcel Energy has big plans for Colorado's wind. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Chris Hsieh, energy engineer, Trane Energy Services: "As more and more companies look for ways to reduce their CO2 emission, renewable-energy technologies will thrive…Market demand will help drive innovations."