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Utility Dive: Colorado Regulator’s Vision for Xcel Virtual Power Plant: Tariff-Driven, 50 MW and Online by This Fall

Posted by Robert Walton | Utility Dive on Feb 7, 2024

Utility Dive reports on the Colorado Public Utilities Commissioner’s vision for Xcel Energy to roll out a 50MW Virtual Power Plant this fall to improve grid reliability. The article quotes Brian Turner on what a viable VPP program would look like and the time it would take to implement. 

Xcel Energy would roll out a 50-MW virtual power plant, or VPP, utilizing a new “prosumer tariff” by the end of this year under a vision laid out by a Colorado Public Utilities Commission regulator. While the utility has some concerns about the timeline, it said in a Jan. 25 filing that aspects of the VPP could be included in an upcoming request for proposals in the first quarter. 

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Topics: United In The News, Colorado, Brian Turner

PUC Decision On Xcel Resource Plan Lays Groundwork For More Clean Energy

Posted by Caroline Grace on Jan 29, 2024

Advanced Energy United reacts to ERP decision, highlights the benefits of clean energy and the opportunity for continued transformation of the electric grid

DENVER, CO— The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted to move forward with an amended version of Xcel’s Phase II of their 2021 Electric Resource Plan (ERP). While the newly approved ERP invests less in new renewable energy sources than was initially proposed by the utility, and commits to new gas generation, it continues steady progress toward a zero-carbon grid and makes important reforms for the future. 

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Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, Colorado, Brian Turner

PV Magazine: RE+Storage Better Than a Colorado Utility’s Proposed 400 MW Gas Unit: Strategen

Posted by William Driscoll on Nov 16, 2023

PV Magazine reports on a recent analysis of the electric resource plan for Xcel Energy’s Colorado subsidiary, the Public Service Company of Colorado. The analysis, commissioned by Advanced Energy United and authored by Strategen Consulting Group, found a clean energy resource portfolio would be a more cost-effective way to power Colorado homes and businesses compared to building a new natural gas “peaker” plant. The article quotes United's Brian Turner, who speaks to the cost impact Xcel's proposed plant would have on ratepayers.
 

Storage and renewables projects already offered in response to an RFP from the Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo) would be more economic and provide greater capacity than a 400 MW gas peaker unit proposed by the utility, found the consulting firm Strategen in an analysis of the utility’s proposed resource plan.

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Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Energy Efficiency, Colorado, Brian Turner

Report: Xcel Energy’s proposed gas plant in Colorado is more expensive than clean energy options

Posted by Adam Winer on Nov 9, 2023

DENVER, CO – An analysis of the electric resource plan (ERP) for Xcel Energy’s Colorado subsidiary, the Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), found that a portfolio of clean energy resources – including solar, wind, and battery storage – would be a more cost-effective way to power Colorado homes and businesses compared to building a new natural gas “peaker” plant. The independent report from Strategen Consulting found that a clean energy portfolio would provide $28.9 million in savings compared to a new gas plant in the first year of operation, with savings in subsequent years anticipated to be even greater.
 
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Topics: Press Releases, Colorado, Brian Turner

Leading Energy Experts Call for Expanded Transmission and Distributed Resources, Western Regional Grid Coordination in Response to 2023 NERC Summer Reliability Assessment

Posted by Adam Winer on May 17, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC, May 17, 2023 — Today the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) released its annual summer reliability assessment warning Western states that they are in for another summer of elevated risk of blackouts due to extreme heat in 2023. NERC issued a similar warning last May, before record heat waves strained energy supplies in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and the Pacific Northwest in September.

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Topics: Press Releases, Colorado, Leah Rubin Shen, Amisha Rai, Western RTO, California, Arizona, Nevada

Advanced Energy United Commends Gov. Newsom for Preserving Clean Energy and Transportation Investments in May Revised Budget

Posted by Adam Winer on May 12, 2023

Industry group welcomes climate bond and permitting reform for clean energy projects

SACRAMENTO, CA, May 12, 2023 — National business group Advanced Energy United reacted to today’s release of the Governor’s May Revised Budget proposal, which seeks to balance long-term investments in job-creating and cost-saving programs with the immediacy of a budget shortfall. The Governor's May Revised budget does not propose additional cuts to electric vehicle and clean energy programs beyond the initial budget proposal in January.

“We appreciate Governor Newsom’s ongoing commitment to protecting critical clean energy and electrified transportation programs, an acknowledgment that these investments create jobs and save people money on energy and transportation costs,” said Leah Rubin Shen, Managing Director at Advanced Energy United, the national business association of companies working to achieve 100% clean energy and electrified transportation in America.

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Topics: Press Releases, Colorado, Leah Rubin Shen

Colorado Newsline: Gov. Polis signs slate of clean energy measures, utility regulation bill

Posted by Chase Woodruff on May 12, 2023

Colorado Newsline reports on Colorado Governor Polis' signing of a utility regulation bill, quoting Emilie Olson on how the legislation will benefit ratepayers in the state.

Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday signed into law a bill that commits Colorado for the first time to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target, along with other measures to address spiking utility rates and the state’s long-term energy future.

Flanked by Democratic lawmakers and state energy officials, Polis signed Senate Bill 23-16 at an event at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The bill, a wide-ranging package of reforms aimed at boosting clean energy efforts in a variety of industries, was approved on party-line votes by Democratic majorities in the General Assembly just before its adjournment on May 8.

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Topics: United In The News, Colorado, Emilie Olson

Advanced Energy United Applauds New Measures to Protect Coloradans from High Gas Costs, Creates National Model for Overcoming Gas Rate Hikes

Posted by Adam Winer on May 11, 2023

Colorado Senate Bill 23-291 introduces a series of reforms to strengthen regulatory oversight of utility spending and future gas system investments

DENVER, CO, May 11, 2023 – National business group Advanced Energy United commended Governor Polis for signing Senate Bill 23-291 into law today, authorizing practical reforms to utility regulation and building upon existing gas planning improvements.

“This is a timely bill in a year that has laid bare the impact of volatile nature gas prices on all consumers,” said Emilie Olson, Colorado state lead at Advanced Energy United. “We thank Governor Polis, Senate President Fenberg, and the legislature for stepping up to shield customers from high gas bills now and in the future, and responsibly limiting the kinds of things utilities can make their customers pay for."

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Topics: Press Releases, Colorado, Emilie Olson

Advanced Energy United Celebrates Colorado's Adoption of Advanced Clean Trucks Rule

Posted by Adam Winer on Apr 21, 2023

Polling found that more than half of all Coloradans supported adoption of the ACT rule 

DENVER, CO, April 21, 2023 – National business association Advanced Energy United today applauded the adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule via unanimous vote by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC). Set to take effect in 2027, the ACT rule will require auto manufacturers who produce medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to steadily increase the percentage of zero-emission model sales over time – up to 40-75% by 2035, depending on vehicle type. The rule is designed to spur manufacturers to offer more vehicle options and inventory, as well as provide consumers with more choices.

“In addition to improving air quality for Colorado residents, the Advanced Clean Trucks rule will lower costs for vehicle fleet operators and unlock new, cost-effective options for Colorado businesses,” said Emilie Olson, Colorado state lead at Advanced Energy United, which represents a wide spectrum of companies involved in vehicle production, charging infrastructure, and energy management software. "Small businesses, which have been hit hard by inflation and volatile fuel and supply chain prices, will benefit significantly from this regulation because it will help them switch to vehicles that cost less to operate and maintain.”

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Topics: Advanced Transportation, Press Releases, Colorado, Emilie Olson

Statement on Maury Galbraith’s Appointment as Executive Director at Colorado Electric Transmission Authority (CETA)

Posted by Calista Thompson on Mar 21, 2023

DENVER, March 21, 2023 – Today, national business group Advanced Energy United (formerly Advanced Energy Economy) applauded the selection of Maury Galbraith as Executive Director of the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority (“CETA”). 

“We’re delighted to see Maury Galbraith take on this important leadership role at CETA,” said Emilie Olson, Senior Principal at Advanced Energy United. “Maury brings a strong track record of Western interstate cooperation to CETA and will, in this same vein, ensure Colorado is well positioned to capitalize on the benefits of clean energy growth and resource sharing across the region as we are filling infrastructure gaps here in the state.  With a new Executive Director at the helm, a fully-staffed CETA can get to work bringing the economic and grid reliability benefits of a modernized, regionally connected transmission system to fruition for the state.”  

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Topics: Press Releases, Colorado