Last week we received a request through email for information about Referred Question 1A - (Xcel Franchise). Approval of this ordinance, by qualified voters, is required by the City Charter.
Here's the report from DenverGov.
The upside from the Colorado Renewable Energy Society. From the article, "The city also negotiated with Xcel for more renewable energy. Xcel will contribute $200,000 to the solar power plant Denver is building on the site of the former Denver International Airport. And Xcel agreed to purchase 22 megawatts (MW) of hydroelectric power from the Denver Water Board over the next 20 years.
"This power purchase agreement is critical to small hydroelectric installations because without it the city cannot move electricity it generates to where it is consumed or sell it to someone else. Denver, Boulder, and some towns in Colorado generate a significant portion of their electricity from water supply pipes and at wastewater treatment facilities.
"CRES and renewable energy advocates maintain these small hydroelectric facilities could spread throughout the West in the coming years. They are usually small and quiet, so neighbors rarely notice them. They are installed at existing facilities, so they do not affect stream flows. And they often pay for themselves through electricity sales. Once the utility is on board, these installations are often win-win arrangements for the power companies and water agencies across the West." They link two Post articles about the agreement.
The Wash Park Prophet weighs in, "Xcel Energy will be asking Denver customers to lock themselves into twenty more years of service from it in the August 8, 2006 primary election, when voter turnout is expected to hit record lows because there are no contested races in most of the city and there has been almost no publicity about the vote, which was just recently announced."
Category: Colorado Water
6:06:11 PM 
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