Problem: Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) is the only utility in the state of Colorado without carbon reduction goals or any wind energy to power the community it serves. It’s also one of the last utilities in the country that still operates a dirty coal plant in a downtown area. It’s time for some big changes!
Hey @CSUtilities and @COSCityCouncil! Check us out! #closeDrake and move #beyondcoal"
Solution: YOU! As a public power customer, you OWN Colorado Springs Utilities. CSU is going through an energy planning process called an Electric Integrated Resource Plan (EIRP) right now and your voice is imperative to the process. Here’s everything you need to know:
What is the EIRP?
CSU’s Electric Integrated Resource Plan (EIRP) is a long-term energy planning process used to guide decisions about where to invest resources when it comes to meeting the electricity demands of Colorado Springs’ residents and determining where that electricity comes from. The EIRP is required to be updated every four years. The EIRP process combines technical analysis and public participation to ensure a low-cost, reliable, and environmentally conscious electric supply. The next EIRP is due to be completed this summer and the City Council (as the Utilities Board) will vote to approve it in July.
Why is the 2020 EIRP so important?
Colorado is rapidly shifting to low-cost renewable energy, energy efficiency, and battery storage. While every other Colorado utility has committed to carbon reduction goals (Xcel Energy and Platte River Power Authority have commitments to 80 percent carbon-free electricity or more by 2030), CSU is falling behind. Colorado Springs residents are at risk of being stuck paying for dirty and increasingly expensive coal and gas plants while the rest of the state enjoys clean, low-cost renewable energy. Wind is the cheapest source of energy in Colorado -- but CSU currently gets none of its electricity from wind.
In spring 2019, the Colorado State Legislature passed a new law requiring greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 26 percent by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030. With the Martin Drake and Ray Nixon coal plants, Colorado Springs Utilities currently falls woefully short of these goals. We need CSU to plan for our clean energy future!
As a part of this EIRP, Colorado Springs residents are asking CSU to:
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Commit to retirement dates for Martin Drake coal plant (2023) and Ray Nixon coal plant (2026)
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Exclude any plans to build new fracked gas plants
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Implement ambitious energy efficiency plans
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Invest in Colorado Spring's first wind project to save customers money on their utility bills
What can I do to make a difference?
1) Submit an email comment to CSU at energyvision@csu.org!
energyvision@CSU.org is the email address where CSU has asked to formally receive public comments on the matter of the electric resource planning process. Be sure to mention that you are a CSU customer and feel free to share a personal story or any data to back up your opinions about or requests for Colorado Springs’ energy future.
2) Call in to give public comment at the June 3rd ERP meeting at 8:00AM.
Please attend the Utilites Policy Advisory Council meeting for the EIRP to show community support for transitioning off of coal to clean energy! It will be a telephone town hall with time for public comment. Your voice will be critical to ensure that this EIRP includes progress on retiring Drake and Nixon coal plants, avoiding new fracked gas plants, and investing in wind energy and energy efficiency. If this is your first public forum and you’d like advice from a seasoned activist, reach out to Lindsay at lindsayfack@gmail.com.
What: CSU’s Final EIRP Public Workshop
When: Wednesday, June 3, 2020 @ 8:00AM-10:30AM
JOIN HERE BY CLICKING THE LINK
Join by phone by calling: +1 719-733-3651, Conference ID: 131 688 832#
3) Get in touch with the Colorado Springs Beyond Coal action team!
Through our emails and monthly meetings, you’ll stay informed about the EIRP process and when we need your help! Send an email to Lindsay at lindsayfack@gmail.com for more information.
Need more resources:
Factsheet: Public Health Impacts of Martin Drake
Factsheet: Coal Dust in Colorado Springs
Factsheet: The Cost of Coal in Colorado Springs