Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy Applauds Platte River Power Authority for goal of 100 percent non-carbon electricity by 2030

Fort Collins, CO. -  Today, Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy (NCP4CE) applauds the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) Board of Directors’ unanimous vote to commit to a goal of a 100 percent non-carbon resource mix by 2030. The board’s vote represents the culmination of years of advocacy for 100 percent clean, renewable electricity from community members living in PRPA’s four owner municipalities of Fort Collins, Longmont, Estes Park and Loveland.  The goal was adopted as part of the utility’s Resource Diversification Policy and approved by the PRPA Board of Directors.

Earlier this year, the cities of Longmont and Ft. Collins both made commitments to reach 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2030. In the past month, the Estes Park Town Board and the Loveland City Council also passed resolutions supporting PRPA’s goal of a 100 percent non-carbon resource mix.

PRPA is the second Colorado utility this week to commit to a carbon reduction goal, following Xcel Energy’s announcement that it will reduce carbon pollution 100 percent by 2050. Colorado is home to nine communities that have committed to clean, renewable electricity. This momentum has pushed the state’s utilities to respond to customer demands for cleaner energy.

“I am thrilled to see the PRPA moving in the right direction. Renewable energy is the path that we must take to reduce the harmful effects of climate change in our communities. The residents of Longmont support this vote by the PRPA and this represents a major step forward to achieving Longmont’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, set forth by the City Council in January,” said Karen Dike, Vice Chair of Sustainable Resilient Longmont.

“We applaud PRPA for hearing the voices of people from across Northern Colorado who are ready to be powered by 100 percent clean electricity. This statement of values from PRPA is encouraging as the utility starts its long term energy planning, and we will continue to voice our vision throughout that planning process for Northern Colorado to shift away from fossil fuels and embrace clean, renewable electricity,” said Kevin Cross with the Fort Collins Sustainability Group.

“We are enthusiastic about this vote on the heels of the Loveland City Council’s support for the PRPA Resource Diversification Policy. We are confident the conditions will be met to see this goal to fruition, and expect it to happen even sooner than 2030. With the economic forces driving renewables further along, it’s exciting to see PRPA moving in this direction that will also benefit our environment,” said Dick Mallot of Renewables Now Loveland.

“Platte River has been a leader in the past, in the early stages of developing hydro and renewable energy; and now it's fitting that our municipal utility will take advantage of the opportunity to lead again, both economically and environmentally, as Colorado moves toward zero carbon emissions," added Gordon MacAlpine of the Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition.

The member organizations of the NCP4CE are: 350 Northern Colorado, Colorado Sierra Club, Community for Sustainable Energy, Environment Colorado, the Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition, the Fort Collins Sustainability Group, the Northern Colorado Renewable Energy Society, Renewables Now Loveland, Sustainable Resilient Longmont, and Transition Fort Collins. https://colivableclimate.org/noco-partners-for-clean-energy/