Tracking what's destroying Colorado
A curated collection of bills, news, and resources about Colorado politics and policy
A curated collection of bills, news, and resources about Colorado politics and policy
Colorado Energy news, legislation, and policy updates.
3 articles tagged with "Energy"
The X post by @logiclives criticizes Denver Public Schools for issuing nearly $1 billion in Certificates of Participation (COPs), with $850 million in principal outstanding, to fund projects without voter approval. This tactic, also used by the state government, circumvents Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) by treating the obligations as leases rather than debt, leaving Denver taxpayers on the hook for about $2,000 per person. The post warns that Democrats are exploiting this loophole to enable unchecked spending and urges resistance to any efforts to weaken TABOR.
An X post from policy analyst Jake Fogleman (@Jake_Fogleman) slams the Colorado Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) finalized plan to eliminate natural gas from home heating by 2050, aiming for 100% decarbonization through aggressive emissions caps on utilities like Xcel Energy. Quoting a Colorado Sun article, Fogleman highlights that 70% of Colorado households depend on natural gas, which is four times cheaper per energy unit than electricity, and cites a 2024 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) study showing heat pumps offer no net financial benefit for most gas users without heavy subsidies. The post includes NREL maps illustrating low positive net present value for heat pump transitions across states, especially for natural gas homes, even with incentives. Replies from users decry the policy as unaffordable, especially for seniors and in cold climates, accusing Gov. Polis and Democrats of prioritizing climate goals over household budgets and reliability.
In this eye-opening interview from Free State Colorado, Jake Fogleman, Director of Policy at the Independence Institute, breaks down the alarming surge in Colorado's electricity and natural gas prices. Despite the state's vast energy wealth—including trillions of cubic feet of natural gas and billions of barrels of oil in formations like the Mancos Shale—residents are facing skyrocketing bills due to heavy-handed government policies. Fogleman points to arbitrary renewable energy mandates, restrictive regulations on oil and gas production, and an anti-fossil fuel agenda pushed by politicians as the culprits. These interventions stifle free-market competition, drive up costs for consumers, and threaten high-paying jobs in the energy sector. The discussion calls for deregulation to unleash Colorado's resources, lower prices, and boost economic freedom, warning that without change, families will continue to suffer under this "disaster in the making."