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• Black Hills energy looking to cut solar-panel incentive plan

  August 24, 2012 12:37 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Black Hills Energy is asking the Colorado Public Utilities Commission for permission to cut its solar-panel incentive program by about 75 percent. The utility serves Pueblo and 52 towns and cities in southern Colorado. According to the Denver Post, the Rapid City, S.D.-based utility made the request... more »

• New law deals with building on tribal lands

  July 30, 2012 6:50 PM

  President Barack Obama has signed a bill designed to expedite home building and energy development on tribal lands. The law enables tribes to approve trust land leases directly, rather than waiting for approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Navajo Nation already has that authority. The so-called HEARTH Act... more »

• US intelligence sees poverty plummet by 2030

  July 29, 2012 12:30 PM

  ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - Poverty across the planet will drop sharply by 2030, with a rising middle class of some two billion people pushing for more rights and resources. The chief at the U.S. government's top intelligence analysis shop says if current economic and demographic trends continue, 1 billion people... more »

• New wind power guidelines are for the birds

  March 23, 2012 1:40 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is offering advice on the best places to put wind farms to reduce the number of birds that die by flying into turbines. A bird advocacy group that lobbied for mandatory standards says the new guidelines will do little to protect hundreds of thousands... more »

• Local clean energy reps. agree with Obama's call for tax credits

  January 25, 2012 8:19 PM

  Last night in his State of the Union speech, President Obama called for an end to oil subsidies, urging lawmakers to instead pass tax credits to benefit the renewable energy industry. He said that green energy is clean, reduces dependence on foreign oil, and stimulates jobs and manufacturing at home.... more »

• Perry: Domestic energy production linked to jobs

  October 14, 2011 11:59 AM

  0WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry says his plan to expand domestic energy production could bring the United States more than a million new jobs. Perry, the Texas governor, released an energy proposal Friday that would open up federal lands, including Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,... more »

• $2.2 billion energy company acquisition

  October 9, 2011 2:52 PM

  (AP) - China's Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corp. has agreed to buy Canadian oil and gas company Daylight Energy Ltd. for about $2.2 billion Canadian ($2.1 billion U.S.). Daylight Energy said Sunday that purchase price amounts to a 43.6 percent premium over the average price of the... more »

• Don't miss rebates for winterizing your home

  September 16, 2011 7:22 PM

  As the cooler weather creeps in, you'll want to make sure it stays outside and doesn't find its way into your home. Springs Utilities offered some helpful tips to help you save some money on your heating bill this winter, as well as to get some money back through rebates.... more »

• Residents express anger over proposed rate hike

  August 31, 2011 12:39 AM

  Hundreds turned out in Pueblo Tuesday afternoon for a meeting with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission over a proposed 19% rate hike by Black Hills Energy. The rate increase would cost the average customer around $19 dollars more a month. Those on fixed incomes say they simply can't afford... more »

• Pueblo energy customers could see rate hike

  August 30, 2011 12:32 AM

  A proposed rate hike by Black Hills Energy in Pueblo has many asking questions. On Tuesday a hearing will be held with local residents to get their thoughts on the proposed hike of nearly 19% a month. "What it amounts to for our average customer which consumes about 600 kilowatt... more »

• Black Hills Energy rates talks in Pueblo

  August 12, 2011 6:08 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado regulators are heading to Pueblo to hear public comments on a proposal by Black Hills Energy to raise annual electric revenues by $40.2 million, or nearly 19 percent. That translates to an increase of about $18.96 per month for typical residential customers, or $67.20 per... more »

• High temps drive up electrical use

  July 18, 2011 7:24 PM

  It's shaping up to be the hottest week of the year and utility managers say we are are also using the most energy that we have in 2011. With temperatures in the high 90's and 100's a spokesman for Colorado Springs Utilities says their customers will use over 800 megawatts... more »

• Hickenlooper applauds energy efficiency

  July 6, 2011 10:57 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Gov. John Hickenlooper praised several Colorado industrial companies for trying to become more energy efficient. Hickenlooper said Wednesday that companies that cut down on energy costs are putting more money into their budgets so they can expand. The governor's office says the industrial sector uses about 30... more »

• Drilling permit process streamlined

  June 28, 2011 5:36 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Rep. Mike Coffman has introduced legislation to streamline the process for getting oil and gas drilling permits on leases of federal land. The trade groups Western Energy Alliance and Colorado Oil and Gas Association support the Colorado Republican's bill. The Bureau of Land Management has... more »

• $90 million loan goes to Alamosa solar company

  May 10, 2011 12:12 PM

  The Department of Energy has committed to loan $90 million to Congentrix of Alamosa to build a 30 megawatt photovoltaic power generating station in the San Luis Valley. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu made the announcement today. The project will provide 75 construction jobs and 10 jobs after construction... more »

• LED street lights save money

  April 21, 2011 5:18 PM

  City of Colorado Springs furthers their green effort by installing LED street lights across the city. Three hundred of these lights are already installed in certain major intersections and 130 are yet to be installed in residential areas. Guess who gets to decide where the residential lights will... more »

• Suit filed over Colorado clean energy standard

  April 4, 2011 3:06 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Two groups and a Morrison businessman are challenging Colorado's renewable energy standard. They said Monday that they've filed a lawsuit in federal court asking a judge to declare the law unconstitutional. They argue the Colorado law mandating that larger utilities get 30 percent of their energy... more »

• Renewable energy conference coming to Colorado Springs

  March 28, 2011 5:28 PM

  The Global New Energy Summit is scheduled in Colorado Springs from April 17 to 19. More than 100 leaders in the global energy industry will meet at the Broadmoor to focus on global energy strategies and manufacturing. Speakers will include Senator Mark Udall, Former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter,and... more »

• Fierce wind too much for Pueblo turbine

  March 22, 2011 4:37 PM

  You'd think all this wind would be great to produce energy, but even wind power generators can only tolerate so much.In Pueblo, the iconic wind turbine in front of the Vestas factory has been temporarily shut down because of the ferocious wind. Vestas says its towers usually need wind... more »

• Anti-nuclear crowd speaks to county commissioners

  March 16, 2011 11:06 PM

  A day after those in favor of a Pueblo County nuclear power plant had their say, the other side speaks. Pueblo County commissioners heard testimony from residents on Wednesday who don't want the plant to come to town. Some like Ross Vincent say they flat out don't trust the nuclear... more »

• Proponents of nuclear power plant speak out

  March 15, 2011 11:23 PM

  Lines are being drawn in Pueblo County as county commissioners consider bringing a 24,000 acre nuclear power plant to Avondale. The debate is so heated, meeting nights are split based on those in favor and those who aren't. Tuesday night belonged to those in favor of bringing the plant to... more »

• Nuclear plant hearing location changed

  March 4, 2011 12:38 PM

  The land use hearing related to a proposed energy park in southeast Pueblo County has been extended to two days, in anticipation of many hours of testimony. The Pueblo County Commissioners will hear testimony for and against construction of a nuclear power plant, as well as other kinds of... more »

• Commissioners face vote on proposed nuclear power plant

  February 23, 2011 8:25 PM

  Plans are moving forward to allow the construction of a nuclear power plant in Southern Colorado. The plant would be located about 25 miles Southeast of Pueblo. County commissioners must now decide whether to okay the project. The project certainly has it's critics, including the Sierra Club which argues... more »

• Pueblo commission approves nuclear plant proposal

  February 23, 2011 12:53 PM

  In a meeting that lasted almost 7 hours, the Pueblo County Planning Commission approved two measures that might one day result in a nuclear power plant being built southeast of Pueblo. The 24,000 acre site south of Grape Road and east of Huerfano Road would include a nuclear power... more »

• Environmental group opposed to proposed nuclear power plant

  February 23, 2011 12:47 AM

  A group wants to build a clean energy park in southeast Pueblo County including a nuclear power plant, but not everyone supports it. Puebloans for Energizing Our Community want to build the energy park south of Highway 50, about 25 miles east of Pueblo. The land is zoned... more »

• Proposed energy park goes to planning commission

  February 22, 2011 4:35 PM

  Pueblo Attorney Don Banner will present a plan tonight to build a clean energy park in southeast Pueblo County that would include a nuclear power plant. The Sierra Club has voiced opposition to any nuclear power plant, calling it a dangerous form of energy. The Pueblo County Planning and... more »

• Energy park proposal would include nuclear plant

  February 21, 2011 2:50 PM

  Pueblo Attorney Don Banner will present a plan at tomorrow's Pueblo Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to build a clean energy park in southeast Pueblo County that would include a nuclear power plant. The Pueblo Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 5 p.m. at 1001 N. Santa Fe... more »

• Xcel electricity rates up 21 percent in Colorado

  February 7, 2011 8:35 AM

  DENVER (AP)-Electricity bills for Xcel Energy customers in Colorado have risen about 21 percent in six years and are expected to rise another 20 percent over the next six as the utility adds renewable energy, builds transmission lines and passes fuel costs through to consumers. The average monthly residential... more »

• Utilities using propane to help gas stock

  February 1, 2011 10:41 PM

  A little known plant in eastern El Paso County is helping keep your home warm as temperatures plummet below zero. On a normal day, Colorado Springs Utilities says their customers use about 100 million cubic feet of natural gas. But on a day like Tuesday, that number skyrockets. "Today is... more »

• Energy exploration planned in Kiowa County

  February 1, 2011 7:52 AM

  Riverton, Wyo. (AP)-U.S. Energy Corp. has entered an agreement with an undisclosed private party to explore and develop an oil and gas prospect in southeast Colorado. The Riverton, Wyo.-based company said Monday it wouldn't divulge its partner, financial terms of the deal, or the exact location for competitive reasons,... more »

• Home heating assistance still available

  January 31, 2011 5:43 PM

  The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) continues to accept applications for home heating assistance. Residents in need can apply by visiting the LEAP website or calling 1-866-432-8435. LEAP benefits provide assistance to help families with their heating bills but are not intended to pay the entire bill. LEAP... more »

• Informational lunch on home energy audit planned

  January 10, 2011 12:12 PM

  The City of Colorado Springs will sponsor an informational meeting about home energy audits on January 20. Panel participants will cover topics like: When should you hire a professional and what you can accomplish on your own? How do you choose an auditor and what... more »

• Colorado asked to reconsider phasing out coal fired power plants

  January 4, 2011 7:45 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Coal interests are asking Colorado regulators to reconsider a plan for Xcel Energy to retire or replace some of its coal-fired power plants. The Public Utilities Commission last month approved a $1.4 billion plan for Xcel to close five coal-fired units in Denver and Boulder, build... more »

• Rep. Lamborn to head energy subcommittee

  December 30, 2010 10:26 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn will head the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources in the new congressional session. The Republican from Colorado Springs was named chairman of the subcommittee Wednesday. Lamborn says the panel will review Interior Department policies he believes impede energy... more »

• No injuries reported from Xcel Energy station fire

  December 26, 2010 7:24 PM

  AURORA, Colo. (AP) - An electrical fire at an Xcel Energy relay station in Aurora is sending black smoke into the sky. No injuries were reported in the fire Sunday, and Xcel says customers shouldn't be affected because electricity is being rerouted. It's not clear what started the... more »

• Pueblo council passes budget, disagrees on spending measure

  November 23, 2010 1:58 PM

  Pueblo City Council has approved $76.8 million dollar budget for 2011. City Manager Jerry Pacheco says in order to balance the budget, the city had to reduce personnel costs. This means 26 vacant full time positions will remain un-filled in the coming year. In related business, council members were at... more »

• Green signs power big buck savings for Colorado Springs

  November 15, 2010 12:57 AM

  Solar energy helps power almost all Colorado Springs public schools flashing speed zone signs...and the savings are big. Simply in the initial installation costs, the money saved approaches $1 million dollars. "You don't have the boring, you don't have the excavation [both tasked needed to hook-up to a... more »

• Sacramento buys 55 wind turbines from Vestas

  October 21, 2010 5:59 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Vestas American Wind Technology Inc. says the Sacramento Municipal Utility District has ordered 55 wind turbines from it for a project near Rio Vista, Calif. Vestas said Thursday that the utility's 128-megawatt order includes a service and maintenance agreement that will last up to 15 years.... more »

• Tips to weatherize your house for winter

  October 21, 2010 5:43 PM

  With cooler temperatures on the way, you might want to weatherize your house for winter this weekend. Black Hills Energy says you should drain and cover swap coolers, cover your water heater with a thermal jacket and put weather stripping on windows and doors. "These are all things that's an... more »

• Xcel explores earlier closure of coal-fired unit

  October 20, 2010 3:02 PM

  Xcel Energy is studying whether it can speed up its timetable for retiring some coal-fired power plants to help Colorado meet federal clean air standards. A new state law required the utility to file a plan to reduce emissions by the end of 2017. Xcel's preference is to... more »

• Pueblo Health Department gets LEED Gold Certification

  October 20, 2010 1:10 PM

  The Pueblo Board of County Commissioners announced Wednesday that it has been awarded the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for the new Pueblo City-County Health Department building located at 9th and Santa Fe. "Pueblo Board of County Commissioners strived for energy savings while creating a... more »

• Salazar visits Vestas, lifts drilling ban

  October 12, 2010 8:32 PM

  U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is lifting the ban on deep water oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The former U.S. Senator from Colorado spoke about the issue as he kicked off a national renewable energy tour on Tuesday. His first stop was the Vestas wind tower factory in... more »

• Vestas marks official opening of Pueblo factory

  October 12, 2010 12:15 PM

  Vestas Wind Systems is officially celebrating the opening of its new Colorado factory with a visit from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Salazar's visit Tuesday at the wind tower factory in Pueblo is the first stop on his national renewable energy tour. The Danish wind turbine manufacturer's factory in Pueblo... more »

• Google to invest in offshore wind power project

  October 12, 2010 9:14 AM

  A consortium of technology and investment companies including Google has devoted $1.8 billion to building a network of transmission lines to connect future offshore wind farms along the Atlantic from New Jersey to Virginia. Google has teamed up with investment firm Good Energies, Japanese industrial conglomerate Marubeni and Maryland... more »

• Gov. Ritter to visit Vestas European headquarters

  September 29, 2010 8:40 AM

  Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is heading to Denmark and Finland this week. His office says he will promote Colorado clean-tech jobs. Among his destinations is the world headquarters of Vestas Wind Systems in Denmark. Vestas is building four production plants in Colorado, including one in Pueblo, that will employ... more »

• Black Hills moving on power plant construction

  September 28, 2010 8:22 PM

  Construction in underway on two new natural gas power plants near the Pueblo Memorial Airport. Black Hills Energy is spending more than $400 million to build the complex, which is located off of Pete Jimenez Parkway. On Tuesday, Pueblo County Commissioners approved an incentive agreement with the energy company. Black... more »

• Governor travels to Denmark to push Colorado business opportunities

  September 28, 2010 6:41 PM

  Governor Bill Ritter will travel to Denmark and Finland this week to promote renewable energy companies and to visit the Vestas Wind Systems world headquarters. Vestas is the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines and has made Colorado its North American manufacturing hub with a plant in northern Colorado... more »

• Utah company to seek permit to ship soil to Colo.

  September 20, 2010 6:44 AM

  The Utah-based company EnergySolutions says it will apply for a special-use permit from Conejos County in Colorado to ship contaminated soil there and operate a waste transfer station south of Antonito. The decision came after six weeks of negotiations to address disputes over rail shipments of dirt contaminated with... more »

• BLM to offer first geothermal lease in Colorado

  September 17, 2010 9:32 AM

  The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is offering the first geothermal lease on federal land in Colorado during its Nov. 10 auction. The BLM withdrew the lease from two previous sales after protests and questions about the impacts. Federal officials say an environmental review shows the lease complies with... more »

• Xcel Energy plans electric, gas rate decreases

  September 16, 2010 9:16 AM

  Xcel Energy says Colorado customers will see lower electric bills starting Oct. 1 because of lower fuel costs and the end of a summertime two-tiered rate plan aimed at encouraging conservation by charging more for higher use. The utility said Wednesday that typical residential bills will drop by 12.6... more »

• Oil platform catches fire in Gulf; workers OK

  September 3, 2010 9:02 AM

  A company official says the incident aboard a Mariner Energy oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico is considered a fire, not an explosion. The Coast Guard says there was no leak, and no one was killed. The Coast Guard initially reported that an oil sheen a mile... more »

• Boulder's smart grid triples in cost; Pueblo to pay

  August 31, 2010 9:23 AM

  Xcel Energy's SmartGridCity is supposed to be an experiment in what a modern energy grid might look like. Since the utility announced the project in Boulder in 2008, its costs have nearly tripled from initial estimates to around $45 million. This week the Colorado Public Utilities Commission is... more »

• Hearing on Xcel energy plan

  August 30, 2010 9:39 AM

  State regulators are gathering comment on Xcel Energy's plan to use less coal to produce electricity. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission will hold a hearing on the plan Monday in Grand Junction starting at 6 p.m. Xcel has proposed spending $1.3 billion to convert coal-fired power plants to... more »

• Xcel, subcontractor, blamed for worker deaths

  August 25, 2010 3:55 PM

  Federal investigators say Xcel Energy and its contractor failed to adequately plan for hazardous work before a hydroelectric plant fire that killed five workers in Colorado. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board released its final report on the October 2007 fire on Wednesday. The work included taking flammable solvents... more »

• Feds to release report on Colorado fire that killed 5

  August 25, 2010 8:13 AM

  The U.S. Chemical Safety Board will release a 15-minute safety video and its final report of its investigation into a tunnel fire that killed five workers at a hydroelectric plant in Colorado. The independent federal agency investigates serious chemical accidents and makes safety recommendations. In a trailer for the... more »

• Xcel Energy slammed for response to Colorado deaths

  August 23, 2010 3:32 PM

  The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is criticizing Xcel Energy for its handling of the aftermath of a tunnel fire that killed five workers at a Colorado hydroelectric plant. In a letter sent Monday to Xcel CEO Richard Kelly, the board cited a list of "troubling episodes" unique to the... more »

• PooPower: From the toilet to the tank

  August 20, 2010 3:49 PM

  Flint, Michigan has taken another step in becoming a zero-waste city. The city unveiled its first biogas vehicle at Kettering University on Thursday. It's intended to educate, enlighten, and employ. Green technology now powers the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 heavy duty pickup truck. More specifically and scientifically, without... more »

• Black Hills Energy mulls power plant options

  August 20, 2010 11:38 AM

  Black Hills Energy is studying two options for its coal-fired power plant in Canon City to comply with a new Colorado law aimed at cutting pollution from power plants. The company says it is studying whether to convert the plant to woody biomass or shutter it and expand a... more »

• Energy company files plea over death of birds

  August 17, 2010 11:07 PM

  A spokesman for EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) says the energy company has filed a plea agreement with the federal government in allegations that it is responsible for the deaths of migratory birds in Wyoming and Colorado. EnCana spokesman Doug Hock said Tuesday the company agreed to a plan that... more »

• Report: Xcel, contractor ignored worker safety

  August 12, 2010 10:25 AM

  A draft report on a tunnel fire that killed five workers at a Colorado hydroelectric plant accuses Xcel Energy and contractor RPI Coating of ignoring worker safety. It says that a lack of planning for hazardous work and inadequate contractor selection were among problems that contributed to the accident.... more »

• Colorado solar company powering National Guard

  August 4, 2010 10:13 AM

  A solar power array is now generating electricity at the Colorado Army National Guard's readiness center in Grand Junction. The guard says it provides enough power to offset 450,000 pounds of carbon emissions. The 172-kilowatt system was installed by Bella Energy. Bella is based in Louisville, Colorado. more »

• Gov. Ritter to outline Colorado energy policies

  July 28, 2010 9:08 AM

  Gov. Bill Ritter will lay out Colorado's plan to develop clean energy sources at an international forum on Wednesday. The discussion is part of the 2010 Biennial of the Americas celebration taking place throughout July in Denver. Others attending the meeting include Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood; Federico Pena,... more »

• Black Hills begins construction on new Pueblo facility

  July 22, 2010 6:35 PM

  Black Hills Energy was issued an air permit by the Colorado Department of Health Thursday for a new power plant to be built in Pueblo. The company said construction immediately began on two projects that will provide power to more than 90,000 customers by January of 2012. “Receiving... more »

• Colorado company backs away from methane farming

  July 15, 2010 11:09 AM

  A Denver-based company that wants to farm methane in the Powder River Basin has withdrawn its application with the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. But a spokesman said Wednesday that Luca Technologies is not dropping its plan to start a commercial scale project to produce methane by injecting... more »

• Solar plane completes historic 24-hour flight

  July 8, 2010 10:24 AM

  An experimental solar-powered plane landed safely Thursday after completing its first 24-hour test flight, proving that the aircraft can collect enough energy from the sun during the day to stay aloft all night. Pilot Andre Borschberg eased the Solar Impulse onto the runway at Payerne airfield about 30 miles... more »

• Test flight of solar-powered plane underway

  July 7, 2010 4:03 PM

  An experimental solar-powered plane whose creators hope will someday be able to fly around the world using only solar energy took off for its first test flight Wednesday. The Solar Impulse took off from an airfield in Switzerland for a 24-hour test flight. The goal is to be able... more »

• Pueblo employer Vestas continues expansion

  July 7, 2010 8:24 AM

  Vestas Wind Systems plans to open a research and development office in Louisville that will employ up to 240 people over the next several years. Vestas already has operations in three Colorado communities, including Pueblo. The Danish company announced its new plans Tuesday during the Louisville City Council meeting.... more »

• Xcel installing temporary Denver substation

  June 10, 2010 8:16 AM

  Xcel Energy is still asking customers in east Denver to reduce electricity use as it installs a temporary substation to replace one that blew up. Company spokesman Mark Stutz says customers have been conserving energy, avoiding the need for controlled outages. But he says Thursday could be rough because... more »