March 1St, 2021

Town Manager’s Newsletter March 1st, 2021

1. February 15th Occupancy Forecast Notes & Report -  YOY fill was down in 2021 for the Feb 1 – April 30 nights. However, March 13 – 20 and March 27 – April 3 held their advantage.

 President’s weekend; Feb 11 – 14, 2021 had 7% more room nights on the books than in 2020

 The Spring break period of March 6 – April 3 is flat YOY for room nights on books

 We have summer through August 2021

2. DMMO Download from the BTO - A. COVID Update - February 22nd B. COVID Update - February 24th C. COVID Update - February 26th D. COVID Update - March 1st

3. Summit County Government Meetings - A. Work Session - March 2nd B. Board of Health Meeting - March 2nd & 4th

4. Summit County Government Updates - A. Move to Level Yellow due to Declining COVID Case Numbers B. Phase 1B.3 Eligible for COVID Vaccine Starting March 5th Town Manager’s Newsletter March 1st, 2021

5. Local Organization Updates - A. BreckCreate - Upcoming Classes + Events B. Building Hope - March Events C. Friends of the Dillon Ranger District - March Newsletter D. Mountain Pact - February 2021 Conservation Update E. National League of Cities - Upcoming Conference F. Summit Chamber - - County moves to Level Yellow - March Events

6. Colorado Municipal League - A. Recording of Transportation Event Available B. Statehouse Report - February 22nd, 2021 C. Newsletter - February 26th, 2021 D. Annual Conference moved to Sept. 22nd - 24th, 2021 E. Statehouse Report - March 1st, 2021 F. Elected Officials Digest - March 2nd, 2021 G. Deadline for the Sam Mamet Good Governance Award application is March 31

7. Colorado Association of Ski Towns - A. Big Pivots Newsletter - Issue 31 - February 16th, 2021 B. Big Pivots Newsletter - Issue 32 - February 23rd, 2021

February 15, 2021 Occupancy Forecast Notes

Hello Breckenridge Business Community,

When a new Daily Occupancy Report (DOR) arrives, the first line I review is the pink/purple line and the relationship with the solid black vertical lines; which indicates the level of year over year (YOY) fill of occupancy. Unlike the Jan. 31, 2021 report, “fill” was not kind to the February 15, 2021 report. A handful of dates in March exceeded last year, but overall we lost ground on more days than we gained.

The good news is Breckenridge exceeds last year on the two most popular weeks of Spring Break 2021, March 13 – 20 and March 27 – April 3.

The March 6 – April 3, 2021 period has 232 more room nights on the books than the same period in 2020 despite a 10% decrease in occupancy rate for the same period, simply because we have 9,221 more available room nights in 2021. As we know, on March 15, 2020, the world turned upside down and YOY comparisons mean little after this date.

Taking a closer look at March 13 – 20, 2021, the peak spring break week, notice the highest occupied nights happen in the middle of the week. Expect occupancy in the 80% range on these midweek nights. The wildcard nights are the Friday and Saturday nights on the bookends of the period. Occupancy on the books is in the 50%+ to 60%+ range. Last minute bookings have been strong all season and I expect the weekends to run past 70% occupancy. If ULLR helps us with white gold, we may hit 80%.

The Mesa week of March 27 – April 3, 2021 is pacing to reach the high 60% range, possibly making it to 70%. Anticipation of stimulus checks in mid-March could cause some to book some last minute trips for these dates. One never knows and every 24 hours seems to offer more optimism to travel. I suggest performing your best snow dance and a nightly toast to Ullr.

Looking back on the President’s weekend, notice we lost occupancy ground over the 15-day booking window of early February. In fact, during that 15-day booking period, for the arrival nights of Feb 11 – 14, 2021, roughly 50% fewer nights were booked in 2021 than in 2020. The good news? Overall, the period did have 7% more occupied room nights than in 2020.

Our intercept research indicates the average party size is larger in 2021 than in 2020. Combine the extra nights and more people per party and our “overnight visits” exceeded expectations. I hope that it translated to business revenue increases in town.

Notice the report gives us a view into August 2021 booking levels compared to 2020. I remind all; this was before groups were cancelling out of summer 2020. The chart below compares on the books in 2021 vs actual in 2020. Notice the pattern of the blue line AND the actual occupancy of the gray line in June. Put your chaps on and hold onto the reigns tight, summer 2021 is going to get wild.

On a side note, we are hearing of more activity for small groups this summer. A little extra grain for that horse.

Stay Safe and have fun every day.

Bill Wishowski – Breckenridge Tourism Office

Executive Summary Daily Occupancy Report as of Feb 15, 2021

Content & Overview

Contents Graph a. Rolling 6-month view b. Static summer view c. Static winter view 22 properties, 2,900+ units d. 60-day advance view

Participating Properties

Peak Property Mgmt Pine Ridge Condominiums Ski Country Resorts & Sports VRI - Breck - Crystal Peak Lodge

VRI - Breck - Mountain Thunder VRI - Breck - One Ski Hill VRI - Breck - Village at Breckenridge Property VRI - Breck - Double Tree Lodge Place Mgmt

VRI - Breck - Gravity Haus WoodWinds Property Management Pinnacle Lodging VRI - Breck - River Mountain Lodge

Grand Lodge on Peak 7 Residence Inn Breckenridge Alpine Edge Vacasa - Breckenridge - Main Street Station

Vacasa - Breckenridge - Condos The Lodge & Spa at Breckenridge Beaver Run Resort Vacasa - Breckenridge - Blue Sky

Grand Timber Lodge/Peak Great Western Lodging Resorts

The Daily Occupancy Report tracks occupancy on a daily level of granularity. The report combines the data sets of participating properties into a destination wide view that features three data sets (providing that sufficient information is available) including: i) current YTD occupancy, ii) last YTD occupancy, iii) last season's ending occupancy.

The Daily Outlook Report is generated on a monthly or twice-monthly basis, usually for a 12 month subscription period, and is created from data provided by a group of properties participating in a cooperative manner,

As is the case in all Inntopia data, all information provided by individual properties is strictly confidential, except when aggregated with other data and indistinguishable as a result.

© 2021 Sterling Valley Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. No parts of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems - without the written permission of the copyright holder. Products that are referred to in this document may be either trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners. The publisher and the author make no claim to these Trademarks. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, the publisher and the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of information contained in this document or from the use of programs and source code that may accompany it. In no event shall the publisher and the author be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this document. Breckenridge Total Occupancy (Most Recent Data) Daily Occupancy Report as of Feb 15, 2021

© 2021 Sterling Valley Systems, Inc. DBA Inntopia All Rights Reserved. Information provided here is CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION and is the exclusive property of Inntopia. It is expressly not for reproduction, distribution publication or any other dissemination without the express written permission of Inntopia. Sample reports may be provided to interested persons, specifically for purposes of their evaluation of a potential subscription and are subject to Copyrights of this product. Data and Metrics represented on this report are representative of the Sample Properties only and may not be representative of the entire Community or Industry. Persons using this data for strategic purposes do so at their own risk and hold Inntopia harmless. Breckenridge Total Occupancy (Winter-to-date) Daily Occupancy Report as of Feb 15, 2021

© 2021 Sterling Valley Systems, Inc. DBA Inntopia Inntopia's business practices, metrics, reports, systems and procedures and all subscriber data is CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, and protected by law. Reproduction or distribution is prohibited. All individual Inntopia subscriber data is kept strictly confidential and displayed only when aggregated with other similar data and indistinguishable as a result. Inntopia, [email protected] Breckenridge Total Occupancy (Summer-to-date) Daily Occupancy Report as of Feb 15, 2021

© 2021 Sterling Valley Systems, Inc. DBA Inntopia Inntopia's business practices, metrics, reports, systems and procedures and all subscriber data is CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, and protected by law. Reproduction or distribution is prohibited. All individual Inntopia subscriber data is kept strictly confidential and displayed only when aggregated with other similar data and indistinguishable as a result. Inntopia, [email protected] Breckenridge Total Occupancy (60-Day Advance View) Daily Occupancy Report as of Feb 15, 2021

Building Hope Expands Resources Building Hope Summit offers resources and options to support you, a loved one, or a co-worker with your mental health needs. You are not alone and help is available. Therapy Resources Mental Health Trainings Support Groups Volunteer Peer Support Program Financial Help Other Resources

In Our Backyard

Town Council Meeting Tuesday, February 23rd, 4:30-9pm The Breckenridge Town Council will hold a virtual regular meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23rd, from 4:30- 9:00pm. Join The Meeting or Sign-up to Receive the Recaps

Summit County Adopts PrepMod Registration Summit County Public Health Officials announced last week

that the county will be adopting the PrepMod registration system utilized by many counties across the State of Colorado for COVID-19 vaccination appointments. The online registration system will allow individuals to put their name on a contact list for vaccination appointments in Summit County, as well as other counties.

Recording - Summit County Board of County Commissioners Town Hall On Behavioral Health The Summit County Board of County Commissioners held a virtual town hall on Friday, February 19th to discuss behavior health and resources. Watch The Recording

High Country Conservation Center Virtual Party For The Planet Friday, March 5th

The High Country Conservation Center will hold the annual Party for the Planet, Pandemic Edition. The event will be held virtually on Friday, March 5th. Learn More / RSVP For the Event

COVID-19 TOOLBOX

Concierge Box

One Breck Blog

Breck Giving Back Stories

Local, State, Federal, & Global Updates

Assistance Resources for Employees & Employers

Breckenridge Restaurants & Retailers

The Breckenridge Tourism Office (BTO) is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on the local economy and strives to be a valuable, timely resource. If there is any assistance or information we can provide to better serve you right now, please contact Tessa at [email protected]

Copyright © 2020 Breckenridge Tourism Office, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in for the weekly BTO newsletter, the DMMO Download. Mailing Address: 111 Ski Hill Road PO Box 1909 Breckenridge, CO 80424

Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Breckenridge Business Survey: Walkable Main Street - Feedback for the Future The Town of Breckenridge and the Breckenridge Tourism Office are seeking your input regarding Walkable Main Street. Take The Survey

Business Reel

February 15th Occupancy Report The Breckenridge Tourism Office has published the February

15th occupancy report. Read The Report / Read The Notes

Breckenridge Business Revenue Reduction Rent Assistance Available For February Application Deadline - Sunday, February 28, 4pm

At the December 29th special Town Council meeting, a new rent relief program for businesses that have experienced a revenue loss of 20% or more in 2020 was approved. The program has now been extended to include February. Learn More / Apply Now

In Our Backyard

"Dish With The Commish" Community Update Today, Wednesday, February 24th, 5pm

Join Commissioner Elisabeth Lawrence for a community update on the Summit County Government Facebook page. The "Dish with the Commish" series is co-hosted by KSMT The Mountain and will be aired on the radio each week, as well as available on Facebook. Join The Meeting

Free "Know Before You Go" Webinar Presented By EpicPromise & The CAIC Thursday, February 25th, 5pm This one hour webinar is not a substitute for formal avalanche and backcountry training programs, join for an informational

overview of avalanche awareness. It is also a great refresher if you have already gone through formal avalanche education. Even if you don’t travel in the backcountry, this will be an interesting and informative hour with the experts at CAIC. More Information

Premiere of Colorado Experience: Barney Ford Thursday, February 25th, 7pm Rocky Mountain PBS will premiere a 56-minute-long documentary about the life and legacy of Barney Ford. Born into slavery in 1822, Ford endured racism, claim jumping, fires and financial hardship to become one of Colorado’s most prominent businessmen of his time. Considered one of the state’s founders, Ford fought tirelessly for civil rights while continuing his pursuits as an entrepreneur. The episode will also be shown on YouTube, livestreamed, and on demand.

COVID-19 TOOLBOX

Concierge Box

One Breck Blog

Breck Giving Back Stories

Local, State, Federal, & Global Updates

Assistance Resources for Employees & Employers

Breckenridge Restaurants & Retailers

Summit County Moves to Level Yellow due to Declining COVID Case Numbers As of today at 6am, Summit County moved from Level Orange to Level Yellow on the state Dial 2.0. Citing 7 days of COVID case data in Level Yellow, Summit County Public Health officials submitted a request Wednesday which was granted. Summit County Public Health issued an amended and restated Public Health Order Thursday to reflect the move to Yellow on the state dial, and corresponding Level Yellow restrictions for business sectors. Learn More / View The State Dial 2.0 Dashboard

5 Star Certified Businesses On Hold To Operate In Level Blue The State will not allow 5 Star certified businesses to operate in Level Blue until Colorado has completed vaccination of 70% of the 70+ population. Officials are hopeful that the State will meet the vaccination threshold soon, at which point Summit County 5 Star certified businesses will have the opportunity to operate at Level Blue restrictions. Businesses that are not 5 Star certified are encouraged to apply via the application on the Summit County Government Website

Business Reel

Walkable Main Survey

Please take a few minutes to take the Walkable Main Survey and share your views on potentially having “Walkable Main” (closed to traffic) again this summer. Along with some other key operating considerations, these survey results will be an important component in the Town’s decision-making process. A decision is expected by late spring depending on changes due to the status of COVID in the County at that time. Take The Survey

Updated What To Expect Poster The Town of Breckenridge has updated this printable, shareable poster to reflect the new public health guidelines under Level Yellow and what guests should expect when visiting Breckenridge. Download The Poster and share with your guests.

Breckenridge Tourism Office Community Update Friday, March 5th, 9:30-10:30am Join Breckenridge Mayor Eric Mamula, Town Manager Rick Holman, Asst. Town Manager Shannon Haynes, Special Guest Ken Nelson of Flame Group Foods, and Breckenridge Tourism Office President/CEO Lucy Kay, for a Breckenridge Community update on Friday, March 5, 9:30-10:30am. Register Now

In Our Backyard

The Summit Economic Impact Survey For Q1 is Live Deadline Sunday, February 28th This survey is being conducted by the Summit Prosperity Initiative, the economic development arm of the Summit Chamber. All individual responses will be kept confidential. It should only take about 5-10 minutes to complete. Take The Survey

COVID-19 TOOLBOX

Concierge Box

One Breck Blog

Breck Giving Back Stories

Local, State, Federal, & Global Updates

Assistance Resources for Employees & Employers

Breckenridge Restaurants & Retailers

Breckenridge Tourism Office Community Update Friday, March 5th, 9:30-10:30am Join Breckenridge Mayor Eric Mamula, Town Manager Rick Holman, Asst. Town Manager Shannon Haynes, and Breckenridge Tourism Office President/CEO Lucy Kay for a Breckenridge Community Update. Register Now

Business Reel

Walkable Main Survey

5 Tips For Small Business Leaders During COVID-19 It's never easy to lead a team through tough times, but it's precisely those tough times that offer the most important lessons about leadership. While navigating the new restrictions has been extremely challenging for many small businesses, having a boss who embraces them enthusiastically helps ensure the rest of the staff will get on board. Read 5 Timely Tips For Small Business Leaders

In Our Backyard

Recording - Colorado Governor Update On Covid-19 Vaccinations

On Friday Governor Jared Polis, Brigadier General Scott Sherman, and CDPHE Incident Commander Scott Bookman discussed the move to Phase 1B.3. The move to Phase 1B.3 will happen on Friday, March 5th. Watch The Recording or Read More

State Resources Whether you’re looking to apply for unemployment benefits, need housing, education, or food assistance, or you’re a small business owner hit hard by the pandemic, here’s a compilation of resources put together by the Governor's office to help all Coloradans get through this time and stay informed. COVID-19 VACCINE: Vaccine info Where to get vaccinated Frequently asked questions Vaccine data dashboard Phases and distribution

COVID-19: CO exposure notifications COVID-19 testing information COVID-19 data dashboard Public health guidance Public health enforcement SMALL BUSINESS: General resources and PPP loan info Small Business Relief Program info Small Business Administration funding Watch the Small Business Webinar SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE: Rental and mortgage support Utility assistance Food assistance Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Education resources HEALTH CARE: General health care resources Mental health resources Medicaid UNEMPLOYMENT: Unemployment insurance Unemployment fraud

COVID-19 TOOLBOX

Concierge Box

One Breck Blog

Breck Giving Back Stories

Local, State, Federal, & Global Updates

Assistance Resources for Employees & Employers

Breckenridge Restaurants & Retailers

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 970.453.3402 ph | 970.453.3535 f 208 East Lincoln Ave. | PO Box 68

www.SummitCountyCO.gov Breckenridge, CO 80424

SUMMIT COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION AGENDA Tuesday, March 2, 2021 9:15 a.m. County Commissioners’ Meeting Room; Summit County Courthouse 208 Lincoln Avenue, Breckenridge, Colorado

Due to Public Health concerns and social distancing efforts, this meeting will be conducted virtually and the public is encouraged to join by following the instructions below:

To join by phone, dial (669) 900-9128 or (346) 248-7799 Webinar ID: 830 6865 8032 Password: 0831525490 Press # to bypass the Participant ID

To join from your computer, tablet or smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83068658032 Password: zCp?w9L+gN

9:15 a.m. Wetlands Protection Discussion (Executive Session Recommended) (Open Space, Attorney)

10:30 a.m. Disposal District Plan Review (Attorney)

11:00 a.m. Managers’ & Commissioners’ Issues

11:30 a.m. Recess

12:30 p.m. Lunch

______Extended Afternoon

12:30 p.m. Water 101 Meeting (Executive Session Recommended) (Attorney)

3:30 p.m. Adjourn

*This agenda and times, depending on length of discussion, are subject to change at any time. Please contact the Manager’s Office or visit our website to obtain updates at: http://www.summitcountyco.gov

Summit County Board of County Commissioners’ Meeting Agenda of March 2, 2021 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 970.453.3402 ph | 970.453.3535 f 208 East Lincoln Ave. | PO Box 68 www.SummitCountyCO.gov Breckenridge, CO 80424

SUMMIT COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH & BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION AGENDA TUESDAYS AT 3:30 PM THURSDAYS AT 3:00 PM County Commissioners’ Meeting Room; Summit County Courthouse 208 Lincoln Avenue, Breckenridge, Colorado

Due to Public Health concerns and social distancing efforts, this meeting will be conducted virtually and the public is encouraged to join by following the instructions below:

To join by phone, dial (669) 900-9128 or (346) 248-7799 Webinar ID: 910 6016 3962 Password: 050060 Press # to bypass the Participant ID

To join from your computer, tablet or smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/91060163962 Password: 65GpkjKYI!

I. Standing Agenda Items/Updates

a. Local and Regional/State COVID Case and Hospitalization Statistics and Trends

b. Local Testing Statistics and Program Update

c. Vaccine Distribution Update

d. Transmission Trends

e. Public Health Order Update – Discussion of Any Changes

f. Communications Update and Discussion

g. Emergency Management Update

h. Economic Recovery and Support Program Updates

i. Community Indicators and Programs

II. Critical Topics Not Covered Above

III. Open BOH/BOCC Discussion, As Needed

IV. Executive Session, As Needed

*Agenda topics are subject to change at any time. Summit County Moving to Level Yellow due to Declining COVID Case Numbers

State Dial Level Yellow restrictions go into effect Friday

Contact: Nicole Valentine, Summit County Director of Communications

SUMMIT COUNTY – Summit County Public Health officials submitted a request Wednesday to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to move from Level Orange to Level Yellow on the State Dial 2.0, citing 7 days of COVID case data in Level Yellow. The request has been granted and the county will move to Level Yellow restrictions starting at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 26.

As of Tuesday, Feb. 23, Summit County’s incidence rate was at 206.62 new cases per 100,000 people, and in Level Yellow on the dial. The positivity rate, which is the percentage of positive tests out of total tests administered, was at 4.47%, which falls within Level Blue parameters.

Summit County Public Health issued an amended and restated Public Health Order Thursday to reflect the move to Yellow on the state dial, and corresponding Level Yellow restrictions for business sectors, as well as 5 Star certified businesses.

The new order takes effect at 6:00 a.m., Friday, Feb. 26.

“We know our community has been working exceptionally hard to reduce the spread of the virus, and allow our schools and businesses to stay open,” said Commissioner Tamara Pogue. “It is great to see our numbers declining and to have the opportunity to move to Level Yellow.”

“We hope that the state will meet the 70% vaccination requirement for the 70 and older population shortly in order to allow our 5 Star businesses to open to further capacity. We know that will bring much needed relief to our restaurants,” added Pogue.

Beginning Feb. 26, Summit County must comply with all Level Yellow requirements in the CDPHE Public Health Order and all applicable state guidance. Under Level Yellow, the personal gathering restriction remains the same with a limit of no more than 10 people from no more than two households.

Restaurants, however, will be eligible to move from 25% capacity, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less, to 50% capacity, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less (up to 150 people for very large venues using the space calculator). In addition, gyms and fitness centers can move from 25% capacity, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less, to 50% capacity, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less. Outdoor venues can move from 25% capacity, not to exceed 75 people, to 50% capacity, not to exceed 175 people.

More details on capacity restrictions in Level Yellow for all business sectors can be found on the CDPHE Dial dashboard page.

The State will not allow 5 Star certified businesses to operate in Level Blue until the State has completed vaccination of 70% of the 70 plus population. Officials are hopeful that the State will meet the vaccination threshold soon, at which point Summit County 5 Star certified businesses will have the opportunity to operate at Level Blue restrictions. Businesses that are not 5 Star certified are encouraged to apply via the application on the Summit County Government website.

CDPHE reserves the right to move Summit County to a more restrictive level at any point should circumstances warrant more aggressive restrictions. CDPHE has not provided any timeline for such potential increases in restrictions, but it will continue to monitor COVID-19 data and respond accordingly.

The new local health order will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m., March 31.

The order may be amended prior to March 31, should conditions improve or deteriorate as indicated by Summit County’s COVID-19 case numbers, positivity rate, and hospitalizations.

Summit County continues to see outbreaks associated with events, gatherings at short-term rental units, parties and activities at various workplaces and venues. The intent of the amended Summit County Public Health Order is to minimize contact among individuals from different households and to reduce the public's exposure to the virus. County officials hope these requirements will obviate a return to tighter restrictions and closures imposed by the state.

To view the local public health order, including the mitigation measures for events, businesses, short-term lodging, restaurants and bars, visit: https://www.summitcountyco.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=Public- Health-Order-Closures-for-COVID19-18.

To view the state public health order, including detailed guidance on operation of restaurants and bars, visit https://covid19.colorado.gov/prepare-protect-yourself/prevent-the-spread/public-health-executive- orders.

Information on Summit County case data and trends can be found on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

Phase 1B.3 will be Eligible for COVID Vaccine Starting March 5

Coloradans age 60 and older, frontline essential workers in grocery and agriculture, individuals age 16-59 with two or more high-risk conditions are encouraged to register with PrepMod

SUMMIT COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), announced Friday that it will allow local public health agencies to begin vaccinations of Phase 1B.3 individuals ages 60 and older, frontline essential workers in grocery and agriculture, and individuals age 16-59 with two or more high-risk conditions beginning Friday, March 5.

“We are glad to hear that the State will be allowing us to move on to the next phase of vaccination swiftly,” Commissioner Josh Blanchard said. “We know our community has been waiting for this and we thank our frontline essential workers in grocery for their service to the community. We recognize that they work in a high risk environment and we are glad to offer the protection of vaccine to these essential members of our workforce.”

“We hope to be able to move on to the next phase of essential workers once the State gives counties approval, likely at the end of next month,” added Blanchard.

On a press conference today, CDPHE unveiled changes to the eligibility requirements in the next phases of vaccination.

Phase 1B.3 will now include:

 People age 60 and older.

 Frontline essential workers in grocery and agriculture: 1. The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers who cannot maintain physical distance from others at their place of employment, who work in close contact with many people, especially indoors, and in places with poor ventilation including meatpacking workers; grocery store workers; and agricultural processing workers.

 People 16-59 with 2 or more high risk conditions. 1. The intent of this classification is to vaccinate Coloradans who have a high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. This includes Coloradans with two or more of the following: . cancer (defined as patients who are currently receiving treatment or have received treatment within the last month for cancer), chronic kidney disease, COPD, diabetes mellitus (types 1 and 2), Down syndrome, specific heart conditions (heart failure, cardiomyopathies or coronary heart disease, and severe valvular/congenital heart disease), obesity (BMI ≥ 30kg/m^2), pregnancy, sickle cell disease, solid organ transplant, individuals with disabilities who require direct care in their home, and people with disabilities that prevent them from wearing masks.

More information on the updated Phased distribution plan for Colorado and Phases 1B.3 and 1B.4 can be found on the CDPHE website. “Because vaccine supplies are limited, not everyone who is eligible will have access to the vaccine immediately,” Public Health Director Amy Wineland said. “We ask for everyone’s patience as we will have to see how much vaccine we receive each week from the state. It will likely take several weeks to offer the vaccine to everyone in the next phase.”

“We encourage Phase 1B.3 individuals, as well as currently eligible community members who have not yet received a vaccine, to register online using the PrepMod request form, so that they will be included in the lottery system for vaccine appointments each week,” added Wineland.

Summit County has moved from SC Alerts to the PrepMod registration system utilized by many counties across the State of Colorado for COVID-19 vaccination appointments. The online registration system will allow individuals to put their name on a contact list for vaccination appointments in Summit County, as well as other counties.

Public Health officials will use a lottery process to randomly select those within the current prioritized populations when appointment are available. While it is possible to pre-register if you are not currently eligible, only individuals that fall into eligible categories will be included in the lottery process for vaccine appointments.

Individuals that are randomly selected in the lottery will receive an email notification with a link to schedule an appointment. Individuals can chose to cancel their appointment offer or have 24 hours to schedule an appointment before the slot will be offered to someone else.

The PrepMod registration link is now available on the Summit County Government Scheduling Vaccinations webpage.

Individuals that require technical support with registration are encouraged to call the Summit County COVID info line at 970-668-9730. The line is staffed from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individuals will have ample opportunity to receive support with registration early next week before the lottery is drawn for the next drive-through clinic.

Public Health reminds the community that everyone, including those who receive both doses of vaccine should continue to follow Public Health recommendations for wearing face coverings, washing hands and physical distancing to help slow the spread of the virus in Summit County. Summit County is not recognizing vaccine passport programs at this time. All residents and visitors are required to follow the local public health order. More research is needed to determine the length of immunity to the virus and whether individuals who receive the vaccine have the ability to spread the virus to others.

Your Guide To Upcoming

Classes, Workshops + Events

Check-out the full lineup of artistic opportunities that are on tap any day of the week. Step into oil painting, get your hands dirty at clay hand building or explore an art installation.

In-Person Classes + Workshops

Masks are required for ages 4+. Capacity is limited so pre-registration is recommended.

Private Classes & Workshops BCA offers private workshops of varying lengths in the following mediums: ceramics, crafts and artisanal products, drawing, glassblowing, metalsmithing, painting, photography, printmaking, textiles/sewing, welding and woodworking. Class capacity depends upon medium. To schedule a private workshop, please contact Drea Edwards at 970-547-3116 ext 3 or [email protected].

Winter Wonderland Plein Air Tues, Feb 23 & Tues, March 2 @ 9:00am | Gold Run Nordic Center This class will take advantage of the beautiful winter scenery by taking our paints outdoors! We will spend the majority of class outside learning about light, color and layers in nature.

Kids N’ Clay Wed, Feb 24 @ 6pm | Old Masonic Hall This class is designed for children to explore creative projects using ceramic clay through pinching, coiling and slab techniques. Each session will be a different project from sculpture to utilitarian to stimulate creativity in a playful way.

Adventures in Storyboarding Thur, Feb 25 @ 3:30pm | Old Masonic Hall This class will cover the basics of Storyboarding. You will learn what story boarding means and how to utilize Storyboarding to bring your writing to life. No drawing skill? No problem! The focus of this class is to learn how to bring your story to life on the page!

Photography for Hikers Sat, Feb 27 @ 10:00am | Riverwalk Center A fancy photo app may make your photography look better, but there’s more to eye catching photos than adjusting contrast and color post shoot. Improve your photography skills while enjoying some fresh air on some local trails. Learn some tips on photo composition to help you compose a dynamic shot to begin with, as well as tips on camera operation, whether you will be using your camera phone or your DSLR camera.

Mucky Buddies Sun, Feb 28 | Old Masonic Hall A spin off of the Muddy Buddies kids ceramics class, Mucky Buddies is a non- ceramics family sculpture class. We’ll make our own sculpture and art materials using mostly household items and explore different ways of creating and having fun with our homemade materials.

MORE INFO

Virtual Workshops + Classes

Create from the safety of your home! Tools and materials are available to rent for online classes. If you would like to purchase your own, please visit the event descriptions on breckcreate.org.

Crochet Circle – Online Tues, Feb 23 @ 2pm Crochet Crafts is designed for beginners to learn to crochet with basic stitches and techniques, learn to read patterns and design your own crochet crafts. For example, a 5 x 5 square pattern will be used to build a scarf or vest.

Young Writers Club Tues, Feb 23 & Tues, March 2 @ 5pm Join us each week for inspiration, collaboration, and guidance in creative writing. We spend time each week writing, discussing a different novel, sharing our work and offering positive feedback for each other’s writing.

Clay Hand-Building – Online Thur, Feb 25 @ 6pm This class will explore clay hand building through the method of slab construction and slab manipulation, pinching and coiling to create decorative and also functional pieces. Projects will include cylinder vessels, slab boxes and pockets, tumblers, cups, mugs and plates. This class will also explore using underglazes and sgraffito techniques for surface decoration as well as texture techniques and slip trailing that will make your utilitarian pieces come to life with design.

Linocut Printmaking – Online Fri, Feb 26 @ 6pm This beginner class will focus on linoleum block printmaking techniques. Participants will learn about printmaking materials as well as how to use tools safely to create a finished print by the end of class.

Glass Beaded Jewelry – Online Sat, Feb 27 @ 6pm In this class, participants will create beautiful jewelry pieces choosing from handblown glass focal beads and finishing them with a variety of complimentary beads.

Developing Drawing Skills – Online Sun, Feb 28 @ 2pm This all levels drawing class focuses on strategies and exercises for drawing from life as well as the imagination, while exploring different drawing medium and approach. Each week we will cover different aspects of drawing as we practice skills in observation, understanding light, elements of design and composition while not taking ourselves too seriously and have fun!

Oil Painting – Online Fri, Mar 5 & 12 @ 1pm A fun and vibrant afternoon class for all levels with no experience necessary. Participants will learn about the basic of oil, form and materials needed to bring a painting to life. With step by step instruction and guidance, participants will create a winter themed painting.

MORE INFO

Special Events

BCA's special events are a series of year-round happenings that includes concerts, educational programs, creative forums, open houses, tours, family activities and other community gathering opportunities within the Breckenridge Arts District.

The HYPE: Linocut Printmaking In Partnership with Building Hope Thur, March 4 @ 3:30 | Old Masonic Hall

In collaboration with Building Hope, this class teaches linoleum block printmaking techniques. Led by Callie Glidden, participants will learn about printmaking materials as well as how to safely use tools to create a finished print by the end of class.

MORE INFO

Open Studios

Open Studios are an opportunity to explore a medium independently.

Ceramic Open Studio Tuesdays @ 5pm, Thursdays @ 9am & Sundays at 10am | Ceramics Studio

Studio technicians will be present to orient participants, but these sessions are not led by an instructor. Prior to attending on Open Studio session, participants must have taken a class on campus.

MORE INFO

Co-Op Artists

Local artists work on the Arts District campus and provide working studio hours for visitors to observe their process.Join Breckenridge Candle Cabin as they go live on our Facebook every week. View their process, ask them questions, and check out their latest projects.

Co-Op Artist: Breckenridge Candle Cabin Saturdays @ 3pm

Breckenridge Candle Cabin makes soy candles that are kosher and environmentally friendly.

Co-Op Artist: SCUMUGS Thursdays @ 3pm

SCUMUGS (scum-mugs) Handmade Pottery by Melissa Michel, was established in 2010 with an obsession to make unique, one of a kind, decorative yet functional mugs.

Her work varies from many different shapes and styles and uses various types of ceramic techniques to adorn the surfaces of her pots.

MORE INFO

Exhibitions

BCA’s exhibition program is a contemporary series of seasonally rotating installations, events and interventions employing visual art, performance, film, digital media and social practice.

Instructor Exhibition 2020 Now- March 28 | Old Masonic Hall

The exhibition brings together works by the instructors from the Arts District Campus to showcase the incredible wealth of local creativity and talent in Breckenridge,

Colorado.

MORE INFO

About BreckCreate

Breckenridge Creative Arts (BCA)—or BreckCreate for short—supports and serves artists, creatives, cultural enthusiasts, residents, visitors, and the community at large by providing a year-round schedule of performances, exhibitions, screenings, classes, workshops and other engagement opportunities throughout Breckenridge, Colorado.

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Welcome to the monthly newsletter of Building Hope Summit County. We will use this publication to inform you about Building Hope's work in the community, important mental health tips, news, upcoming events and more! Building Hope is a community-wide initiative designed to create a more coordinated, effective and responsive mental health system that promotes emotional health, reduces stigma and improves access to care and support for everyone in Summit County.

Building Hope's FREE monthly events just keep getting bigger and better, with 16 (yes, 16!) events in March. From youth-centered events --both indoors and out, to Sound Healing, to art and dance, and important lifesaving knowledge along the way. Click on the calendar above for a full-size version. Register for events on the Building Hope website. And read our final Faces of Hope story, the unforgettable love letter Nancy Kerry writes to her 34-year-old son, who took his life in 2013. Each story of strength and hope is told in an effort to reduce stigma, and to advocate for better mental wellness for all.

Spotlight: Laura Landrum

Building Hope MSW/MPH Intern

Building Hope intern Laura Landrum hails from Mississippi, but you’d never know it from her accent. She says her undergraduate degree in theater from Penn State clipped those long vowels and friendly drawls. Luckily, the friendly part stayed intact.

How does a theater undergrad from the deep South wind up in the high country, in grad school for a combined Master’s in Social Work and Public Health, trading pink magnolias for purple columbines?

The answer is, of course, a journey – one that took her around the world and into her passions. Read more Laura Landrum HERE

‘Caring Connections’ Ramps up

“Wanna Talk? We’re here to listen, because we’ve been where you are right now,” said Nicole Maynard, Building Hope’s volunteer and peer coordinator.

Nicole coordinates Building Hope’s “Caring Connections” peer program, a group of volunteers trained through the University of Colorado Depression Center who live in Summit County and are paired with people who would like to talk weekly about hard stuff they’re dealing with.

“We understand living in this beautiful mountain community has its challenges, and like you, we’ve faced many of them – anxiety, depression, isolation, trauma and loss. We’re here to listen and help.”

Caring Connections is available to any member of the community and is especially suited for Building Hope Scholarship recipients who might need some extra support on these cold, snowy days. If you’re interested in having someone at Caring Connections call you, sign up HERE.

Guest Column by Allison Perry Allison contacted Building Hope to offer her experience with “Toxic Positivity,” after reading the Faces of Hope series in the Summit Daily News, in hopes that her essay will spark dialogue in the community. See Allison’s bio at the end of this article.

TOXIC positivity

Even the phrase reads as an oxymoron and, no doubt, some of you might already be thinking, “who is this Negative Nancy?!?”

She’s me. And I suffer from it. So what is this “toxic positivity?”

According to Dr. Jaime Zuckerman, a clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania, “Toxic positivity is the assumption, either by one’s self or others, that despite a person’s emotional pain or difficult situation, they should only have a positive mindset or — my pet peeve term — ‘positive vibes.’”

Toxic positivity also posits that the solution to any and all problems -- particularly with emotions -- is positivity thinking and gratitude.

As a human being who has been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and ADHD with a generous side of Depression, who is also a survivor of trauma, “positive vibes” has also become a pet peeve term of mine since arriving in Colorado. READ MORE Allison Perry HERE

FIRC Survey Indicates Continued Need in Community

“How many days of ‘not feeling ok’ do you have to have before you’re really not ok?” asks Danielle McQueen, FIRC’s Grant and Evaluation Manager. The question, though rhetorical, goes to the heart of survey results recently culled by Danielle that show – not surprisingly -- that many in Summit County are hurting, both financially and with their mental health.

Danielle said the survey was originally intended to determine if people were leaving the county in order to better gauge workforce capacity. It was sent in December to 600 residents who received rental assistance from FIRC. “The good news for our employers is that people are staying,” Danielle said. “The bad news is those people are not thriving – they’re not even stable.”

When asked about their stress levels, Danielle said that “50% of folks say they go between feeling ok and not ok; they could use more support. 20% are really struggling; they’re not ok. 30% are stable,” she explained. “So, a total of 70% of respondents are not doing well at all with their mental health. That’s a big number in our small community.” READ MORE about the FIRC survey HERE

Self-Care Shares

We made it to the one-year anniversary of the beginning of COVID, and while our community experienced tragedies and suffering along the way, we held together. We still have a ways to go, both with COVID and our trademark long winter, and if that makes you feel a little tired and blue, you’re not alone. Perhaps we could use a little reframing – looking at a situation from a slightly different perspective. When we change our frame, often our thinking and behavior change along with it. We asked the Building Hope staff for a few of their own examples.

Kellyn - The reality that there are more people in need of therapy is also paving the way for more mental health conversations in our community, in our families, and in our lives as a whole. As a therapist and longtime mental health advocate, I am so grateful for this broadening and normalized conversation that is coming from the hardships we're experiencing collectively. My hope is that these conversations and this way of looking at mental health as "normal" will continue after pandemic madness!

Ravi - Reframing is becoming conscious that you have a choice in how you see things. I've been depending on my meditation practice, specifically going back to the breath, whenever I've needed a pause and a reframe. This has helped me step outside of the trappings and reactiveness of my current situation and become aware that I can shift to a different perspective given this new vantage point of witnessing. Taking a break to stop and breathe allows me to bring gratitude, appreciation and stability in situations that would otherwise go on to create more tension. I can't emphasize enough the importance of this practice!

Suzanne – We adopted a puppy a year ago from the shelter. She’s a love but needs massive exercise to be content. At first, I resented her intrusion on our routine, which did not include as much outside physical activity. But the more I gave her what she wanted, the more I found what I needed: hard, daily exercise with her that always results in a serotonin boost, either through laughing at her goofiness or pausing to witness a never- before-seen combination of colors on the horizon. MORE Self-Care Shares HERE

Mental Health in the News

A Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) research report indicates a 3-fold increased prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and a 2-fold increased prevalence of suicidal ideation when comparing April-June 2020 to pre-pandemic numbers. In June 2020, 2238 (40.9%) of 5470 US adults reported adverse mental or behavioral health symptoms. Read the full article HERE.

MARCH EVENTS

Please Remember you MUST Register to Attend

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE FOR

ANY/ALL EVENTS IN MARCH

Building Hope offers FREE Community Connectedness and The HYPE (youth connection program) events each month. These events are designed to reduce isolation, foster meaningful relationships & connections among residents, promote emotional well-being, and offer tangible tips and tools for individuals to support their own mental health.

Please consider a donation to Building Hope and Thank You!

Last Word! Please Like us on Facebook and please share this newsletter far and wide to help us build our community and grow strong together.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our Newsletter!

Our phone number is (970) 485-6271 Our street address is: 701 Granite St. #270 Frisco, Colorado 80443

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March Newsletter

FDRD Home Calendar Become a Donate

Member

Summit County Safe Passages Introducing... The Webinar (Rescheduled from 2/16) Youth Forest Stewards Thursday, March 4th, 4pm-5:30pm Program!

Summit County Safe Passages (SCSP) consists of a collaborative team of stakeholders working toward a common vision

of balancing wildlife needs with the ever-

FDRD is rolling out a new

growing human program for high school population in Summit County. Learn about their students (age 14-18). proposed East Vail Pass wildlife crossing Youth who participate in structure during this fascinating webinar with this five-month long, USFS Wildlife Biologist and SCSP founding summer forest stewardship program, will gain member, Ashley Nettles. valuable community

service hours and learn a The webinar will be streamed live on our Facebook variety of trail page, and uploaded to our YouTube page the maintenance techniques, following day. If you would like to attend live via while building a Zoom, please sign up on the FDRD website Calendar community of like-minded page.

students, focused on bettering our local Forest. Play it Forward at Copper Mountain Wednesday, March 10th

Learn More

Copper Mountain will

donate $5 to FDRD, from every discounted lift ticket purchased Join Our Team This online, in-advance, for Summer! Wednesday, March

10th!

Purchase Tickets

10th Mountain Division Webinar

Thursday, March 11th, 4pm-5:30pm FDRD is hiring a seasonal

Youth Programs Join us for an Coordinator. Click the link evening with below to read the job retired USMC description and apply. Colonel, Tom Duhs, to hear the

Learn More incredible story of

"The Ski Troops."

The 10th Mountain Division trained at Camp

Hale Colorado, were deployed to Italy, and pushed the German Army out of Italy bringing March 2021 about the end of WWII. This captivating Educational Events webinar will discuss the unique nature of the only US Army Mountain Division, its recruitment, training, employment, and work after WWII.

The webinar will be streamed live on our Facebook page, and uploaded to our YouTube page the following day. If you would like to attend live via

Zoom, please sign up on the FDRD website Calendar page. Full List & Details on

Our Website

Modes of Backcountry Travel Tour Monday, March 15th, 9am - 12pm Summit County

Join geoscientist Naturalist Information and life-long skier Eric Erslev on a tour focused on using and understanding the science behind the snow travel

strategies of FDRD staff have been Colorado wildlife to

hard at work, developing safely access the a brand new webpage, pristine beauty of our backcountry. By using a chock full of local forest diverse array of ski, snowshoe and split board information! The Summit gear, we will experience their advantages and County Naturalist disadvantages in snow’s infinitely variable Information Page is now live, and will soon conditions. become your one-stop shop for local forest facts. There's wildlife, birds, trees, Sign Up

wildflowers, weeds, history, & MORE! We invite you to

go explore and maybe learn something new Gold Rushes of the 19th Century about the natural world Webinar that surrounds us. Thursday, March 25th, 4pm-5:30pm

Learn More

Join local mining history expert and FDRD board member Rick Hague, for a historic dive into the gold rushes of

Colorado, as well as around the country, and their cultural and financial impacts. We will look at the Donate any portion of techniques used by miners as well as the your CO State income tax struggle of living in these harsh environments. refund to FDRD! All you need is our registration #: 20113007405 The webinar will be streamed live on our Facebook page, and uploaded to our YouTube page the Learn More

following day. If you would like to attend live via Zoom, please sign up on the FDRD website Calendar page.

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Gail Shears

Without the support of our friend, Gail Shears, FDRD would not be the organization it is today. She has been a supporter and volunteer for 13 years now. (FDRD is 16 years old this year!) Seven years ago, Gail worked tirelessly as our Board President and guided us through some unstable times as an organization. To this day, she never turns down an opportunity to support us. Whether it's contributing to every fundraising campaign we host, donating her beautiful stained glass to all of our auctions and raffles, volunteering her time at our Farmers Market booth every summer, or sharing knowledge on our Youth Programs Committee; Gail is one of FDRD's all- time greatest friends, and we are so grateful for her continued guidance and support!

Check out her stained glass at the High Country ARTisans in Silverthorne!

FDRD | 680 Blue River Parkway, P.O. Box 1648, Silverthorne, CO 80498 9702623449

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February 2021 Conservation Update

In this Conservation Update, we report that we have new communities in The Mountain Pact network; 500 organizations support Representative Deb Haaland, President Biden’s historic nominee for Secretary of Interior, who would be the first Indigenous cabinet member and Interior Secretary; after the confirmation hearing, Rep. Halaand secured the crucial support of Senator Joe Machin; the CORE Act, Grand Canyon Protection Act, and other public lands bills have been reintroduced in Congress and passed as a package in the U.S. House today!; the Biden administration has delayed a Trump rule that would allow companies to pay less money for drilling on federal lands; and the Acting Secretary of Interior signed an order that revoked former Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt’s order that would have unilaterally imposed new restrictions that would have limited the availability of Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding for federal land acquisitions; and much more.

Take Action!

Take Action on this NEW RESOLUTION! We invite you to consider asking your town/city/county to adopt this resolution in the next couple of months, which expresses support for President Biden’s executive order that temporarily pauses new oil and gas leasing on federal public lands and asks the Biden administration to:

 modernize the federal oil and gas leasing program to ensure the oil and gas companies that hold leases and extract natural resources provide a fair return to federal and state taxpayers; and  develop a plan to phase out the production of fossil fuels, which are a major contributor to climate change, in a way that also supports the workers, communities, and states that currently have fossil fuel-dependent economies.

Here is some background information on oil and gas leasing and why the temporary pause is necessary. You can download the resolution here.

30x30 Webinar - Scheduling Are you a Sustainable Tourism

The Mountain Pact will be hosting a webinar Destination? with the U.S. Director of the Campaign Nature A Mountain Pact Community is looking to about President Biden’s 30x30 conservation become a sustainable tourism destination. goal. We invite you to fill out this Doodle poll Does your community have experience so we can select a date and time that works for with this process? “How it is organized, the most local elected officials. who belongs (residents, businesses, nonprofits, schools, hospital, etc.), any

bylaws that others have used to guide the committee, etc.” Do you have ideas? Please let Anna know: [email protected]

News About The Mountain Pact

We are pleased to announce that the Town of Leavenworth, Washington has joined the Mountain Pact Network. Thank you to the City of South Lake Tahoe for recommending The Mountain Pact to Leavenworth.

We have also added some new community logos to our website! These communities have been involved with The Mountain Pact over this past year. Thank you!

 Town of Basalt, Colorado  Town of Snowmass Village, Colorado  City of Longmont, Colorado  Eagle County, Colorado  Blaine County, Idaho

If your community isn’t listed on our website but would like to be, please let Anna know. We look forward to working together in the months and years to come!

The Mountain Pact is now on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/themountainpact

Mountain Community News

 Eagle County and the Town of Eagle are mourning the loss of three backcountry skiers who were local government officials caught in an avalanche near Silverton.  Avalanches are hitting the crowded backcountry, just as a high number of people are seeking an escape from the pandemic and pricey resorts.  Masks are now required at all national parks when visitors can't maintain physical distance and in all National Park Service buildings.  The Animas River sets a record low flow for second month in a row.  With more visitors, Colorado’s public lands have more problems.  Climate change ravaged the West with heat and drought in 2020; Many fear that 2021 will be worse. Research is suggesting that ski seasons are getting shorter because of rising average temperatures and less snowfall.  A survey finds that Steamboat Springs is more prepared for climate change than many other resort towns.  A condo building at Snowmass ski resort will be powered by 100% renewable energy.  Squirrels and other animals are moving uphill to seek refuge from warming summer temperatures in the southern Rocky Mountains, which have warmed greatly in recent decades.  Here’s a guide to fun winter activities in Lake Tahoe that doesn’t include skiing.  Oregon wildfire victims share harrowing stories.  Montana saw the most structure loss from wildfires since 2012.  New Mexico gears up for a big fire season.  Why noise from off-road vehicles is making life miserable in Moab

Conservation in the Biden Administration

 Nearly 500 national and regional organizations, including The Mountain Pact, signed a letter urging confirmation of Rep. Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior.

o Representative Haaland “is the ideal choice for the Secretary of Interior.” o The Senate should confirm Deb Haaland as interior secretary so Native Americans will finally have a voice. o Vehement opposition to Rep. Deb Haaland’s nomination is ‘motivated by something other than her record.’ o Republican science deniers lecture Interior Secretary nominee Deb Haaland on science at her confirmation hearing. o The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has finished the confirmation hearing for Rep. Halaand. Upon its completion, Senator Joe Manchin, a key Senate swing vote, said he’ll vote in favor of her confirmation.  Nada Culver, an attorney who has spent most of her career working with environmental groups, will fill the position of deputy director of policy and programs at the Bureau of Land Management, the position formerly held by Trump administration appointee William Perry Pendley.  President Biden is reviewing how much money federal and state governments make from the oil and gas extracted by private companies from public lands. He may get companies to pay more to drill.

 The Biden administration has delayed a Trump rule that would allow companies to pay less money for drilling on federal lands.  Oil and gas companies are sitting on millions of acres of idle leases that they've acquired through a rigged system.  President Biden’s federal oil, gas permitting pause doesn’t have much impact on jobs in Colorado’s Weld County.  Frisco, Colorado’s Mayor Pro Tem writes about why Biden’s oil and gas leasing moratorium is good for Colorado.  President Biden has a plan for how his oil and gas lease moratorium will create jobs.  Support for restoring the Bears Ears National Monument to its original boundaries is strong, and growing stronger and includes the support of 125 Western elected officials.  The U.S. has officially rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate change.  President Biden’s Climate Task Force convened to mobilize the entire federal government to confront climate change.  Waiting ten years to eliminate emissions will cost the U.S. more than $3.5 trillion.  Renewables are expected to replace coal by 2033.  In a historic move, Representative Joe Neguse has been elected to serve as chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.  Senator Cortez Masto will serve as chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee.  Senators Mark Kelly and John Hickenlooper have been appointed to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  Moving the Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Grand Junction resulted in the loss of 287 jobs. The question remains whether President Biden will reverse course and bring the office back to Washington, DC.

The Mountain Pact issued a statement urging the full Senate to confirm Rep. Haaland as quickly as possible.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Acting Secretary of Interior Scott de la Vega signed an order that revoked the secretarial order signed by former Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt that would have unilaterally imposed new restrictions that would limit the availability of funding from the LWCF for federal land and water acquisitions and reversed course on another Bernhardt decision that took money away from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program that benefits communities of color in urban areas.

The Mountain Pact released a statement praising the new order saying that the Land and Water Conservation Fund is critical to expanding access to the outdoors and meeting necessary climate goals.

Protecting 30% of Lands and Waters by 2030

 Americans are being asked to help identify which places should be protected as part of President Biden’s pledge to protect 30% of US lands and waters by 2030.  We need open space, and Washington can help us get it.  It’s time to implement history’s most ambitious conservation agenda.  Sportsmen’s groups are pushing for 30x30 to create more wildlife habitat and hunting and fishing opportunities.

Public Lands Bills

 Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on February 26, 2021. The Act designates approximately 1.49 million acres of public land as wilderness and incorporates more than 1,000 river miles into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System through public lands protections in California, Colorado, Arizona, and Washington.  One part of the bill, the CORE Act, will protect over 400,000 acres of public land, was reintroduced in the Senate and House earlier in February.  The CORE Act has been thoroughly vetted by the sponsors who worked with communities across the state to ensure that it best represents what Colorado needs and wants.  More than 110 Colorado local elected officials expressed their support for the CORE Act, the most widely supported public lands bill for Colorado in a generation, in various Colorado newspapers including the Aspen Times, Denver Post, Boulder Daily Camera, Summit Daily, Telluride Daily Planet and the Sopris Sun.  Greg Poschman, an Aspen native, a son of a 10th Mountain Division ski trooper, and a member of the Pitkin Board of County Commissioners, writes about why the CORE Act matters.  Sonja Macy, a member of the Steamboat Springs City Council, writes about why it’s important to pass the CORE Act and nurture our natural lands and why Representative Boebert should hear from supporters.

The Mountain Pact released a statement praising the reintroduction of the bill as well as a media release supporting passage of the Protecting American Wilderness and Public Lands Act in the House of Representatives.

Other Conservation News

 Representative Mike Simpson, a Republican from Eastern Idaho, has pitched a $34 billion plan to breach Lower Snake River dams as part of a new vision for Northwest.  A proposal for a federal program billed as a green stimulus would plug orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells and has the potential to boost US employment in the oil and gas workforce.  Oil drilling on sensitive New Mexico public lands puts drinking water, rare caves at risk.  The Colorado College State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Survey of opinions of voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming has released the results of its 11th annual poll.  Researchers say the smoke from annually recurring wildfires delivers economic damage to areas that were never actually touched by the flames.  Representative Neguse and Senator Wyden have unveiled legislation that would establish a 21st Century Conservation Corps and invest in wildfire resiliency.

Thank you for your interest and participation with The Mountain Pact!

Founded in 2014, The Mountain Pact mobilizes local elected officials in over 80 Western mountain communities with outdoor recreation based economies to speak with a collective voice on federal climate, public lands, and outdoor recreation policy.

Read the PDF version of this and other Mountain Pact updates here.

www.themountainpact.org | [email protected]

SUPPORT

The Mountain Pact is fiscally sponsored by the Sierra Business Council Our mailing address is: PO Box 2428 Truckee, CA 96160

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City leaders are ensuring widespread and equitable uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in our communities.

Mayors and other local elected officials are best positioned to help instill trust and confidence in the vaccine and ensure we have widespread and equitable uptake of the vaccine.

The best way to get our nation’s economic recovery back on track and businesses open again is to make sure as many people as possible are vaccinated, as soon as possible.

FEATURED VACCINE SESSIONS

Monday, March 8 Biden Administration & Vaccine Deployment: A Fireside Chat

A dynamic conversation about the administration’s role in vaccine deployment, including the issues of health equity and vaccine hesitancy.

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Dr. Rochelle P. Director, National Walensky Institute of Allergy and Director, Centers for

Infectious Diseases Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC)

Tuesday, March 9 Building Vaccine Confidence Panel

A moderated panel focused on vaccine hesitancy and building vaccine confidence among hard-hit and hard-to-reach communities.

Dr. Georges Dr. Victor Dzau Mr. Derrick Johnson Dr. Leana Wen Benjamin Executive Director, President, National President and CEO, Public Health

American Public Academy of Medicine NAACP Professor, George

Health Association Washington University

Monday, March 8 Essentials of CDC Vaccine Confidence Bootcamp

Interactive small-group workshop format to introduce key concepts, best practices and tools to help boost confidence for vaccines for all eligible populations with a focus on addressing equity, access, demand and confidence barriers.

Let’s build the next generation of strong local leaders and strong communities! Our nation is counting on you to help set America’s agenda to respond, recover and rebuild.

Helpful NLC Links: Articles

Upcoming Events Resources & Training

Advocacy

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Summit County moves to Level Yellow TODAY

Under Level Yellow, the personal gathering restriction remains the same with a limit of no more than 10 people from no more than two households. Restaurants, however, will be eligible to move from 25% capacity, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less, to 50% capacity, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less (up to 150 people for very large venues using the space calculator). In addition, gyms and fitness centers can move from 25% capacity, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less, to 50% capacity, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less. Outdoor venues can move from 25% capacity, not to exceed 75 people, to 50% capacity, not to exceed 175 people. More details on capacity restrictions in Level Yellow for all business sectors can be found on the CDPHE Dial dashboard page.

There are no changes to the current alcohol last call and off the tables, but this will be re- evaluated next week.

Summit County 5 Star Program

Summit Economic Impact Survey for Q1 ends THIS SUNDAY

This survey is being conducted by the Summit Prosperity Initiative, the economic development arm of the Summit Chamber. All individual responses will be kept confidential. It should only take about 5-10 minutes to complete.

The purpose of this survey is to gauge how our businesses are faring during the continuing COVID restrictions and to track the recovery efforts. This will give us a progress report for January-March and help the community to better plan for the future.

If you have multiple locations, please answer on a consolidated basis within a business category. If you have multiple business types, please fill out a separate survey for each business category.

This survey will close this Sunday, February 28, 2021. Click here to fill out the survey.

Take the Survey

Priority window for PPP loans for organizations with fewer than 20 employees open NOW thru March 9

The SBA made recent changes to the Paycheck Protection Program to further promote equitable relief for America’s small businesses.

The SBA announced that it will:

 Establish a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees starting Wednesday, February 24  Allow sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these categories of applicants  Eliminate an exclusionary restriction on PPP access for small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions, consistent with a bipartisan congressional proposal  Eliminate PPP access restrictions on small business owners who have struggled to make federal student loan payments by eliminating federal student loan debt delinquency and default as disqualifiers to participating in the PPP  Ensure access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents by clarifying that they may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for the PPP

The 14-day exclusivity period began on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 9 am and closes March 9, 2021. The other four changes will be implemented by the first week of March.

Borrowers can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program by downloading the First Draw PPP loan application or Second Draw PPP loan application and working with a participating PPP lender through the SBA Lender Match tool.

Shuttered Venue Operations Grant

Emergency assistance for eligible venues affected by the COVID pandemic.

Eligible applicants may qualify for a grant equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.

Who can apply?  Live venue operators or promoters  Theatrical producers  Live performing arts organization operators  Relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria  Motion picture theater operators  Talent representatives, and  Each business entity owned by an eligible entity that also meets the eligibility requirements

While the application period has not yet opened, Shuttered Venue Operations Grant applicants should prep now because there are steps that could take up to 10 days.

1. Check your eligibility & read the FAQ's 2. Sign up for a DUNS number. https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ 3. Sign up in SAM.https://www.sam.gov/SAM/. Watch this Video. 4. Create a profile. You will need to do this to sign up for SAM. https://www.login.gov 5. Gather 2019 and 2020 financial 6. Do the calculation for # of employees based on the FAQ 7. Calculate your revenue loss in 2020 8. Calculate what the potential maximum award could be for the SVO versus PPP. Watch Grant Overview Here. 9. Decide on which program to apply for! 10. Sign up for program email alerts.

Print These Steps

More Resources for the Arts

In Colorado and around the world, artists and arts and culture organizations have been hit hard by COVID-19, losing revenues due to canceled events and loss of sales, and facing reduced contributions indefinitely.

Check out this collaborative effort among Colorado cultural leaders to provide a central hub of resources to support artists, creative businesses, and arts and culture organizations.

Find More Resources

Stretch your marketing dollars with the CTO

Join the Colorado Tourism Office on Monday, March 1, Noon–1pm, for a Live Webinar on the CTO's Summer 2021 Co- Op Program.

Are you interested in stretching your marketing dollars while leveraging the CTO’s national media presence? Mark your calendar for this hour-long live webinar to learn how the CTO is providing matching dollars and a wide range of media opportunities to amplify the marketing messages of industry partners — large and small — through the summer 2021 co-op program.

Enrollment for the Paid Media Co-Op Program begins March 1. All four tiers of investment — ranging from $1,500 to $25,000 — include opportunities for CTO matching funds.

Please be aware that matching funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Based on early recommendations of the CTO Inclusivity in Travel Advisory Group, the Paid Media Co-Op Program for the first time is incorporating opportunities to connect with a variety of diverse audiences, including Black, Latino, LGBTQ and people with disabilities. A 2:1 CTO match is available for some offerings, giving Colorado marketers an easy way to target diverse audiences of their choice and perhaps achieve important local objectives.

Can't make it? Don't worry! The webinar will be recorded, and a link will be shared afterward. Be sure to pre-register to receive the information.

Webinar Details

Monday, March 1, noon–1pm Register Here

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://mmgyglobal.zoom.us/j/94772335551

This spotlight is part of a Premium Member Benefit. For more information, contact [email protected].

Summit Chamber of Commerce SummitChamber.org

Photo Credit: Curtis DeVore

Monthly Chamber Events

Summit Biz Coffee Meet Ups

Every Other Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86196808361?pwd=QTBHZVU1TGdGeDFXKzBLSVJPZHBjUT09 Meeting ID: 861 9680 8361 Passcode: 430999

Chapter Meetings

Breckenridge Chapter Meetings 3rd Wednesday of the month at 12:00 p.m. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83099991121?pwd=bXdjYXlhSFRMNDhZRng5RWdEUG5Bdz09 Meeting ID: 830 9999 1121 Passcode: 570855

Exit 205 Chapter Meetings 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:00 p.m. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83866550007?pwd=YXRaTmdIeE04YXAvelVxcVZCVVhkZz09 Meeting ID: 838 6655 0007 Passcode: 004858

Frisco Chapter Meetings 1st Friday of the month at 8:30 a.m. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84686964279?pwd=RDVtOGFHdmoxdXNkQnd0cmJaMlVydz09 Meeting ID: 846 8696 4279 Passcode: 264240 Leads Groups

Summit Chamber Leads Group - Led by Lori Gleason ([email protected]) 2nd Thursday of the month at 8:30 a.m. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87531604257?pwd=NGpaVXFPRWtHQTQxVEFLL2w2bDJWUT09 Meeting ID: 875 3160 4257 Passcode: 320572

Exit 205 Leads Group - Led by Maggie O’Brien ([email protected]) 3rd Tuesday of the month at 11:00 a.m. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88401565383?pwd=TG5uZTZhSUpBQ0NyamIySURrZVQvUT09 Meeting ID: 884 0156 5383 Passcode: 512396

For more details or information on how to join the Chamber, please contact Cheri at [email protected]

Summit Chamber | PO Box 5450, Frisco, CO 80443

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Recording of CML co-hosted transportation event now available The Colorado Municipal League and Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, along with several local government organizations, hosted a local government state transportation conversation on Monday, Feb. 22.

The event featured Colorado Senate President Leroy Garcia moderating a conversation between Gov. Jared Polis and CDOT Director Shoshana Lew. Colorado House Speaker Alec Garnett and Senate Majority Leader Stephen Fenberg also joined a panel discussion with local elected officials.

The recording of the event is now available here.

| |

Colorado Municipal League | 1144 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 | 303 831 6411

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The CML Statehouse Report will arrive in your inbox every Monday during the legislative session. If you were forwarded this email, and would like to sign up to receive the Statehouse Report, click here and fill out the Periodical Subscription Request on the right side of the page. If you received this email directly, no further action is required!

Click the image below for this week's Statehouse Report video.

Colorado General Assembly reconvenes The legislature reconvened on Feb. 16 to complete the 2021 legislative session. More than 200 pieces of legislation were introduced on that day. As a result, the lobbyists presented a robust agenda to our Policy Committee on Feb. 12 and then to the CML Executive Board on Feb. 19.

The video above is a summary of the legislation for which CML has a position.

CML bill links

 CML bill list  Box score of support and oppose bills  CML-followed House bills  CML-followed Senate bills

Upcoming events

 Municipal Caucus Meeting - March 2 - noon to 1:30 p.m.  Municipal Caucus Meeting - March 16 - noon to 1:30 p.m.  Municipal Caucus Meeting - March 30 - noon to 1:30 p.m.  Municipal Caucus Meeting - April 13 - noon to 1:30 p.m.  Municipal Caucus Meeting - April 27 - noon to 1:30 p.m.

CML's Advocacy Team

 Legislative Advocacy Manager Meghan Dollar - [email protected] - Issues: Affordable housing, building codes, criminal justice & courts, employment & labor, retirement/pensions, taxation & fiscal policy, land use & annexation.  Legislative and Policy Advocate Meghan MacKillop - [email protected] - Issues: Transportation & transit, sustainability, economic development, immigration, telecom/broadband, public safety (incl. communications & disasters), utilities.  Legislative and Policy Advocate Heather Stauffer - [email protected] - Issues: Natural resources & environment, elections, governmental immunity, oil & gas, open meetings/open records, special districts, severance tax/FML/energy impact, water & wastewater/water quality, wildfire.  Legislative and Policy Advocate Beauclarine Thomas - [email protected] - Issues: Beer & liquor/marijuana, health care, hemp, historic preservation, municipal debt & finance, lottery & gaming, purchasing, state budget/ JBC, substance abuse.

Homepage

Colorado Municipal League 1144 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 303.831.6411 / 866.578.0936

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NEWSLETTER

Vol. 47, No. 5, February 26, 2021

State framework lays path to resilient future in Colorado actionable strategies to address the risks and vulnerabilities facing the lives of Coloradans. It harnesses resources such as the Colorado Resiliency Working Group, whose members and invested stakeholders participated in sector teams and three major summits as part of this most recent update. The 2020 Framework addresses four themes – adapting to our changing climate, understanding risks from natural and other hazards, addressing social inequities and As Colorado recovers from the COVID–19 while bringing new ideas to the table. unique community pandemic and the largest wildfires in This resource outlines forward-thinking needs, and pursuing economic diversity and its history, the 2020 Resiliency Framework strategies to address and overcome these vibrancy. These four topics provide lenses offers a path for the state to identify crisis so we can adapt and thrive," said through which to examine disruptions solutions, implement changes and Gov. Jared Polis. across the state such as fires, the pandemic, track progress, in an effort to return to The Resiliency Framework is a guide and more, to find common solutions that conditions better than before and prepare updated every five years by the Colorado really work. for future conditions. Resiliency Office (CRO) with the state's Universality pervades the strategies within "Colorado built this collaborative tool to Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) to the Framework, making them applicable to help adapt to risks like wildfires and floods provide fresh ideas, new approaches and any corner of Colorado.

Census Bureau redistricting data release extended to Sept. 30, 2021

The U.S. Census Bureau announced Census Bureau’s original plan to deliver This change has been made because of that it will deliver the Public Law 94-171 the redistricting data to the states by COVID-19-related shifts in data collection redistricting data to all states by Sept. March 31, 2021. and in the data processing schedule and 30, 2021. COVID-19-related delays Different from previous censuses, the it enables the Census Bureau to deliver and prioritizing the delivery of the Census Bureau will deliver the data for all complete and accurate redistricting data in a apportionment results delayed the states at once, instead of on a ﬂow basis. more timely fashion overall for the states.

Empowered cities and towns, united for a strong Colorado Western Places, Western Spaces land use Member news New Associate Members conference to be held virtually in March Compensation Tool learned from the Justin Hampton, President/Founder pandemic and where 940-206-9676 we go from here. The [email protected] ﬁnal week, Thursday, www.compensationtool.com March 25 of the conference, will include The Compensation Tool is a market a practice–focused pricing and salary survey management workshop on Housing tool designed to help organizations Affordability and Zoning, ensure that they are paying employees which will consider the competitively and fairly. Designed causes and effects of by a compensation analyst with a the current housing background in public administration, the affordability crisis in Compensation Tool provides an easy to Colorado (and elsewhere), use interface, a wide variety of human will examine the role capital reporting capabilities, and is As Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute of zoning in limiting managed to stay budget friendly. celebrates its 30th year, the Institute will the development of affordable forms of HDR present its ﬁrst ever virtual Western Places, housing, and will consider legal and policy 303-318-6357 Western Spaces land use conference – reforms that can help remove barriers and www.hdrinc.com this year scheduled to begin on March 4 increase the availability of workforce and We specialize in engineering, and continue every Friday for the month "missing middle" housing. This workshop architecture, environmental, and of March. This year’s program will focus is being made available at no cost, thanks construction services. While we are on bouncing forward from the COVID era to underwriting by Gary Community most well-known for adding beauty to build thriving, healthy, and equitable Investments. and structure to communities through communities and will feature sessions on To learn more about the conference and to high-performance buildings and smart housing, transportation, and the public register, visit the RMLUI conference page infrastructure, we provide much more realm, but with a focus on what we’ve at bit.ly/3pkXG6f. than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include In memory: Wheat Ridge icon passes away scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists. Our employees, Carl Albert Cerveny passed CML extends condolences to Mayor working in more than 200 locations away on Jan. 27 at the age Cerveny and all of Carl’s many family around the world, push open the doors of 91 with his family at his members and friends. to what's possible each and every day. side. In addition to serving "Cerveny was a real gentle soul, and the City of Wheat Ridge on someone I always enjoyed interacting with. the planning commission for many years, He surely loved Wheat Ridge. His wife, he operated the Scotchman Restaurant in Gretchen, went on to become a wonderful Wheat Ridge for over two decades and was NEWSLETTER mayor of Wheat Ridge and CML Board honored for his leadership by the Colorado member," stated Sam Mamet, retired CML Wyoming Restaurant Association. He was executive director. a diehard fan of CU football and attended CML Newsletter (ISSN 7439903) is published "I had the honor of knowing Cerveny for biweekly by the Colorado Municipal League, every home game from 1947–2019 and over 18 years as a community member, 1144 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203-2207, for never left a game until the clock read all Colorado's municipal officials. (USPS 075-590) fellow Wheat Ridge Optimist, gym goer, Periodical postage paid in Denver, Colorado. zeroes. He remained active in city issues in sports fan, black lab lover and probably the Wheat Ridge throughout his life and walked Designer and editor: Leslie Hough nicest guy I could ever know," said Patrick Circulation/mailing lists: Mark Vanderbrook the entire city with his wife, Gretchen, Goff, Wheat Ridge city manager. "Carl will POSTMASTER: Send address change form 3579 in her successful run for mayor in 1997. be missed, but he has left us with many to Colorado Municipal League, 1144 Sherman St., Gretchen went on to serve on the CML Denver, CO 80203-2207; (p) 303-831-6411 / 866- memories and a lasting legacy of optimism Executive Board from 2000–2001, and 578-0936; (f) 303-860-8175. and community pride." Board members and staff got to see much of Subscription to CML Newsletter is offered as a portion of member dues. Cost to nonmembers is Cerveny, who was a favorite. A full obituary with information on $300 a year. memorial contributions can be found Get this newsletter by email. The CML Newsletter at bit.ly/3qEnQm5. is available by email three days before it arrives in the mail! Sign up at bit.ly/CMLNewsletter.

2 CML Newsletter CML now accepting nominations for Sam Mamet Good Governance Award is given annually to one to three individuals Any municipal elected official, staff who exemplify and seek to expand the member, or other individual in public application of principles of good governance, service who exempliﬁes principles of good which may include: governance is eligible to receive the award. 1. Efficiency and effectiveness Eligible individuals may be presented for of government consideration through the completion and 2. Responsiveness to need submission of the form at bit.ly/Mamet21, 3. Openness and transparency or CML Board members and the CML 4. Respect for the rule of law executive director, with approval from the 5. Accountability to self and others CML Board president, may also add nominees 6. Inclusivity for consideration. 7. Ethical behavior and conduct Final selection of the recipient will be made 8. Innovation by the CML Executive Board at its regular 9. Representation of all constituencies April meeting prior to the Annual Conference, 10. Fiscal accountability CML Executive Director Kevin Bommer presents and recipients will be notiﬁed and provided the 2020 Sam Mamet Good Governance Award The award will be presented during the CML with a per diem reimbursement for expenses to Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers Annual Conference. Recipients will and one night of lodging, if not already Applications are now open for the 2021 Sam be given a complimentary registration to registered to attend the conference. Mamet Good Governance Award. To apply, the following year’s Annual Conference Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, please visit bit.ly/Mamet21. and invited to assist in presentation of the March 31, 2021. award to their successor or successors. A In 2019, CML announced the creation of Information about last year's winner, Colorado plaque containing the names of all recipients the Sam Mamet Good Governance Award Springs Mayor John Suthers, is available at and the year of the award will be maintained in honor of retired CML Executive Director bit.ly/3aKawpp. at CML. Sam Mamet. Beginning in 2020, the award

2021 request for applications: Small Communities Water and Wastewater Grant For state fiscal years 2021-2024 and domestic wastewater treatment works. the following funding has been Awards will be made in two tiers. Tier I awards made available for this request will be up to $50,000 and are intended to for applications: fund planning and design projects. Tier • $4 million is available for II awards will be up to $400,000 and are projects for eligible entities intended to fund planning, design, and from the Small Communities construction projects. Tier II projects must Water and Wastewater contain a construction component. Grant Fund, and $464,000 A certificate of financial need is required available for eligible entities to be eligible for this grant. Financial need from the Water Infrastructure will be determined based on 2021 Improvements for the Nation Disadvantaged Community (DAC) criteria. Act (WIIN), Assistance for DAC criteria include median household Small and Disadvantaged income and house value, county Communities Drinking unemployment and job loss, population loss, Water Grant. assessed value per household, system debt The Colorado Department of Public Health Eligible entities serve a and reserve levels, and other measures of and Environment, Water Quality Control population of not more than 5,000 people, water or wastewater affordability. Division, is now accepting applications for the and are governmental agencies, counties Instructions for applying, including the Small Communities Water and Wastewater representing unincorporated areas, or not-for- complete details for eligibility requirements Grant. The deadline for submitting profit public water systems. Please note that for all funding and the project point ranking applications is 5 p.m. MST on March 12, 2021. the funding from WIIN assistance grant is only used for ranking and scoring applications, The request for application may be accessed available to public water systems. are included in the 2021 WQCD Small at bit.ly/3qOA1gc. Eligible projects include planning, design, Communities Grant Water and Wastewater or construction of public water systems Request for Applications (RFA) document.

3 February 26, 2021 New grant program announces $10k seed grants

Community Heart & Soul announced Community Heart & Soul executive director. the potential to transform their community its new Community Heart & Soul Seed ੇWith the Community Heart & Soul Seed through Community Heart & Soul, leading to Grant Program, a funding opportunity for Grant Program, we are working to accelerate increased local pride, more viable economic small cities and towns nationwide. The the growth and adoption of Community Heart development projects, and stronger Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program & Soul so that even more communities can community connections. provides startup funding of $10,000 for make use of the proven model.ੇ According to Lyman Orton, founder and chair, resident-driven groups in communities with Community Heart & Soul is a nonpartisan, ੇWhen residents get closer, the differences populations of 2,500 to 30,000 to implement community engagement process that tend to fade and the things the Community Heart & Soul model. The brings residents together to chart a better they care most about replace the differences. Community Heart & Soul model engages the future based on what matters most in their Trust is built and residents become more entire population of a town in identifying what communities. A highly inclusive process, collaborative in their decision-making and they love most about their community, what Community Heart & Soul reaches deep stronger believers in their communities. future they want for it, and how to achieve into communities to ensure all voices, People continue to stay in their communities, it. ੇSmall cities and towns across the U.S. including those that are often hidden or new people move in, and investment in have opportunities to build a brighter, more missing, are represented in determining towns increases.ੇ Learn more and apply prosperous future, but often need an initial a town’s future. Grant recipients will have at bit.ly/2NNoFdU. boost to get started,ੇ said Mark Sherman,

Colorado Byways Symposium 2021 UPCOMING DCI EVENTS + PROJECTS The Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) 2021 are celebrating 30 years of preserving, Governors Awards For Downtown conserving, and supporting economic Excellence nomination deadline development in rural Colorado with a Friday, Feb. 26, 5 p.m. MST symposium. We are planning to hold a Since 2003, the Downtown Colorado, Inc. limited in-person and virtual event. Please (DCI) Governor's Awards for Downtown save the dates and be prepared to register Excellence have recognized outstanding at bit.ly/37EDPch for the style of event that projects and people in Colorado that you feel most comfortable with during this demonstrate creativity in the face of unusual time. challenges, unlikely and enduring • May 5, 2021 partnerships, and dedication to community Sustainable Settings, Carbondale - to further downtown initiatives. Opening Reception (West Elk Loop) The nomination fee is $100 and all • May 6, 2021 nominations need to be submitted with Morgridge Commons, Glenwood Springs 1–5 photos by Friday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. - Symposium • May 4 – 5 & 7 – 8, 2021 Submit a Vicki Mattox Downtowner of the West Elk Loop & Grand Mesa Pre/Post- Year Nomination at bit.ly/3dFRbc6. Tours (On-Your-Own & Limited Guided) Submit a Governors Award Project Nomination at bit.ly/3bsZgy5.

4 CML Newsletter 7 February 26, 2021 CML LEGAL CORNER

The "new" horizon of municipal taxation: Digital goods and services

By Laurel Witt, CML that the digital movies downloaded onto can be taxed under the current taxing associate counsel flash drives obtained by commercial movie definitions. The Colorado Department of Over the past few decades, theaters are subject to municipal use taxes. Revenue (CDOR), which collects on behalf consumers have increasingly However, the debate over whether current of all statutory municipalities and home switched use of media sales tax codes apply to digital goods is rule municipalities that choose not to goods—such as music, video, and books— ongoing. Many self-collecting home rule self-collect, adopted amendments to their from physical form to electronic. The tax municipalities are receiving challenges rules in Jan. 2021 which impose system in Colorado is still based on the regarding the right to tax digital goods sales tax on the sales of streaming sales of physical goods because the state from large companies, specifically on digital goods. These amendments were and home rule municipalities could not the taxation of streaming services, clarifications to the rule, which CDOR have predicted a future where products subscriptions, books, digital movie rentals, already believed applied to streaming and services could be delivered online. The and more. The challenges have arisen after services. In one amendment, CDOR revised development in digital goods and services a self-collecting home rule municipality the regulation to say, "[t]he method of online is leaving taxing entities with the audits a company for taxation on these delivery does not impact the taxability of a question of whether their tax codes apply digital goods, and the company appeals sale of tangible personal property." to new and evolving technology. the audit using similar arguments: the The digital economy is experiencing While the existing tax codes throughout digital goods being taxed do not fall within exponential growth while physical the state are based on physical goods, the the current tax definitions, the expansion of goods, such as movies and books, are definitions can and have been construed to tangible personal property to cover digital on the decline. Self-collecting home rule apply to digital goods. One example comes goods violates the Colorado Taxpayer’s municipalities and the State of Colorado from the well-known commercial movie Bill of Rights (commonly known as TABOR), generally agree that the goods are taxable theater company American Multi-Cinema and the change violates the Internet Tax under the current tax codes, no matter how (AMC) and the City of Aurora. In this case, Freedom Act, which is a federal law that the product is delivered to the consumer. AMC had applied for a use tax refund prevents state and local governments from Note: This column is not intended and arguing initially digital motion pictures were taxing access to the internet, not goods should not be taken as legal advice. not subject to sales taxes because they available for purchase on the internet. Municipal officials are always encouraged were not tangible personal property. The The State of Colorado is also facing the to consult with their own attorneys. Colorado Court of Appeals determined same dilemma of whether digital goods

6 CML Newsletter Advocacy, information, and training to build strong cities and towns

Research Corner: Public sector employee views on job outlook during COVID-19

The Research Corner in the Jan. 1, 2021 CML Newsletter featured an infographic (bit.ly/3aJjnJt) with initial findings of an October 2020 national online survey conducted by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE), with ICMA-RC and Greenwald Research. Over 1200 state and local government employees responded to the survey, which examined the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on their employment outlook, general concerns about COVID-19, perceptions of their finances, and general satisfaction with their employer and their benefits. This month, SLGE released a report of the full findings of the survey. Job Impact of respondents reported that COVID-19 has impacted the nature of their Difficulty adjusting to changes to job as a result of COVID-19 82% job, and of those, two-thirds reported they found it somewhat, very, or extremely difficult to adjust to these changes. 12% Extremely difficult

41% Impacted signiﬁcantly 20% Very difficult Somewhat difficult 41% Impacted somewhat 35% 27% Not too difficult 18% No impact 6% Not at all difficult of respondents reported that it was at least somewhat difficult to 58% adjust to remote work, and 54% reported difficulty balancing work Of those working remotely at the time of the survey, only 22% had worked and homelife demands. remotely prior to the pandemic. Difficulty adjusting to remote work Difficulty balancing work and homelife demands since start of pandemic

7% Extremely difficult 10% Extremely difficult 13% Very difficult 15% Very difficult 38% Somewhat difficult 29% Somewhat difficult 25% Not too difficult 30% Not too difficult 17% Not at all difficult 16% Not at all difficult

Almost half of respondents with children under 18 had to work from home while also taking care of those children, either because of school and daycare closures or while children were participating in 48% virtual/remote schooling.

Concerns while working during the COVID-19 pandemic of respondents reported having negative morale regarding work, Concerns about job going forward 27% and 35% rated their coworkers as having negative morale. • Keeping family safe from contracting the virus 81% • Staying protected from contracting the virus at work 78% Stressed Burnt-out/fatigued Anxious • Having employee beneﬁts package reduced in some way 48% 52% 47% 44% • Having pay reduced 44% • Having hours severely reduced or being furloughed 39% Grateful Depressed/sad Afraid • Losing job 39% 25% 20% 21%

jobs were lost in state and local government 1.3 million sector from November 2019 - November 2020.

While 63% of respondents reported that they value serving their community during this difficult time, 31% reported that working during the COVID-19 pandemic has made them consider changing jobs.

General satisfaction with current employer

13% Extremely satisfied 33% Very satisfied 37% Somewhat satisfied 13% Not too satisfied 4% Not at all satisfied

To view the full report, including comparisons to a similar survey conducted in May 2020, please visit bit.ly/3ki56q3.

7 February 26, 2021

Join us in Westminster Sept. 22-24 I am excited to announce that the Colorado Municipal League will be holding a Special Conference Sept. 22-24, 2021 at the Westin in Westminster. We are disappointed that we are unable to hold our regular Annual Conference in Snowmass Village in June, but we could not be happier to have the opportunity to hold an in-person Special Conference in 2021!

We anticipate opening registration in late spring or early summer. Room blocks will open once registration opens. More information will be sent once registration opens and will also be available on our website at www.cml.org/conference.

We will also be holding a virtual event on Sept. 29-30. All registrants for the in-person conference will receive a complementary registration for the virtual conference. Individuals will also be able to register separately for just the virtual event. More information on the virtual special conference will also be available soon.

CML’s Annual Conference is the premiere training event for Colorado municipal officials. It is an opportunity to learn from experts and each other, as well as to network with your colleagues from around the state. Putting on a conference that you expect and deserve is a major point of pride for the CML Executive Board and staff.

CML Annual Business Meeting and CML Board elections – Save the date

To ensure consistency of CML Board terms, the Annual Business Meeting will be held virtually at 10 a.m. on June 24, 2021. More information about this meeting and how to register will be provided closer to the meeting date. The Annual Business Meeting is your municipality’s opportunity to vote on board members, the CML policy statement, and receive the announcement of 2022 dues.

Again, we thank all of you for your patience while we worked through this process. We sincerely hope that you will be able to attend our special Annual Conference, either virtually or in-person, later this year. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at

[email protected] .

Colorado Municipal League 1144 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 303 831 6411 / 866 578 0936

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Click the image below for this week's Statehouse Report video.

In this week's edition

 CML testified in support of HB 21-1025, CML-initiated legislation to clarify open meetings laws. The bill has now passed House second reading.  CML testified in support of HB 21-1071, Ranked Choice Voting in Non- Partisan Elections. The bill passed committee.  CML testified in support of HB 21-1008, Forest Health Project Financing. The bill passed committee.  CML testified in support of HB 21-1109, Broadband Board Changes to Expand Broadband Service. The bill passed out of committee.  CML testified in opposition to HB 21-1049, Prohibit Discrimination based on Labor Participation. The bill was postponed indefinitely.  CML worked with the sponsor and proponents of SB 21-082, Alcohol Beverage Festival For Tastings And Sales, to craft an amendment to add a local permit process.

CML bill links  CML bill list  Box score of support and oppose bills  CML-followed House bills  CML-followed Senate bills

Upcoming events

CML's Advocacy Team

Homepage

Colorado Municipal League 1144 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 303.831.6411 / 866.578.0936

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This newsletter contains information for Colorado municipal officials related to COVID-19. You will receive this email digest every other Tuesday. For questions, comments or suggestions, please email [email protected].

In this issue...

- House passes controversial American Rescue Plan

- Update on COVID vaccine priorities for municipal officers and employees - Next CML Executive Director Town Hall scheduled for March 11

Upcoming events

House passes controversial American Rescue Plan Kevin Bommer, CML executive director

Early Saturday morning, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan, part of which authorizes direct aid to local governments. The bill passed the House by a four-vote margin with no Republican support and two House Democrats voting no.

The bill will move on to the Senate, where the expectation is that it will come directly to the floor in short order. Although the $1.9 trillion package includes much more than direct state and local aid and extension of unemployment benefits, the expiration of unemployment on March 14 will keep the pressure on Senate leaders to pass the bill soon.

Dropped from the bill will be the provision to increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, after the Senate parliamentarian ruled that the provision violated Byrd Rule and was non-germane to the budget. That actually avoids a possible roadblock, as two Democrat senators (Kyrsten Sinema-AZ and Joe Manchin-WV) opposed the inclusion of the minimum wage increase. During a recent CML Executive Board meeting, special guest Sen. John Hickenlooper expressed his support for the overall goal of increasing the minimum wage, but not necessarily the way it was presented in the House bill.

Assuming no Republicans support the bill, all 50 Democrats and Vice President Harris will be required to pass the bill. It will have to go back to the House, since it will be amended in the Senate.

The state and local allocation estimates changed from what CML previously shared in the Elected Officials Digest. However, the distribution has not changed. Municipalities over 50,000 would receive an allocation directly from the U.S. Treasury, while those under 50,000 would receive an allocation passed on by each state based on population. As the bill gets closer to the finish line, CML will share distribution estimates.

While the bill continues to be identified as an “emergency COVID relief bill,” there is a significant funding for items that will extend for several years. This spending is the primary source of Republican opposition to the bill. In truth, there will short-term and immediate assistance, but billions of dollars to infrastructure improvements and other spending. Additional analysis of all of these elements will also be forthcoming, as successful passage of the legislation without substantive changes may result in opportunities for municipal infrastructure funding in addition to the direct financial assistance.

Update on COVID vaccine priorities for municipal officers and employees David W. Broadwell, CML general counsel

On Friday, Feb. 26, Gov. Polis announced the latest re-tooling of the COVID-19 phasing schedule for vaccinations, including a newly-defined Phase 1B.4 in which certain municipal officers and employees will be lumped together with an estimated 2.5 million other Coloradans. According to the governor, this phase is expected to begin on or soon after March 21. For the most current information about the new phasing schedule, go to this webpage.

Starting in late March, all Coloradans age 50 or older will qualify for a vaccine. But what about municipal officers and employees under 50 who haven't already qualified as a "first responder" or in some other category?

Of greatest interest to municipalities, the new Phase 1B.4 will include persons necessary to "ensure the continuity of local government" with the following explanation: "The intent of this classification is to ensure the continuity of county, municipal and other local governments. It includes select executives of those governments and a limited amount of essential support staff needed to provide for continuity of government, including members of the judicial branch who regularly come into contact with the public (e.g. state* and county court trial judges, court administrators, public defenders and probation staff.)"

*We are assuming that the reference to "state" judges and court personnel is a typo in the published explanation, and they intended to refer to "municipal" courts. (State judicial personnel were already prioritized for vaccinations in an earlier phase.)

It is unclear whether the word "executives" in the explanation was intended to include elected city council and town board members. Although the Colorado General Assembly was placed at the head of the line for vaccinations as soon as shots became available, the state has never clearly prioritized members of local governing bodies.

According to our contacts in the Governor's office, the state intends to grant local governments a lot of latitude in terms of defining and selecting the "executives" and "support staff" to be eligible for vaccination in Phase 1B.4. In other words, there may be no further guidance or direction about how municipalities are supposed to do this and to document the persons who have been tapped for vaccines. Nevertheless, it may be helpful for municipalities to honor the overall intent of Phase 1B.4 in selecting employees to be vaccinated ahead of the general public: "The intent of this classification is to prioritize workers who cannot maintain physical distance from others at their place of employment and who work in close contact with many people, especially indoors and in places with poor ventilation."

Next CML Executive Director Town Hall scheduled for March 11 In anticipation of Senate action on the American Recovery Plan and on the heels of NLC’s virtual Congressional Cities Conference, CML Executive Director Kevin Bommer will hold the next installment of his Zoom town hall meetings at 4pm on March 11.

All CML members, both elected officials and staff, are invited to attend. In addition to action at the federal level, attendees will be welcome to make comments or ask questions about any federal, state, or local issue. If you have questions in advance you want to be sure get addressed, please email them to [email protected].

Registration is required using the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Upcoming events

CML Special Annual Conference

 In person: Sept. 22-24, Westin Westminster  Supplemental Virtual Conference: Sept. 30-Oct. 1

In addition to our in-person event in Westminster Sept. 22-24, we will be holding a virtual special conference on Sept. 30-Oct. 1. This virtual event will re-broadcast some of the sessions from the in-person event, in addition to new, exciting content. All in-person conference registrants will receive a complimentary registration for the virtual conference! Separate virtual conference registration will also be available.

Governor's Office Local Government Meetings These meetings, hosted by the Governor’s COVID-19 Response Team, DOLA, CDPHE and CDPS now take place on a fixed monthly schedule organized by DOLA region. The meetings are open to municipal officials, and the meeting day, time, and Zoom connection info can be found in the schedule. For questions about the meetings or schedule, please email Xander Martin, deputy coordinator for COVID-19 response, at [email protected].

Colorado Resiliency Office Climate Adaptations and Futures Webinar Series  First Wednesday of each month from noon-1 p.m.

The Colorado Resiliency Office and partners are hosting a Climate Adaptations and Futures Webinar Series to discuss timely, actionable solutions for Colorado's local governments seeking to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. The series focuses on Colorado-specific solutions, including background on how to get started, resources your local government can access today, perspectives from national experts in the field, and highlights and advice from communities across Colorado.

The series includes eight webinars held on the first Wednesday of each month from noon - 1 p.m. More information, registration, recordings, and printable "key takeaways" from each webinar are all posted online at: https://www.coresiliency.com/webinars.

CML's COVID-19 Resources Page

Application deadline for the Sam Mamet Good Governance Award is March 31 In 2019, CML announced the creation of the Sam Mamet Good Governance Award in honor of retired CML Executive Director Sam Mamet. Beginning in 2020, the award is presented annually to one to three individuals who exemplify and seek to expand the application of principles of good governance, which may include:

1. Efficiency and effectiveness of government 2. Responsiveness to need 3. Openness and transparency 4. Respect for the rule of law 5. Accountability to self and others 6. Inclusivity 7. Ethical behavior and conduct 8. Innovation 9. Representation of all constituencies 10. Fiscal accountability

The award will be presented during the CML Annual Conference. Recipients will be given a complimentary registration to the following year’s annual conference and invited to assist in presentation of the award to their successor or successors. A plaque containing the names of all recipients and the year of the award will be maintained at CML.

Any municipal elected official, staff member, or other individual in public service who exemplifies principles of good governance is eligible to receive the award. Eligible individuals may be presented for consideration through the completion and submission of this form or CML Board members and the CML executive director, with approval from the CML Board president, may also add nominees for consideration.

Final selection of the recipient will be made by the CML Executive Board at its regular April meeting prior to the Annual Conference, and recipients will be notified and provided with a per diem reimbursement for expenses and one night of lodging, if not already registered to attend the conference.

Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

Information on last year's winner is available at www.cml.org/mametaward.

Please share with anyone who you think may be interested.

Submit a nomination

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February 16, 2021 Issue No. 31 https://mountaintownnews.net

Some describe it as the session that will be known for beneficial electrification. “We have obviously done a lot as a state How Colorado’s when it comes to climate and energy issues in just the last two years,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg at a forum climate & energy last week sponsored by Empowering Our Future. “But we all know it’s nowhere near legislative agenda what we need to be doing.” Fenberg urged the 200 energy-change advocates on the video-conferenced town may progress hall to use the accomplishments as inspiration even though, later in the evening, by Allen Best he cautioned against expecting a ban on Carrots or sticks—or, more likely, what new natural gas hookups in the built mixture? That will be among the questions environment. as Colorado legislators sort through several One giant gain in the last two years has dozen bills during the next few months that been the rash of announced closings of coal seek to build on the state’s plants. If market forces were ground-breaking energy and already aligned behind those climate laws from 2019. closings, some believe Foremost among the 13 Colorado’s action in 2019 energy and climate laws of hastened at least some of that session was H.B.19-1261, those announcements. The the Climate Action Plan to result of closing coal plants Reduce Pollution. The law will be a dramatically specified economy-wide carbon reduction decarbonized electrical supply by the end of targets of 26% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, the decade that can then be used to with even deeper mid-century reduction. decarbonize other sectors, most notably The 2019 session provided only a transportation and the built environment. partially defined pathway to reduction. The Legislators, of course, are facing legislative session that begins today after a pressures from several sides. Major utilities month-long semi-hiatus looks to be a big, big generally want to go slower, to maintain year for expanding the tool kit and defining more explicitly the decarbonization path. traditional models of profit, worried about “We can’t just bargain our way to a too much disruption. couple of extra years,” says Kruger. “We Environmental advocates want to go need to address things now.” faster and have a strong appetite for State Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, a Democrat massive change. “I think it’s alarming to from Arvada, warns against moving forward think that we didn’t get to 26% (carbon in ways that fail to have a sustainable reduction, as targeted by the law two years foundation. She describes broad coalitions ago) even at the height of the stay-at-home that define common ground. “That is what is orders,” says Jan Rose, an going to make your advocate aligned with “I think the average policies have staying several organizations. Coloradan’s sense of urgency power. That is what will Memories of wildfires, around climate change has make them work,” says even in the coldest, sub-zero only increased since 2019.” Zenzinger, a self- days of winter, will provide a described moderate who backdrop for the session. The Erin Overturf nonetheless has notched smoke was awful but also Western Resource Advocates a 100% voting record deadly. In Larimer County, rating from Conservation heart attacks and other emergencies spiked Colorado during the last four years. during the season of smoke, which there Big Pivots has identified several dozen began in mid-August with the outbreak of proposals likely to be introduced by the Cameron Peak Fire and never completely legislators this week and in coming weeks. ended until after the first snows of Some will be reintroductions of bills that November. were shelved last year because of the covid- “I think the average Coloradan’s sense of induced shortened session, or even bills urgency around climate change has only introduced repeatedly, if in variant fashion. increased since 2019,” says Erin Overturf, Others will be entirely new. deputy director of the Clean Energy Program at Western Resource Advocates. he two biggest energy and climate “I think this last summer was a real T bills will center around wakeup call for a lot of people—and a lot of transportation and building emissions. lawmakers—about what is at stake here and “This legislation session will be very what it will take for us to solve this problem. focused on progress in both the built I have never experienced anything like the environment and transportation to ensure physical and emotional turmoil we saw that we are extending the benefit of the related to our failure so far to get our (greening) of electricity and start making climate emissions under control,” she says. progress in other sectors that are lagging “I think there’s a real sense of urgency. behind the power sector,” says Zach Pierce, We passed some incredible pieces of the special climate and energy advisor to legislation in 2019, and we made some Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. progress, but we haven’t made nearly Transportation has replaced electrical enough.” generation as the No. 1 source of Mike Kruger, chief executive of Colorado greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado. In his Solar and Storage Association, also points to first executive order as governor in 2019 this heightened sense of urgency. The goal Polis specified a goal of having 940,000 of 50% decarbonization is less than 9 years electric vehicles on roads by 2030. away. That goal was premised on the best Legislation in 2019 provided tools to science available about the reductions that advance that. But Colorado needs to hurry will be needed. harder on transportation decarbonization.

2 Sen. Faith Winter, a Democrat from “We want a tool that keeps up with the Westminster, has not revealed details of the times,” says Ariana Gonzalez, Colorado big bill that she is said to have been working policy director for the Natural Resources on. The tr ansportation bill needs to cover a Defense Council. lot of ground. Colorado’s funding for NRDC wants to see legislation that looks transportation has fallen short for many at transportation more holistically, she says, years as voters have resisted raising the gas “not penalizing people who travel a lot but tax (or, if you prefer, the “fee” on gasoline). providing them more options, whether it’s Now, with electric cars starting to rapidly more fuel-efficient vehicles or more mass enter the automotive fleet, there’s a further transit.” complication about how to make them pay What does this mean specifically? Well, their way. the Gonzalez interview was conducted in the As Sen. Winter was unable to make a first week of February, and details were scheduled interview for this story last Friday, sparse. Others interviewed for this story my details on this bill are sketchy and were similarly short on details except to second- or third-hand. point out that anti-tax (or fee) opponents There is no doubt that Colorado’s still have powerful influence in Colorado. funding for transportation needs an And Polis, in a public interview, overhaul. And transportation must change if conspicuously refrained from talking about Colorado is to meet its decarbonization goals either taxes or fees. built on the foundation of climate science. What I hear is that this bill will try to carbon-reduction component, address the need for revenue from both Ahowever, has to be a central piece electric vehicles, or EVs, and internal- of what Winter proposes. Transportation combustion engines, or ICEs. How it will do funding identified in the bill must align with so is unclear. One way may be through the emissions reductions the governor’s increased registration fees. Another thought roadmap has identified, says Katie Belgard, is to add a fee for electricity used for of Conservation Colorado. charging EVs. Still another idea is to apply a Land use may be part of the discussion, road use fee, not a fuel fee. I’m unsure of as dispersed settlement tends to result in the mechanics of that, although it’s been more transportation. It was discussed in the talked about for about 30 years. state’s decarbonization roadmap release in mid-January.

3 State Sen. Chris Hansen, a Democrat considering how to retrofit existing buildings from Denver, says the transportation bill was misguided. Too, a lot of people like to must deliver “broad-based solutions where cook with natural gas, even if they don’t care each part of the transportation user groups particularly how their homes are heated.” all need to be involved in the solutions.” It is, he added, an item for “further That package must involve trucks and heavy- policy discussion. The goal now is to get as duty vehicles, he added. many dollars into homes for heat pumps and The Air Quality Control Commission is other decarbonization techniques.” scheduled to take up transportation this In other words, incentives, not summer as part of its rule-making to achieve mandates. decarbonization goals. You can be assured For example, the Polis budget includes this legislative session will almost certainly $40 million for clean-energy financial produce a big pivot in programs, including transportation. “If it is really about $30 million for green Building emissions will be the transitioning people’s banking, and focus of a second big bill. Buildings homes to electricity I want another $10 million rank fourth in Colorado in for various other responsibility for greenhouse gas a bill that passes.” programs. emissions. They pose an Steve Fenberg Even so, there enormous challenge because the Senate majority leader could be a soft turnover rate is so terribly slow. mandate. One Most of Colorado’s coal-burning plants were approach that was being talked about in constructed from the late ‘60s to the early recent weeks was a performance-based ‘80s. Now, they’re rapidly being retired. But standard for natural gas utilities, a required you can drive from Pueblo to Brush to Craig reduction in emissions from the natural gas in a day and see them all. In contrast, sold to consumers by Colorado’s four natural Colorado has perhaps a million buildings, gas utilities, Xcel Energy, Black Hills Energy, give or take, each with its own small power Atmos Energy, and Colorado Natural Gas. plant, mostly natural gas furnaces for space But then let the utilities figure out how to heating, gas-powered hot water heaters, achieve this. and gas stoves. How to tamp down the combustion of lso part of the discussion are natural gas? The intuitive answer might be Arequired energy efficiency upgrades, to stop building tens of thousands more or demand-side management. Talk of a houses each year that require natural gas. carbon tax on methane, similar to the PUC’s That doesn’t seem to be the direction social cost of carbon, may have been walked Colorado is headed, at least not soon. back. I hear that from a good source, but I Polis favors incentives, not mandates, don’t know that for sure. This has been a and that was also the language of Fenberg at fluid environment even in the last two the Empowering our Future session. He weeks. “Lots of stake-holding going on,” a would not, he said, be calling for a ban on legislator said at a recent meeting. natural gas. There will be themes, though. One is “For a few reasons,” he went on to about equity. Legislators in 2019 made it explain. “One, I am not sure the bill would clear that equity needed to be part of the pass, and if it is really about transitioning conversations as they applied pressure to people’s homes to electricity I want a bill create this big pivot in Colorado’s energy that passes. He also suggested that focusing foundation. Those of lower incomes, which solely on future buildings without tend to be racial minorities, need to benefit

4 from this transition. This will be part of the various concerns, including whether the conversation in regard to transportation and transmission can be created to deliver the other bills, too. renewables sufficiently fast as needed to Energy Outreach Colorado has been supply both electrified transportation and monitoring the conversation about electrified homes. proposed bills with an interest in how well On Thursday, Feb. 18, Xcel plans to they affect energy affordability, reliability, disclose its electric resource plans in and accessibility. advance of its scheduled March 31 filing “There is a lot of transition happening in with the PUC. That could conceivably have a the energy space, which is exciting, but that bearing on the legislation. speed of transition can often leave people Geographical schisms also are evident. behind when they are not considered Boulder and Weld counties share a border upfront,” says Jennifer Gremmert, executive but preciously little else on political talking director of Energy Outreach Colorado. points. As both Boulder and Boulder County “I think the aggressive goals the state seek to replace natural gas in big and has will require a lot of shifts in generation, remodeled homes, a bill is said to be coming transportation and buildings,” she says. “I from a Weld County legislator that would think there are a lot of very smart people ban any bans on natural gas. pulling together good solutions, and we’re looking forward to the process of debate ome of those involved in helping and consideration.” S shape legislation say they have been Another element running through many advised to trim their proposals, because of of the energy and climate bills will be the time limitations imposed by covid. Hansen, role of evolving technologies. There’s much who is part of the legislative leadership talk about hydrogen, for example, but also team, disagrees. “I don’t think this session battery storage. What mix of carrots and will be shortened very much in a functional sticks will be needed to help induce way,” says Hansen. “All the legislative days technological innovation and adoption while we need will be available. This is going to be remaining agnostic about what the solutions a very busy and important session. Big look like? legislation typically passes in odd-numbered Even in the shaping of bills, the years, because it’s often harder to get the enormous clout of Colorado’s major utilities big pieces done in an election year.” and oil-and-gas interests can be detected. Fenberg sees opportunity amid the Xcel Energy, for example, urged a far slower many crises. “In many ways I think the crises approach to building electrification, even if it in front of us are a massive opportunity to will theoretically benefit by selling more rethink and imagine what we want our electricity to replace lost gas sales. It cites society to look like.” This story attempts to be semi- Does your organization want to support comprehensive, but it has gaps of which I’m Big Pivots and this kind of hard-working aware and likely important gaps of which I’m journalism? unaware. The conversation is fluid, so some information is likely dated. It’s a view from 15,000 or 20,000 feet, with a few clouds obscuring visibility here and there. I hope to follow the legislative session closely, as it is I hope so! Please call or e-mail me: part of Colorado’s Big Pivot. 720.415.9308 or [email protected]

5 The East Troublesome fire added a new Wildfire is top of mind dimension to wildlife worries in Colorado. It’s a given that the state will have to Photo/Brad White step up its response to the prospect of wildfire. The three largest wildfires in the February forum sponsored by Colorado history occurred in 2020. Empowering Our Future. The East Troublesome Fire wasn’t the Some of this mitigation will involve largest — that distinction belongs to the funding, such as for equipment, and I didn’t Cameron Peak Fire west of Fort Collins—but dig up anything here. I did hear about two it was the scariest, racing from north of Hot bills that relate to wildfire. Sulphur Springs to cover more than 100,000 acres within 24 hours, leaping across the Renewal of 2008 funding opportunity Continental Divide and forcing the Bipartisan support has already been evacuation of Estes Park. lined up for a bill that would renew a law That’s a California-sized fire – and more adopted in 2008 that allows the Colorado California-type fires are almost certainly Water Resources and Power Development headed to Colorado given the rising Authority to issue bonds for certain projects temperatures and the increasing propensity related to what is often called forest health. toward drought, both manifestations of Ellen Roberts, a Republican from climate change. Durango, was a state representative in 2008 “We are absolutely going to focus on who was among that original bill’s sponsors. wildfire mitigation,” said Senate Majority Now out of the Legislature, she has been Steve Fenberg, a Democrat from Boulder, at engaged in a project, the Southwest Wildfire

6 Impact Fund, which seeks to use that legislation to remove vegetation from forested landscapes. “Dense, unhealthy forests. Increasing drought. Dead trees from insect infestations. All these factors combine to increase the public safety threat of catastrophic wildfire in populated areas of The Grizzly Creek Fire closed Interstate 70 for over a month. Photo/Holy Cross Electric Association. Southwest Colorado, like Durango and La Democrat from Fort Collins, whose district Plata County,” the website says. “There are experienced two big wildfires in 2021. ways to remove or reduce the dangerous In the other chamber, Sen. John Cooke, tinderbox of these fuels through forest a Republican from Greeley, and Sen. Chris health treatments and reduce catastrophic Hansen, a Democrat from Denver, are also wildfire risk, but the region lacks a sponsors. Their districts include two major sufficiently funded, long-term, and water providers, Denver Water and coordinated approach to forest restoration Northern Water. on all lands, private or publicly owned.” If not a lobbyist herself, Roberts talks up After two years of trying, the project the bill as resulting in rural job generation Roberts, the Colorado State Forest Service, but also improved public safety, in that it will and others envisioned in southwestern reduce the fuels for wildfire. It will also have Colorado together still hasn’t launched and a climate change component: younger only the first phase of the project will get forests absorb carbon, and wildfires create done before the authority for bonding by massive amounts of carbon dioxide the state’s water and power authority emission. expires. The second phase of the project “Fire is part of our ecosystems. We may be getting started post-2023, she says. aren’t trying to eliminate fire. But we are “It’s tricky,” she says of the project. “It trying to manage it in a world in which more involves local government financing. It and more people are moving into the forests involves finding the collaborative pieces of Colorado. So we need to think about it between federal and non-federal lands, differently. This bill aims at projects that are identifying areas of high risks in watersheds, thinking outside of the box but also dealing identifying critical values, public safety, and with the reality on the ground in terms of natural environmental concerns. It’s very needing to think about the forests in areas complicated, and it takes a lot of of high risk.” collaboration.” But the project, she says, should serve as Wildfire, power lines a template for those in other places, as Utilities, already nervous about their reflected in the districts of the bill’s primary liability if power lines start wildfires, were co-sponsors: Rep. Marc Catlin, a Republican galvanized by the Camp Fire at Paradise, from Montrose, and Rep. Jeni Arndt, a

7 Calif. The fire in November 2018 caused by touch. Too, while last year was the largest electrical wires in strong winds resulted in ever in Colorado in terms of acres burned, 85 deaths and $16.5 billion in damages and this year is already shaping up to be much, the bankruptcy of Pacific Gas and Electric. much worse, given the absence of snowfall. The Colorado Rural Electric Association For background, read Utilities and hopes to see a bill that would give the Wildfire. state’s 22 electrical cooperatives protection from liability if they undertake mitigation Using Colorado purchasing power efforts. The essential problem is that rights- If not the size of the federal of-way for distribution lines often were government, Colorado’s state government negotiated 30, 40, or even 60 years ago, says has considerable weight through the simple Geoffrey Hier, director for government fact of its purchasing power. Some relations for CREA. environmental groups have been saying that “That may have been adequate at the Colorado needs to use that purchasing time, but it is no longer adequate,” says power to help shift the markets. Hier. “You have property owners who aren’t One easy example is in transportation. necessarily excited about having a utility There, Colorado hopes to move the needle come in and chop down trees on their more rapidly toward electrification by property.” getting fleet owners to convert. Colorado, The proposal being shopped to the argument goes, can help move the legislators by Heir would give utilities market itself through fleet purchases of permission to clear trees in 16-foot swathes electrified vehicles. along power lines, 8 feet on each side. “Under current law, we don’t have the ability to address that,” says Hier. “We need Just Transition funding some way to address the identified hazards Legislators in 2019 created a Just that fall outside of our rights-of-way in Transition office, with one staff member, addition to maintaining the right of way.” and a mission to deliver a final report to The carrot-and-stick approach favored legislators by Dec. 31, 2020. by CREA, modeled on legislation adopted The office still has one employee, Wade last year by Utah and Missouri, would Buchanan, the director. But the Polis budget require the co-ops to submit their mitigation calls for 2 additional full-time equivalents plans to the Public Utilities Commission. In positions, for a total staffing of 3.5 exchange, the co-ops would get shielded Various ideas are being talked about from some liability if they filed plans and among legislators, even if there is no specific adhered to their mitigation plans. legislation (of which I’m aware). Most wildfires of 2020 in Colorado “It’s just a down payment. It’s not the occurred in the service territory of utilities, money we will need for the programming although none of the fires were caused by and for the funding of communities,” says wires. However, managers have fretted Zach Pierce, special advisor on climate and privately about how even a small fire in the energy to Gov. Jared Polis. “In a difficult wrong place among very expensive real budget year, it’s a statement.” estate could expose them to enormous Please recommend Big Pivots to liability that could potentially bankrupt the co-op. those interested in Colorado’s great Utilities see a huge need for vegetative transitions in climate &energy. mitigation that the $88 million proposed for Subscribe at BigPivots.com allocation in the state budget will hardly

8 down the carbon intensity of the building Time to slow emissions from sector. 3) A renewable natural gas bill proposed the built environment by State Sen. Chris Hansen in 2020 that got There will be a tremendous focus on the shelved because of covid. built environment, that attention being long 4) Benchmarking of buildings. overdue, in the minds of many environmental advocates. Gas demand-side management The built environmental is No.4 on the Most buildings in Colorado are heated list of emission sources in Colorado, behind by combustion of natural gas. A bill being transportation, electrical generation, and sponsored by Rep. Tracey Bernett, Democrat the oil and gas sector. The problem is that to from Boulder County, would require utilities achieve long-term goals of decarbonization to expand their energy efficiency efforts, will require a broad and deep effort. And hence reducing demand. She plans to unlike cars, which get swapped out every 10 promote it as a jobs-creation proposal, but or 15 years, buildings last for decades and, in also one that reduces greenhouse gas the case of the house of this writer, well emissions. Methane is a powerful along on the second century (constructed greenhouse gas. 1889, and later expanded). “It’s not shutting down gas,” she said What you can expect, said Keith Hay, when we talked in early February. “We are director of utility policy at the Colorado still going to need gas for awhile in our Energy Office, are proposals that fall into buildings, especially in this colder four buckets: environment. Things like heat pumps don’t 1) Modernizing and updating gas energy necessarily work well at low temperatures.” efficiency programs, which have not been At the time of the conversation, she said updated since 2007. This would apply to the the bill would include an “accounting for the gas-regulated utilities: Xcel Energy, Black external economic costs of burning fossil Hills Energy, Atmos Energy, and Colorado fuels.” I’ve since heard that this Natural Gas. component—essentially a carbon tax 2) A requirement that the state’s two applied to methane—has been stripped investor-owned electrical utilities, Xcel and from the proposal. Black Hills, file plans with the PUC to support So, we’ll see when the bill gets beneficial electrification, similar to what was introduced. It’s worth reviewing the thinking required of Xcel and Black Hills for of Laurent Meillon of the policy committee transportation, but this time for gas. Again, of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society. the idea is of incentives but softly pressing For more than a decade, he has been

9 much more work in energy efficiency could be justified. The existing system “has turned out to be unfair, inaccurate, and against clean energy and ratepayer interests,” says Meillon. Then there’s the metric of the external costs of fossil fuels. We know that burning fossil fuels damages the environment and imposes costs even now on people, directly working with legislators with the hope of and indirectly. Colorado in the 2019 passing legislation that causes state legislative session recognized this by regulators to review demand-side imposing a social cost of carbon of $46 per management programs through the lens of metric ton of emissions through which state long-term gains. regulators evaluate generation plans by Xcel It’s worth emphasizing: What he wants and other utilities. Meillon believes the to see and what ends up in the bill may be same social cost of carbon should be applied two very different things. to heating resources when decisions are One metric that Meillon wants Colorado made. to adopt for evaluating demand-side A decade ago, Meillon was working with management programs is how capital is then State Sen. Gail Schwartz with this same treated. “$100 ten years from now is not the sweep of ideas. Last year he worked with same as $100 now,” he explains. former State Sen. Mike Foote. We all know that’s true. That’s why we He’s a solar developer with a giant invest money, instead of just putting it into interest in solar thermal. Solar thermal got a shoeboxes or at least safe-deposit boxes. bad name in the 1970s when it was In the case of adding insulation to an introduced – and performed badly. Since attic, though, the investment is viewed then, says Meillon, solar thermal has through the metric of whether the benefits improved and should be taken seriously. outweigh the costs in the short term. Will “My first car was a Fiat, and it didn’t work so the added insulation save money in the next well, but I did not conclude that all two or three years? automobiles are crap,” he says. Viewed through that short-term prism, Solar thermal has continued to struggle only the lowest-hanging fruit will be seized. to get traction. The renewable portfolio You will add only the minimal amount of standards first adopted in 2004 and updated insulation. However, if you took a long view, several times since have not provided for the amount of energy that would be saved solar thermal. They provide credits only for and hence the lower cost to the consumer of the course of 30, 40 or 50 years, would be a greater cumulative return on the investment. Benefits are less when evaluating energy efficiency programs using the weighted average cost of capital, as is now used by Xcel and regulators. If, however, regulators used something called net-present value—a way of viewing the long-term benefits—

10 production of electricity. As such, there is no requires tracking of energy use and sharing financial incentive for creating solar thermal of that information. It serves as a way of projects. Without that stimulus, solar alerting building managers to problems. If thermal has struggled to compete against they’re using far more energy than the the low cost of natural gas in Colorado. owner of another comparably sized building, If slowly, solar thermal is making it will likely cause them to want to make inroads. One such project is a 44-unit all- changes. electric apartment complex in Longmont. This bill has the sponsorship of The hot water is pre-warmed by solar. Representatives Cathy Kipp of Fort Collins, Alex Valdez of Denver, and Tracey Bernett of Boulder County. The city’s Climate Action website reports that buildings caused 51% of Denver’s emissions. Buildings overall increased energy use 1.2% on average since 2016, but those in the benchmarking program cut use an average 0.4%. This compared to a goal of reducing energy use from buildings 30% by 2030. The Polis administration decarbonization roadmap reports that the Colorado Energy Office is launching a commercial building benchmarking program that will enable building owners to report energy-use data to a state-wide database.

GHGs embedded in building materials Look for a bill from Hansen along the same lines as last year’s SB20-159, Global Warming Potential for Public Project Materials. That bill proposed to establish a maximum acceptable global warming amount embodied in concrete, asphalt, and other materials used in public buildings. Building benchmarks Concrete has a heavy carbon footprint, for This is one of the four pillars of the example. This would require designers of energy legislation described by Hay from the state buildings to consider the emissions Colorado Energy Office. It would require produced in the creation of those materials owners of commercial buildings of more and would impose a lid on those emissions. than 50,000 square (actually, there is at least one residential building of more than 50,000 Renewable natural gas square feet; it’s on the outskirts of Aspen) to Hansen last session sponsored SB20- collect and report on energy-use 1250, Adopt Renewable Natural Gas benchmarking data and comply with Standard, which would have required the performance standards related to energy PUC to create a renewable natural gas and greenhouse gas emissions. standard for large natural gas utilities, those Denver has such a law applicable to of more than 250,000 customers. buildings of more than 25,000 square feet. It

11 transportation. The upshot is that transportation should look very different in just a few years.

Electrical co-ops governance State Rep. Judy Amabile, a Democrat from Boulder who was elected to fill the seat vacated by term-limited K.C. Becker, the former speaker of the House, has a bill that The intent is to induce harvesting of would seek to reform the governance of methane from dairies, sewage treatment Colorado’s 22 electrical cooperatives plants, and landfills, but also at least one Those co-ops serve 30% of electrical coal mine near Somerset in the North Fork consumers in Colorado, and their Valley. functioning is often a mystery to those who The bill proposed to mandate Xcel live in co-op land. Energy to use 5% renewable natural gas by (An aside, I lived in co-op land myself for 2025 and 15% within a decade. The bill also 21 years, first in Mountain Parks and then would have required the PUC to develop Holy Cross Energy, with time spent in Yampa renewable natural gas programs for smaller Valley Electric as well, working mostly as a utilities and require municipal utilities to newspaper reporter and editor. I can testify report emissions from natural gas. that the co-op business was very, very low Expect to see that bill return this profile. It has a higher profile now, but not session. The bill will specify a maximum among the general public. Election turnout impact to ratepayers of 2% from the remains far lower than for the town board, projects. city council, and county commission Environmental groups have been elections). somewhat skeptical. The Colorado Amabile, whose district expands beyond Renewable Energy Society policy committee, Boulder to include Grand, Gilpin and Clear for example, frets that this may delay the Creek counties, all areas served by co-ops, transition from natural gas. Hansen says he says her bill would address transparency, has heard concerns about double-counting would require disclosure of compensation, but indicates that shouldn’t be a problem. and make it easier for new members of the See March 2020 story, “Colorado public to get elected to the boards of legislators take up proposals for renewable electrical cooperatives. This would, she says, natural gas standard.” also apply to Tri-State—of which 18 of Colorado’s 22 cooperatives are members. Transportation? (Tri-State, however, also includes members As mentioned previously, I have only from Wyoming, Nebraska, and New Mexico). glimpses of what this bill will look like, at “No other state has the kind of least in part because it was still being shaped legislation that we are proposing, but they up well into February. It will be big. are looking to us so that they can do “We are very hopeful a large something similar,” she said at an Empower transportation bill comes out of this Our Future forum on Feb. 11. session,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg last week. He identified the need for multi-modal transit, as well as electrification of

12 At issue is whether the customers should be able to get greater credit for more than 120%—how much and also how? Fenberg explains: “The pushback from the utilities on this topic is generally that they don’t want to pay the customer for the energy that is produced above and beyond what the customer uses himself. “Currently the utility has to pay at the wholesale rate for that excess energy, and they’d Solar and some tweaking like to keep it that way rather than paying at Expect several bills in the solar arena. the retail rate. Some would argue that compensating at the wholesale rate is unfair Revisiting permitting fees because distributed solar has more value Several years ago Colorado adopted a due to the avoided generation and law that limited how much local jurisdictions transmission costs as well as avoided can charge for solar permitting such as on environmental externalities. rooftops and garages. The goal was to “However, with that said, the encourage roof-top and other solar compensation rate isn’t actually the crux of development. the issue. Their main demand is that Members of the Colorado Solar and customers shouldn’t be able to roll over Storage Association say that many their excess generation credits at the end of jurisdictions have figured out ways that the year. Instead, the utility wants to force avoid the spirit of that law. COSSA wants to the customer to take a check for those see legislation that keeps local jurisdictions excess credits (at the wholesale rate). hewing to the spirit and avoid end-around Currently customers can roll over credits, fees and restrictions. but the utility fears this will be a bigger threat to them if people are allowed to install larger systems on their roof.” Lift the 120% cap? Colorado Solar and Storage Association Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, a members say this issue of exceeding 120% Democrat from Boulder, will introduce a bill hasn’t been much of an issue. True, that would remove the current cap on how concedes Fenberg, but he sees need for much solar capacity customers of Xcel even more distributed solar in the future. Energy and Black Hills can produce. “If we’re trying to rapidly electrify Existing law allows residential customers people’s homes and their cars, we need to of the investor-owned utilities to get lift this arbitrary cap. Installing a solar credited for solar-photovoltaic capacity up system based on your last year’s average to 120% of the annual consumption of electricity use isn't a relevant cap once that electricity by the customer. Xcel and Black homeowner buys an electric car and an Hills must credit them with the retail rate, electric heat pump,” Fenberg says. not the wholesale rate, which is far less. “Due to economies of scale, it's much better for that homeowner to build the system based on likely future electricity use

13 rather than past electricity use. Part of the Cross Energy in the Aspen-Vail areas have state's path to reduce emissions is to more batteries, and there may be more electrify home heating and transportation, scattered around Colorado, particularly in which means the average home will have a Boulder County. much larger electricity load in the future. That must change dramatically in the And if we want to decarbonize that coming decade. As Colorado quadruples the increased electric load, we want more roof- penetration of renewable energy, it will space covered by solar panels. need to increase storage capacity roughly “Another aspect to this story is the recent 250-fold. “The Future of Energy Storage in Boulder/Xcel settlement. Xcel agreed to Colorado,” a report commissioned by the advocate for the lifting of the 120% cap in Colorado Energy Office in 2019, called for the Legislature this year as part of the 1.1 gigawatts of storage by 2030. settlement.” “We have a long way to go, and the Also operative, as he said at a recent longer we wait, the steeper the hill to forum, is that the utilities are in the business climb,” says Mike Kruger, chief executive of of selling electricity. “They don’t want to Colorado Solar and Storage Association. have to buy energy from you,” he said. PUC guidance on storage COSSA wants legislators to give the Public Utilities Commission specific guidance about phasing in storage. In the past, says Kruger, the PUC has been leery of justifying storage, given its still great cost. That’s understandable. But battery storage provides benefits to the grid, such as in stabilization, that need to factored into the decision-making calculus. COSSA wants legislators to help inform that decision-making process. Kruger points to a report issued in September 2020, “The Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s Policies to drive equitable Operational Modernization Plan.” The expansion of storage document points to the need for a formal, coherent policy. Options for reducing Colorado remains in the infancy of greenhouse gases from the electric sector energy storage. Aside from pumped-storage “can appear across many proceedings, and a hydro at Cabin Creek and Mt. Elbert, the determination in one proceeding may affect largest energy storage system in the state is the outcome of another proceeding,” the a bank of Tesla Powerwall batteries behind report said. the United Power building along Interstate The report cites the example of battery 25 between Longmont and Firestone. They storage, with its potential to reduce the can store 4 megawatts for up to 4 hours. need for additional electric generation to Behind the meter, the battery capacity meet system peak demand: “At the same isn’t much greater. Xcel Energy customers time, the PUC may be called upon to make have 300 to 400 batteries in the Central Park decisions regarding investments in battery neighborhood of Denver. Customers of Holy

14 storage technologies in multiple proceedings Legislature says it should be $500,” says that may involve different regulated utilities Kruger of fees. “That means it shouldn’t be that occur over a period of months or $500 plus X, Y and Z.” years.” Somewhat related in the battery Utilities are already starting to invest in question is where they will be deployed. Will batteries. Xcel Energy has awarded bids for battery storage remain the province of 50 megawatts, part of its plans for 275 higher-end homes, or will batteries also be megawatts in Pueblo and Adams counties. part of the lower-income neighborhoods, And Colorado Springs Utilities has a power- too? purchase agreement for the Pike Solar and Colorado legislators in 2019 inserted Battery Energy Storage Systems, which will provisions in several laws designed to ensure add 25 megawatts of battery storage by that equity is a consideration in energy December 2023 to supplement 175 transition decisions. In the past, those of megawatts of solar. lower incomes, who tend to be racial This bill falls under the heading of minorities, have tended to suffer unfinished business. In 2018, legislators disproportionate impacts of the fossil fuel- passed a law, HB 18-1270, Public Utilities based economy. The intent is to avoid Commission Evaluation of Energy Storage repeating mistakes of the past. Battery Systems. The law required the PUC to storage is one place for this consideration. establish mechanisms for investor-owned COSSA would like to see legislators give electric utilities to procure energy storage the PUC guidance to ensure that equity is a systems if certain criteria are satisfied. consideration in battery storage programs. COSSA members believe there has been too little movement. Details of exactly what Office of Consumer Counsel will be proposed were still being worked As required by state law, the Office of over in stakeholder outreach in late January. Consumer Counsel must be reauthorized by What drives the legislation, though, is a statute in this session, if it is to continue to sense of urgency, a desire to make things exist. happen quickly, to decarbonize the economy In 2019, legislators chose to reauthorize 50% by 2030. the PUC by substantially expanding its “We have 8 years and 11 months. We purview and mission. It’s possible legislators can’t have proceedings in which the may do so this year with the Office of stakeholder process takes years before we Consumer Council. For example, legislators even get to a proposal. We have to move could give much more direction in advocacy faster,” says Kruger. for low-income populations in the coming

energy transition. Rules for behind-the-meter storage Colorado Solar and Storage Association wants to see rules laid down for behind-the- meter storage. It’s still a frontier, when Please recommend Big Pivots to relatively few homes or buildings have those interested in Colorado’s great battery storage. transitions in climate, energy and Working with the Colorado Municipal more. League and Colorado Counties Inc., COSSA Subscribe at BigPivots.com hopes to come up with state regulations to ensure the spirit of legislation is honored by counties and municipalities. “If the

15 Utility Commission for new transmission Electrical transmission projects. Regulators, Hansen says, need to acknowledge regional benefits when This is the bailiwick of State Sen. Chris evaluating projects. The bill is a revision of Hansen, a Democrat from Denver who grew Hansen’s bill from last year, SB20-190, Boost up amid the steady winds of the Great Plains Renewable Energy Transmission Investment. before going off to college and eventually getting a Ph.D. in economic geography from Oxford University Transmission authority In a sense, he’ll return to his roots this A second component would create a session with three bills that in various ways transmission authority, which New Mexico would help advance development of wind already has. The transmission authority’s resources in eastern Colorado. But all three mission would be to help coordinate components of the bill he has prepared have development of transmission needed to the word “regional” embedded or implied in develop currently stranded renewable their text assets. Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg One such area is Bent County, in calls transmission “one of the missing pieces southeastern Colorado. Studies by the of getting renewables to customers, National Renewable Energy Laboratory have especially from areas that are traditionally found that this county snuggled against the under-represented and don’t have a lot of Kansas and Oklahoma borders has some of economic opportunities.” the steadiest wind in the country. Trucks constantly cross the county on Highway 287 Streamline PUC permitting on their way to Denver and other destinations, but no such wire highway One component would streamline permitting and rules at the state’s Public

16 exists to get wind-generated electricity from electric market matters for Colorado farms to urban markets. decarbonization.” See, “Windy enough in Dust Bowl land.” Hansen professes to see advantages Xcel Energy and Tri-State Generation whether going eastward or westward. He and Transmission both operate in eastern does, however, see Colorado’s wind Colorado, and both have built transmission resources contouring wonderfully with the lines and have plans for upgrade. But the solar resources of Arizona and other movement has been slower than what Southwestern states Hansen says Colorado needs to execute its “My observation is that every power energy transformation. operator in the state is supportive of more Hansen believes he has a strong grid integration, but some are more excited argument because there’s something in it about it than others,” he says for everybody, but especially consumers. Describing it as a “slam-dunk economic Accessing the renewable resources in the case,” Hansen says he does not expect state will result in lower rates. Improved substantial opposition. A Republican transmission should also result in more jobs. legislator, whom he has not identified, will “We need to maximize job growth and clean co-sponsor the bill energy, and that is dependent on a robust This integration must be pushed firmly, transmission grid,” he says. he says. If Colorado does end up with what is called a seam, a division within the state, Pushing an RTO with parts going east and some parts going A third component would seek to west., then it must be done in a way that accelerate integration of Colorado utilities does not harm ratepayers. Examples of both with utilities in other states. Colorado is success and failure when seams divide states currently something of an island. It’s or regions can be found in other parts of the connected by electric lines to other states, country. but not particularly well. There’s been talk and study for four years or more. All utilities Changes to give the PUC say they want this, but action has been lagging. Hansen wants to hurry this along. commissioners more tools The first modest step occurred on Feb. 1 Look for a bill from Sen. Chris Hansen with launch of the energy imbalance market that will seek to modernize the Public by the Arkansas-based Southwest Power Utilities Commission and revise budgeting, Pool. Colorado participants include Tri-State giving commissioners more resources and Generation and Transmission and the more direct control over staff members. Western Area Power Authority. Xcel Energy “We have a PUC that is not well and three utility partners along the Front positioned to implement all of the important Range will begin an imbalance market next work that is ahead of us. (The year, but that one is conducted by the commissioners) need better resources to do California Independent System Operator, or their work,” says Hansen. CAISO. The PUC is currently embedded within The real prize will be creation of a the Department of Regulatory Agencies, and regional transmission organization or RTO, the staff members are answerable to the with more tools (and investment) to allow department director, Doug Dean. Hansen’s better movement of electrons across broad legislation would make the staff members, distances to align with demands. For a at least some of them, directly answerable deeper dive, see Feb. 12 story, “Why this to PUC commissioners. The bill would also expand the staff to reflect the increasing

17 workload of PUC commissioners in a time of also known as community choice unprecedented shifts in the world of aggregation. electricity and, quite likely in the decade The goal of community choice is to ahead, natural gas. accelerate the transition to clean electrical The move has the support of the generation by allowing individual Colorado Solar and Storage Association. communities currently served by Xcel Energy Mike Kruger, the executive director of and Black Hills Energy, the state’s two COSSA, says there needs to be a direct link investor-owned utilities, to procure their between the staff member and electricity directly from providers. Those two commissioners given that the commissioners utilities would still service the distribution are “responsible for a huge chunk of our lines. Together, Xcel and Black Hills were decarbonization.” responsible for 56% of electrical sales in Kruger also points out to the statutory Colorado in 2018, according to a study by ban of commissioners meeting in private. All the Colorado Energy Office of their interaction is in public meetings. “Introducing competition into the Aside from very specific and narrow wholesale electricity sector would proceedings, they meet only weekly. That encourage a more vibrant wholesale limited meeting schedule can result in three electricity market in Colorado, from which weeks or a month to make a relatively many co-ops and municipal utilities purchase simple decision about forward movement. all or part of their electricity,” she writes. “Given that complication, you definitely “Competition tends to put downward need to have a staff that provides the pressure on prices, as well as pressure to commissioners what they need to make increase the renewable energy content in decisions,” Kruger says. “From our the energy mix. perspective, the 2020s will be the decade of Hooton also sees this helping other deployment for solar and batteries. We will electrical consumers. A more vibrant go from around 20% renewable generation wholesale market for clean energy “would to around 80%, a four-fold increase over 9 likely expand the number of independent years. And the PUC is going to guide and power producers and power marketers that direct that. They need to know they are are active in Colorado, leading to lower getting the best information and results wholesale prices and more opportunities for from their staff.” all buyers, including co-ops and municipal PUC processes have often been drawn utilities.” out. But there’s a sense of urgency about The Colorado Municipal League supports figuring out the way forward reflected in the the study, as does the Sierra Club, whose admonishment by Eric Blank in his first “ready for 100” yielded voluntary weekly meeting in January as the PUC participation by 14 Colorado communities chairman. Studies can’t take a year or more, that formally want to achieve 100% he said, but timelines demand a quicker renewable energy between 2025 and 2035. pulse. The measure is also supported by Colorado Communities for Climate Action, or CC4CA, Another shot at Community which has 34 member communities in Colorado, evenly split between the Front Choice Energy Range and Western Slope. City councils for Rep. Edie Hooton, a Democrat from Denver, Pueblo, Boulder, Golden, and Boulder, will return this session with her Lafayette have also adopted resolutions of proposal to study community choice energy, support.

18 California is the poster child for the trading in the West and by reducing the effectiveness of pushing clean electrical needed level of reserve generating capacity. generation. There, communities authorized One thing the study—if approved by to use community choice have entered into legislators—would have to address is what long-term contracts for 6,000 megawatts of real difference this will make in the latter new-build clean energy sources. There, it’s half of the 2020s, when Black Hills and Xcel common for multiple cities and/or counties are rapidly decarbonizing their electric to form joint power authorities to share supplies. administration and combine their purchasing power, governed by a board of elected Tools for the Air Quality officials from each member jurisdiction. A study by the UCLA Luskin Center for Control Commission? Innovation found that nearly 50 This was the agency delegated by the communities in California have already 2019 foundational legislation with the reached their 100% renewable energy goals, largest single authority for devising and and the vast majority of them have executing strategies for achieving the community choice. economy-wide decarbonization goals. In theory, communities could choose to Elements were also given to the Public procure electricity from 100% carbon Utilities Commission, with it authority for sources. That’s unlikely, given that overseeing the decarbonization of the renewables have become so much cheaper. electrical sector and also regulated gas Hooton’s bill—which is co-sponsored by utilities. But the AQCC is numero uno, dai- Rep. Cathy Kipp, a Democrat from Fort ichi, number 1. Collins—would only authorize a study by the Does the AQCC have the resources it Colorado Public Utilities Commission staff needs to get the job done? This was a thread between October 2021 and November 2022. in AQCC conversations for much of 2020. The bill authorizes one full-time employee to Environmental organizations, Western the study, the money $112,000 spread Resource Advocates and the Environmental across two years – to be taken from the Defense Fund in particular, argued that the Fixed Utility Fund, the surcharge on AQCC was moving too slowly. The AQCC ratepayer bills that funds the PUC. personnel, particularly John Putnam, the If the PUC study looked promising, says then-director of environmental programs for Hooton, she would consider sponsoring the Colorado Department of Public Health enabling legislation in the 2023 legislation and Environment, politely pointed to lack of session. This bill, she emphasizes, only adequate resources. authorizes a study. I heard that legislators are working to Inherent in this study is the potential for secure more resources for the Air Pollution gains. She points to a request from Boulder Control Division, the agency within CDPH&E last year for indicative pricing from that works directly with the appointed wholesale suppliers. The city in August commission. I was told that Sen. Dominique received 11 responses that together Jackson was writing the bill. I did not get a indicated the city could have 89% renewable response from her. energy in 2024 at two-thirds the project cost The question of the AQCC was raised of Xcel. more broadly at the Empowering our Future She also contends this would add forum. Senate Majority Leader Steve pressure to form a regional transmission Fenberg took the question and addressed it organization, or RTO, which would lower broadly, if not in the particulars. costs by expanding the footprint of energy

19 “We got a slow start,” he said. “I think it state’s comparable fund dido go ahead with will accelerate. We are going to start taking a gradual divestment strategy in December. a significant bite of the apple in the next few 350 Colorado also hopes to find a years, tackling our transportation system. sponsor for a bill that would allow cities, And electrifying as much as possible will counties, and other jurisdictions to hold have a huge impact. Xcel Energy is just about investments in financial institutions that are to file their electric resource plan (update: not FDIC insure. This would allow Xcel will release details on Thursday, Feb. jurisdictions to avoid the megabanks like 18) that will show there is a lot more of Wells Fargo and Chase Morgan, who are where they think they are capable of going FDIC insured and who also invest in fossil in the next couple of years. Things are fuels. happening, and they’re happening pretty The Colorado Public Banking Coalition fast.” makes no mention of divestment but instead Among the questions before the AQCC paints a broader picture of rising interest in in late 2021 will be whether to approve the public banking since the 2008 financial request for Earthjustice and the National crash. “Currently, over half of the states in Parks Conservation Association to order to the United States have either organized, accelerate the retirement of coal plants. All conducted research, or introduced but two are scheduled to close by 2030, but legislation to promote public banking,” says the environmental organizations wanted the the coalition. AQCC to nudge the retirements up a year, to 2028. The AQCC approved that by a 5-2 vote then, the next month, unanimously backtracked for legal procedural reasons, whose intricacies I never understood. Xcel Energy then preempted this by announcing the closure of the Hayden units in 2028. Could the PUC have the authority to instead order earlier retirements? That was hinted at by State Rep. Edie Hooton, who spoke at the Empowering Our Future forum about adjusting retirements to meet the Regulation of oil and gas 2025 decarbonization target of 2026. “There was consideration,” she said. “I don’t know if industry, don’t expect much it will happen this year, not because of will, Don’t look for much here. Senate but because of capacity,” she said. Majority Leader Steve Fenberg was a primary sponsor of SB19-181, which he Divestment policies describes as the most substantial reform of oil and gas regulation in Colorado in 60 Rep. Emily Sirota, a Democrat from years. Denver, will be carrying legislation again, as “I think we forget how much that did she did with her HB 19-1270, to require the tackle, because it did so much at once,” he Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement says. The law basically turned Colorado Association to review its $45 billion in regulation upside down, inverting the holdings through the lens of climate change, mission of regulation to support extraction specifically fossil fuels. to instead emphasize community protection That bill didn’t make it out of values. committee. Since then, however, New York

20 It created basic standards for jurisdictions across Colorado, including a minimum setback of 2,000 feet (with some exceptions), while leaving latitude for local jurisdictions to create regulations that are right for them. What about stopping “fracking?” he was asked at a recent forum, the word fracking being apparently meant to mean drilling for oil and gas altogether. No, that wasn’t the intention of the 2019 law, he said. And what used to be considered the major players in Colorado have disappeared as a result of acquisitions and mergers. “I think the Wild West days of fracking in Colorado are not over, but they will be soon,” he said. He also noted that the market for Colorado oil and gas extends beyond Colorado, so the demand depends upon national policies.

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21 February 25, 2021 Issue No. 32 https://mountaintownnews.net

Renewable Energy wind farm in southern No Texas-like misery Wyoming was shut down because of icing problems. Also, there was little wind. Snow in the big chill, but covered Poudre Valley’s solar collectors. How about natural gas? It can be used to many questions to generate electricity, as well as warm homes and heat water. Platte River has the capacity ask in Colorado to generate 388 megawatts of electricity through combustion of natural gas.

The supply line, though, got interrupted. by Allen Best Platte River has an interruptible-supply If Colorado’s situation during the cold contract with Xcel Energy. “As an spell of mid-February was not nearly as dire interruptible customer, our gas supply can as that of Texas and other parts of the be curtailed by Xcel Gas in the event that country, questions are being asked. overall system demand One question is whether requires it,” explains Roalstad. the utilities should have seen PUC launches Platte River ceased the storm coming and taken investigation to find getting gas on Sunday precautions to minimize the out what utilities afternoon, then received impact to ratepayers. knew—or should have notice the interruption had But the case also poses ended early Monday morning. questions about the ability of utilities to known What electricity that was generated ensure reliable power as they toward came mostly from the Rawhide coal-fired carbon-free goals. power plant north of Fort Collins and the In northern Colorado, the trouble was a coal plants at Craig, of which Platte River is a relative hiccup. During a 6-hour period on part owner. Feb. 14, customers of Platte River Power Natural gas is not normally a major Authority were asked to use less electricity, component of the generating capacity for such as by postponing use of clothes driers, Platte River, just 2% annually. and using less natural gas for heating by Roalstad told the Fort Collins Coloradan turning down thermostats a few degrees. that demand for electricity dropped by Why? It gets complicated. about 10 megawatts, roughly equivalent to Steve Roalstad, spokesman for Platte the power needed for 5,000 to 8,000 River, said that turbines in the Roundhouse households. He described the call for downtown Denver through natural gas conservation as precautionary, well short of combustion. imminent rolling blackouts. Commissioner John Gavan suggested a This poses obviously questions about study of National Weather forecast data for Platte River’s path forward. It set a goal of the days leading up to the storm. “The 100% renewable energy by 2030. The utility question in my mind was whether there was consists of Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, an opportunity to act earlier to avoid the and Estes Park. high-priced gas costs,” said Gavan at the The Denver Post reported weather Feb. 17 meeting. caused Xcel Energy and Tri-State Generation At the Feb. 24 meeting, PUC staffer Paul & Transmission, the state’s two largest Gomez described 14 questions being asked utilities, to make changes. But the major of the utilities. They range from what Gavan story is that Colorado was better prepared asked for, an understanding of what the for cold weather than Texas. forecast were and how the utilities “Colorado has gone through the exercise responded, what they did during the crisis, of weatherizing the system,” said Morgan and did the utilities have excess gas they Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for were able to sell after the crisis receded. Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines At stake is how much the regulated gas in Golden. “Overall, it seems that Colorado providers–Xcel, Black Hills, Atmos and has been preparing very well.” Will Toor, Colorado Natural Gas—will be allowed to director of the Colorado Energy Office, said pass along costs to customers. essentially the same thing. On Tuesday, in a letter sent to the PUC, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis emphasized the ut while Xcel can operate its wind concern. B turbines to -22 F, the turbines don’t “It has come to my attention that as a work when the wind doesn’t blow, as is result of the recent extreme winter often the case during deep cold and which conditions starting on February 13th across was the case last week. Even so, Xcel was large parts of the country, some Colorado able to dispatch electricity to points east. utilities might have purchased natural gas at If Texas famously operates its own exorbitantly high market prices and may electrical grid, this time of un-Texas-like now seek to pass the cost of the market gas icicles demonstrates the interconnectedness prices along to customers...Consumers of energy. The failure of the natural gas should not be expected to shoulder infrastructure caused prices of natural gas to unexpected exceptional costs without first spike from $3 an MMbtu (one million British being advised to reduce usage,” he said. thermal units) to $190 per MMbtu at the Polis cited the steps taken by Platte Rocky Mountain-Cheyenne hub. River to notify their customers about The Post said that Xcel Energy’s conserving power and encouraged utilities Colorado subsidiary, Public Service Co., to empower consumers to make decisions estimated it had to spend an extra $650 about their energy consumption choices. million because of surging prices. through emails and phone calls. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission “As a backstop measure, if extraordinary almost immediately ordered a fact-collecting circumstances warrant and technology mission of the four investor-owned gas allows, customers should also be able to delivery utilities along with Xcel Energy choose whether to opt into rolling blackouts subsidiary Public Service Steam, which and thereby hold themselves harmless from delivers steam to some buildings in drastic price increases,” he said.

2 second, much larger question is other advanced degrees that include a Ahow vulnerable utilities are to Ph.D.,instead emphasized the need for both extreme weather events even in well- local generation as well as improved regional prepared Colorado as they deepen connections, along with improved storage penetration of renewables in electrical and demand-management programs. generation. “The recent extreme cold weather event Renewables were pilloried as the villains in Texas, like last summer's heat wave in for the problems in Texas and elsewhere. California and the West, makes the case for “Poppycock,” said the New York Times, developing local energy resources—in which described Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as addition to—having access to regionally being among the “more prominent diverse clean energy resources from an nonsense peddlers.” Defenders pointed out interconnected bulk power system,” he that natural gas infrastructure was the wrote. greater problem, but also nuclear and even “Local resources for power generation, coal plants. energy storage, and demand flexibility are But the Texas problems combined with by definition more resilient than those that those of the Southwest Power Pool do are grid-connected, yet few individuals or provoke the question of what utilities and communities can meet all of their energy state regulators need to be thinking about as needs without an electric grid connection. they continue down the path of “We need a full portfolio of both local decarbonization. and regional options to ensure we can keep Seizing the moment, Colorado State Sen. the lights on and the services flowing for the Chris Hansen, a Democrat from Denver, and members and communities that we serve, Sen. Dan Coran, a Republican from especially when we consider the changing Montrose, used the emergency to make the demands on our system from future case for improved electrical transmission. weather and climate extremes.” Hansen and Coram are co-sponsoring a bill In Fort Collins, Platte River’s Roalstad with three major components, all of which emphasized the unusual nature of the 2021 are designed to improve transmission of deep freeze in that it “disrupted power and electricity in and beyond Colorado. gas supplies across a large swath of the See “A 15,000-foot view of Colorado’s country, including Colorado. legislative climate & energy landscape.” “It will no doubt be incorporated into Two Colorado electrical utilities have future planning,” he said. “How it manifests adopted 100% carbon-free electricity goals itself is difficult to predict at this point.” by 2030: Holy Cross Energy and Platte River. To Bryan Hannegan, chief executive of Suggested reading: Wall Street Journal’s Holy Cross Energy, I asked very specifically if Texas Freeze: Why the Power Grid Failed this made the case for Colorado being better connected to California and other Western states through CAISO as opposed to the Southwest Power Pool. He didn’t take the bait. Hannegan, who has a degree in meteorology, in addition to several

The smokestack of Comanche 3 can be see at left in background. The two units at right are How Xcel Energy to be closed in 2022 and 2025. Foreground, the towers of the future for Xcel, more wind plans to get to generation. 2017 photo/Allen Best

80% renewables having several vital functions. It has, when operating, provided power at a low cost, and

it will continue to provide jobs in Pueblo and by Allen Best a tax base in Pueblo County, easing the Comanche 3, the newest coal-fired unit transition to clean energy. in Colorado, will be the last to close, at least But the plant also can provide important if Xcel Energy has its way. generating certainty. Xcel, Xcel, the majority owner Utility to defend says Jackson, believes the of the plant, announced costly repairs are a thing of Wednesday that it wants to continued use of the past. And if the plant continue operating the plant troubled coal plant were retired, the generating until 2040, but at a third of its capacity would have to be operating capacity after 2030. near Pueblo made up elsewhere—and Maybe it will, but Xcel has not necessarily with renewables. some answering to do in months ahead “This gives us the opportunity to allow when it will be forced by state regulators to technology to advance to get to net-zero,” defend the erratic operations of the she said. troubled coal plant. Comanche 3 has been And despite the troubled coal-mining down for repairs for a third of the time since operations in Wyoming and elsewhere, she it began operations in 2010, including most said Xcel is confident of deliveries needed to of the last year. supply Comanche with fuel. Alice Jackson, chief executive of Xcel’s Colorado subsidiary, defends Comanche 3 as

4 Xcel is hurrying along the decarbonization path. The singular statistic From 4,412 MW of coming out of a preview of the plans the company will be submitting to Colorado coal plant capacity to regulators in March is electrical generation by 2030 that will consist of 80% renewables. 750 MW in 11 years That’s 85% reduction in carbon emissions as Xcel Energy has been seen as a leader compared to 2005, an improvement of 5% in decarbonization, a reputation that from the goal announced by the company began on a sun-splashed December day in little more than two years ago. 2018 when company officials and others It proposes to achieve this new low- gathered at the Denver Museum of carbon mark by converting the Pawnee plant Nature and Science, the city’s tallest near Brush from coal to natural gas by 2028. buildings in the background, to announce Earlier this year it announced plans to close the intention of 80% decarbonization by its two units at Hayden, one unit in 2027 and 2030 and, by mid-century, zero carbon. the next unit in 2028. It had previously These declarations, bold at the time, announced plans to close Comanche units 1 made Xcel a national role model. In truth, and 2 in 2022 and 2025 respectively. others in Colorado were close behind. These plans were announced at a press Just days later, Fort Collins-based Platte conference that also included cameos by River Power Authority announced a Gov. Jared Polis and representatives of provisional 100% goal for electrical unions and a leading environmental deliveries to its four member cities in organization after opening remarks by Ben northern Colorado by 2030. A more Fowke, the Minneapolis-based chief cautious but no less ambitious Glenwood executive for Xcel Energy. Springs-based Holy Cross Energy adopted Fowke sought to embellish Xcel as a the same 100% goal for 2030 in leading utility in decarbonization in Colorado December 2020 but without caveats. and beyond. At least 20 other major utilities Now, the coal plants are closing in have followed in Xcel’s decarbonization droves. Colorado had 17 coal burning footsteps since the company’s 2018 units operating in 2018 that collectively attention-grabbing announcement. had generating capacity of 4,412 Technology has allowed this megawatts. decarbonization, Fowke said, but Now, as of 2030, just one 750- stakeholders have clearly said they want it. megawatt plant will be operating, And the direction of the marketplace is according to the proposal of Xcel, and clear, he added, as it “greatly rewards that one at just a third of capacity. companies that do and quite frankly Tri-State Generation and punishes those that do not.” Transmission, Colorado Springs Utilities As it retires coal plants, Xcel proposes to and Platte River all have or plan to close add 2,300 megawatts of wind power, 1,600 their coal plants during the next decade. megawatts of large-scale solar power, and “Xcel is showing that this transition to 400 megawatts of energy storage. The renewable energy can be done in a way that company also proposes 1,300 megawatts of not only saves people money and creates distributed generation solar resources, such green jobs, but that it also reduces air as community and rooftop solar. pollution in Colorado and Colorado’s All this, said Polis, represents an contribution to climate change.” alignment of economic, environmental, and But Xcel also proposes to add 1,300 public health benefits. megawatts of natural gas, either through

5 construction of plants or acquisition of existing capacity. However, it plans to end Jackson, in an interview after the press 1,400 megawatts of existing natural gas, conference, didn’t defend natural gas as the either through retirement or allowing bridge fuel without end. She spoke about contracts to lapse. hydrogen and ammonium-hydrogen blend, Still, this was a red flag to at least the storage medium that would allow utilities to Sierra Club. “Xcel has done a great job harvest and then store renewable energy for marketing itself as a climate leader without lengthy periods, something not possible with actually being one. Xcel can either be a existing lithium-ion batteries. They have a climate leader or it can plan to waste more storage capacity of four hours. money on gas and keep burning coal,” said “There’s a lot of thinking in that area Anna McDevitt, the Sierra Club’s Beyond right now, just as there was a lot of interest Coal Campaign representative in Colorado. in wind and solar 10 and 15 years ago,” she said. “So there’s a lot more to come. This is estern Resource Advocates was where we need to be now,” she said of the W largely supportive of the natural gas—and coal—component. proposal. Jon Golden-Dubois, president of For now—if Xcel’s announced plan plays the organization, said Xcel is actually aligning out—the 750-megawatt Comanche unit will its investments to correspond with its goals. stay in play, even if in diminished capacity. Other utilities have followed Xcel’s lead in It’s Colorado’s largest coal plant and setting goals, he said, and “now it’s time for controversial when approved by state those same utilities to come to the table regulators in 2004. Opponents in 2003 told where Xcel is with concrete actions to align state regulators that it was an investment in with their words.” a soon-to-be-outdated technology, that But there are questions in the particulars wind in particular was coming on. PUC that the Colorado PUC will likely be asking commissioners were unpersuaded and during the next year. Erin Overturf, deputy approved the $1 billion plant, most of which director of the Clean Energy Program at remains to be paid for. Western Resource Advocates, said commissioners should be thoughtful about embers of the Colorado PUC in how to avoid stranded costs. Will a gas plant M May unanimously agreed that an constructed in 2028 be justified if, for investigation was needed into whether example, a Biden Administration succeeds in continued investment in Comanche 3 was its announced goal of cleaning the nation’s justified, given its frequent need for repairs. electric grid completely of carbon by 2035. The PUC made that decision formal in Overturf suggested that when Xcel October. The report is due to PUC members solicits resource capacity, the answers to the in the next few weeks. perceived needs may not necessarily lead to In January, shortly after Comanche 3 natural gas in the same way that Xcel resumed operations after being off-line for models have indicated will be necessary. much of the prior year, an organization She also noted that having a natural gas called Institute for Energy Economics and plant doesn’t mean that it will be used, Financial Analysis issued a report that except at pinch times, such as to meet peak concluded that closing the plant was the demands or as backup when renewables fail best thing for ratepayers. The plant was to deliver, such as during the mid-February originally expected to continue operations deep chill. Wind turbines were idled then, until 2070. even those winterized to -22 F, because there was little to no wind.

6 The Pueblo factory produces towers. 2017 photo/Allen Best Vestas lays off 450 workers as demand The Pueblo Chieftain reported that slackens for turbines Vestas consolidated its manufacture of The takeaway of the Vestas layoffs in blades at its Windsor factory. The Brighton Colorado is that the green economy has its factory, which also made blades, will be ups and downs, too. repurposed to become the North American The Danish wind manufacturer in mid- headquarters for the Vestas Global Tooling February laid off 450 workers from its business. It is currently spread across six manufacturing plants in Colorado at Pueblo, locations. Windsor, and Brighton and closed entirely a An economic development official in third factory at Brighton. Brighton told the local newspaper, the All the components of wind turbines Standard Blade (the newspaper’s name have been manufactured at the four Vestas preceded the arrival of Vestas about a factories in Colorado. A second factory at decade ago) that Vestas was expecting a Brighton produces nacelles, which houses slow-down in the market for new blades and the drive train of a wind turbine and other wind turbines but adding resources to tower-top components. maintain what already exists. The Pueblo factory, where towers are Responding to questions by Pueblo’s manufactured, lost 120 workers, down from KRDO, Vestas attributes the layoffs to a peak of 800, reported the Pueblo lowered near-term market demand to the Chieftain. The closed factory at Brighton had caused by the ramping down of the 280 employees. production tax credit, which was at 100% through 2020 but now ratchets down—

7 unless Congress decides to ramp it up again as part of the Biden climate agenda.

Boebert says renewables not ready for prime time U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, speaking to oil and gas advocates and others in Grand Junction, laid the blame for the failure of the power grid in Texas on renewable energy. “I am pushing for reliable energy, and if renewable comes to the point where they county’s businesses and its citizens by are reliable, sustainable and affordable depriving them of access to public land and without government getting in the way and preventing the productive use of these choosing winners and losers with their lands’ resources,” the resolution reads. subsidies, then I’ll absolutely promote The Glenwood Springs Post Independent them,” Boebert said, according to an notes that more than 62% of the county account in the Grand Junction Sentinel. consists of federal lands, where resource “We aren’t to the point where we can development and other uses are strictly get away from petroleum products. We’re controlled. not to the point where renewables can “I like to use our public lands, and I sustain our way of living,” she said. respect them, but this action taken by the Renewables have enjoyed subsidies in president …, is an end run that ignores the form of the tax credits for wind and federal law and policies already in place,” solar, but there’s a large body of evidence Commissioner John Martin said. about the subsidies for fossil fuels. Climate change is not just the future. It’s “Instead of taxing fossil fuels for the here and now. harms they cause, significant subsidies remain in the United States and globally,” writes Leah Cardamore Stokes, in her new Gunnison County looking at book, “Short Circuiting Policy. “Fossil fuel buildings, transportation as subsidies are forecast to increase from $2.2 billion in 2018 to $3.8 billion by 2028,” she way to trim emissions says, citing a 2019 report from the Buildings account for 61% of all Congressional Research Service. greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado’s Gunnison County, with the residential sector having four times the square footage of the Garfield commissioners commercial sector. How can the county ratchet down its oppose Biden climate plan energy use in those buildings? Garfield County’s Board of commissioner The Crested Butte News reports that has filed opposition to the proposal by John Cattles, the county’s sustainability President Joe Biden to conserve 30% of the coordinator, told county commissioners nation’s land and water by 2030 as part of recently that the first effort was made within his plan to address climate change. county buildings. “The 30X30 program, if implemented, is “There is a lot of work we can do on likely to cause significant harm to the buildings,” he said. “There is the most economy of Garfield County and injure the opportunity on buildings.”

8 For example, the upcoming airport requiring travel across passes of more than renovations and the new Gunnison library 11,000 feet. will use fully electric heat pump systems The buses can run for 5 or 6 hours combined with on-site solar production with before batteries have depleted to around the goal of eliminating need for natural gas. 30% and they need to be recharged. By Transportation is the second largest comparison, diesel buses have auxiliary source of emissions, and that has been tanks that allow the buses to run for about growing, the result of more commuting 17 hours. between Gunnison and Crested Butte. The buses cost $875,000 each, Vehicle miles traveled per capita in compared to $470,000 for diesel buses, plus Gunnison County are 26.3 miles per person $40,000 for charging infrastructure. per day, compared to the Colorado average Michael Wurzel, the sustainability of 24. coordinator for Summit County, said the diesel buses get about 4 to 5 miles a gallon, That equates to 80 to 100 pounds of carbon dioxide per mile.

Polis should emulate Biden, says WildEarth’s Nichols Colorado Gov. Jared Polis should emulate President Joe Biden when it comes to land policy and oil and gas leasing. So says Jeremy Nichols of WildEarth Guardians. “Under his watch, Colorado continues to Trio of electric buses largely approve massive amounts of new fossil fuel production, which will only lead to more met expectations in heart of fossil fuel consumption and more climate pollution,” wrote Nichols in a column Summit County’s winter published in the Pueblo Chieftain. Three Proterra electric buses were The State Land Board plans to auction added to the fleet of Summit Stage in more than 100,000 acres of lands of oil and October, and so far they have largely met gas extraction, mostly in southeastern expectations, Summit County Transit Colorado. And the Colorado Oil and Gas Director Chris Lubbers tells the Summit Daily Conservation Commission “continues to News. rubberstamp more oil and gas drilling “We have found that they do perform permits with no consideration of climate well,” Lubbers said. “They’re quiet, and so consequences.” far, the heating isn’t a problem in the extreme temperatures that we’ve endured recently,” he said. “Obviously, the range of electric buses hasn’t matched the range of Please recommend Big Pivots to diesel buses. We knew that going in…. We those interested in Colorado’s great have found them effective and to work well transitions in climate, energy and on multiple routes.” more. The buses will soon be used on routes to Subscribe at BigPivots.com Fairplay and Leadville, in both cases

9 nearly all the others on the commission, Reuter said he was persuaded that there Can Colorado really were just too many fundamental questions about cap-and-trade system for the AQCC to descend this steep, embrace at this time. Only Boulder County’s Jana Milford dissented in the 7-1 vote. Even steep CO2 slope? Elise Jones, until recently a Boulder County commissioner, voted no.

Just as important as the final vote may by Allen Best have been the advance testimony. It broke Curtis Reuter works for Noble Energy, down largely along environmental vs. one of Colorado’s major oil and gas business lines. producers, and is a Republican. That makes Western Resource Advocates, Boulder him a political minority among the members County, and Colorado Communities for a of the Colorado Air Quality Control Climate Action testified in favor of the cap- Commission, of which he is chairman. and-trade proposal. In his voting, Reuter, who lives in From the business side came opposition Westminster, tends a bit more conservative from Xcel Energy, The Denver Metro than his fellow commission members from Chamber of Commerce and allied chambers Boulder County. But on the issue of whether from Grand Junction to Fort Collins to to move forward with a process that could Aurora, and, in a 7-page letter, the Colorado have yielded carbon pricing in Colorado, he Oil and Gas Association. expressed some sympathy. Most businesses echoed what Gov. “I am generally in favor of market-based Jared Polis said in a letter: “While a carbon mechanisms, so it’s a little hard to walk pricing program may be one of many tools away from that,” he said. at the that should be considered in the future as commission’s meeting on Feb. 19. But like part of state efforts to achieve our goals, our

10 assessment of state level cap and trade has conducted lengthy rule-making programs implemented in other jurisdictions processes leading up to adoption of is that they are costly to administer, regulations in several areas. exceptionally complicated, risk shifting more Hydrofluorocarbons, a potent pollution to communities that already bear greenhouse gas used in refrigeration, are the brunt of poor environmental quality, being tamped down. Emissions from the oil- have high risk for unintended consequences, and gas-sector are being squeezed. The and are not as effective at driving actual commission this year will direct its attention emissions reductions as more targeted, to proposed rules that result in fewer sector-specific efforts,” Polis wrote. emissions from transportation. Meanwhile, the state has set out to he cap-and-trade proposal came hurry along the state’s electrical utilities T from the Environmental Defense from their coal-based foundations to Fund. EDF has been saying for a year that renewables and a small amount of new gas. Colorado has been moving too slowly to The utilities representing 99% of the state’s decarbonize following the 2019 passage of electrical sales have agreed to reduce the landmark SB-1261. The law requires 50% emissions 80% by 2030 as compared to 2005 decarbonization by 2030 and 90% by 2050. levels. Only one of those commitments, that What does a 50% reduction look like of Xcel Energy, has the force of law. Others over the course of the next 9 years? Think in fall under the heading of clean energy plans. terms of ski slopes, and not the dark blue of But state officials think that utilities likely intermediates or even the ego-boosting will decarbonize electricity even more single-black-diamond runs at Vail or rapidly than their current commitments. Snowmass. Not even the mogul-laden That 80% is a bottom, not a top. Outhouse at Winter Park or Senior’s at Will Toor, director of the Colorado Telluride. Energy Office, presented to the Air Quality Instead, think of the serious steeps of Control Commission an update on the Silverton Mountain, where an avalanche state’s roadmap. The document released in beacon is de rigueur. mid-January runs 276 pages, but Toor boiled Can Colorado, a novice at carbon it down to 19 slides, which nonetheless took reduction, navigate down this Silverton him 60 minutes to explain. It was a rich Mountain-type carbon reduction slope by explanation. 2030? Colorado, says EDF and Western oor explained that Colorado needs to Resource Advocates, needs a backstop, a T reduce emissions by 70 million tons more sweeping mechanism to ensure the annually. The Polis administration thinks it state hits these carbon reduction goals. can achieve close to half of the reductions it California has had cap-and-trade for needs to meet its 2030 target by 2030 years, and a similar device has been used through the retirement of coal plants and among New England states to nudge associated coal mines. Those reductions reductions from the power sector. The alone will yield 32.3 million tons annually. European Union also has cap-and-trade. The oil and gas sector should yield a Following the May 2019 signing of reduction of 13 million tons, according to Colorado’s carbon-reduction law, H.B. 19- the state’s roadmap. That process had taken 1261, the Polis administration set out to a step forward the previous day when the create an emissions inventory, then began Air Quality Control Commission adopted structuring a sector-by-sector approach. For regulations that tighten the requirements to example, the Air Quality Control Commission minimize emissions from pneumatic

11 controllers. Later this year, the AQCC will “I would agree with the characterization take up more proposed regulations. that cap-and-trade guarantees emissions Replacement of internal-combustion reductions,” said Toor. In the real world, he technology in transportation will yield 13 explains, those regimes struggle to achieve million tons. The Polis administration reductions particularly in sectors such as foresees deep reductions in transportation, transportation where there are many partly through an incentives-based decisions. The more demonstrable approach, even if not it’s not clear what all achievement has been in producing revenue the components of the strategy look like. to be used for reduction strategies. Near-term actions in buildings, both “I don’t know that the record supports residential and commercial, and in industrial that they guarantee a true pathway toward fuel use can yield another 5 million tons reductions of emissions.” annual reduction. In contrast, the roadmap has identified Waste reduction—methane from coal “highly enforceable strategies” to achieve mines, landfills, sewage treatment plants, reduction of 58 to 59 million of the 70 and improved recycling—will nick another million tons needed by 2030, he said. 7.5 million tons annually More speculative Some actions depend upon new are the strategies designed to reduce legislation, perhaps this year and in emission from natural and working lands by succeeding years. 1 million tons. In the building sector, for example, the Add it all up and the state still doesn’t Polis administration sees “very interesting know how it will get all of the way to the opportunities” with a bill being introduced 2030 target, let alone its 2050 goal of 90% into the legislature this year that would give reduction. Toor and other state officials, gas-distribution companies targets in carbon however, have expressed confidence that reduction while working with their the roadmap can get Colorado far down the customers. See, “Colorado’s legislative road to the decarbonization destination and climate & energy landscape.” is skeptical that cap-and-trade will.

12 “This isn’t something that we are going without information about the relative cost to solve through just this year’s legislative of pollution control technologies, turnover session and this and next year’s regulatory rates in vehicles and other key actions,” said Toor. He cited many potential uncertainties,” she said. pathways, including hydrogen, but also, Then the questions came in. Kiely beyond 2030, the potential for cost-effective rebutted Toor’s charge of ineffectiveness. carbon capture and sequestration. The most telling criticism of the California program was that the price was too low, she ater in the day, Pam Kiely and said. L Thomas Bloomfield made the What defeated the proposal—at least Environmental Defense Fund’s case for cap for now—were questions about its legality. and trade. They described a more significant Colorado’s Tabor limits revenues, and gap between known actions and the targets, commission members were mostly of the a greater uncertainty about hitting the opinion that their authority revenue-raising targets that they argued would best be authority needed to be explored in depth. addressed by giving power and other economic sectors allocation of allowances, arry Kaufman, director of the Air which can then best be moved around to G Pollution Control Division, said that achieve reductions in cost-effective ways. doing the work to rev up for a cap-and-trade One example of cap-and-trade actually program would require a “massive increase involves Colorado. The project is at in the division’s staff,” north of 40 to 50 new Somerset, where several funding sources employees, and the division does not have were pooled to pay for harnessing of state funding. methane emissions from the Elk Creek Mine He and others also contended that to produce electricity. The Aspen Skiing Co. pursuing cap-and-trade would siphon work paid a premium for the electricity, and Holy from the existing roadmap. Cross Energy added financial incentives. But Then there was the sentiment that for a a portion of the money that has gone to the program of this size, the commission really developer, Vessels Coal Gas Co., is money did need direct legislative authority. from California’s cap-and-trade market Commissioner Martha Rudolph said that Kiely said Colorado’s 2019 law directed in her prior position as director of the Air Quality Control Commission to environmental programs at the Colorado consider the greatest and most cost- Department of Public Health & Environment, effective emissions reductions available she had favored cap-and-trade. Not now, through program design. That, she said, was because of the legal, resource, and timing explicit authority for creating a cap-and- issues. trade program. Elise Jones, the former Boulder County “We think it’s a relatively light (legal) commissioner, voted no, but not without lift,” said Bloomfield. “You have authority to stressing the need to keep the conversation charge for those emissions.” going, which is what will happen in a Further, Kiely said, cap-and-trade will subcommittee meeting within the next few most effectively achieve reductions in years. emissions and will do so faster than the “This is not now, not never,” said Reuter state’s current approach. It will deliver a of the vote. This is conversation that will consistent economic signal and be the most come up again, maybe at the federal level or adaptable. “The program does not have to maybe in Colorado a few years down the predict where the optimal reduction road.” opportunities will be a year from now

13 Residential revenue per kilowatt-hour Xcel cuts emissions was 11.46 cents. For large commercial customers, revenue was 6.51 cents a 12% last year—and kilowatt-hour. In Boulder, where Glustrom lives, she made a tidy profit estimated that Xcel had after-tax profits of $23.5 million. Xcel Energy during 2020 reduced carbon “Nice business if you can get it… but of emissions across its eight-state service course you can’t,” she added, an allusion to territory by 12% as compared to 2019 levels. the vote by Boulder voters in November to This comes after a 10% reduction in 2019 as approve a franchise agreement with Xcel compared to 2018 levels. after a decade of exploring municipalization Since 2005, Xcel has reduced carbon of the power supply. emissions by 51%.

“Even after factoring in the effect of the cel Energy depends upon coal from global pandemic on our operations, we are Wyoming’s Powder River mines for well on our way to achieving our goal of X the Comanche and Pawnee plants, which are reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2030 and located at Pueblo and Brush. Those are more than halfway to delivering 100% Wyoming mines have been much in the carbon-free electricity to our customers, all news this year. while keeping their service reliable and The Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines energy bills low,” said Ben Fowke, chief used to be sole suppliers to Xcel’s two coal executive of Xcel Energy. plants in eastern Colorado. The operator of A release from Xcel pointed out that the those mines, Blackjewel, went belly-up, U.S. electric power sector has reduced leaving a lot of unpaid debts. The Powder carbon emissions 40% by the end of 2020 as River Resource Council reported compared to 2005. It cited that a legal filing disclosed that data from the U.S. Energy And continued over $32 million in royalties on the Information Administration. troubles in federal coal leases at the Belle Ayr “We’re making Wyoming coal Mine remained unpaid and that tremendous progress toward fields from which $27.8 million on royalties were delivering on our clean energy unpaid at the Eagle Butte Mine. goals,” said Fowke. several Colorado There are also debts to Wyoming’s Xcel has been expanding plants get fuel state government. in wind and using natural gas Meanwhile, mining behemoth generation as a backup, reducing use of its Peabody Coal lost $1.9 billion in 2020, while coal plants. Arch is looking to reduce operations in the In Colorado, Xcel subsidiary Public Power River Basin. Service Co. was 36% non-carbon electric “This all raises questions about how long generation in 2020, with 26% coal and 38% Xcel will have a reasonably priced coal natural gas. supply for the Brush and Pueblo coal Combing the Public Service Co. filing plants—and this is, of course, going to be a with the U.S. Securities and Exchange key question in their 2021 electric source Commission, energy activist Leslie Glustrom plan,” says Glustrom. of Clean Energy Action points out that the company had $588 million in after-tax net income in 2020, up $10 million from the year before, despite the pandemic.

14 appeal for jurisdiction by the Federal Energy What will be role Regulatory Commission. They conducted 42 interviews, 31 of them from Colorado and other Tri-State of Tri-State G&T states. The interviews yielded conversations in helping co-ops? about the difficulty of stranded assets for the G&Ts and questions of the debt. That A master’s thesis by two students at the would be a more narrow but worthy University of Colorado-Boulder explores the research study. It’s a common discussion relationship between electrical co- topic among those who follow Tri-State, if operatives and the generation and one rarely talked about in public. transmission organizations, or G&Ts, that Another idea briefly mentioned is that supply most, but not all, of them. the time has come and gone for G&Ts, at What, ask Kayla Carey and Nathan least for the generation component of that Stottler, is the best way for the co-ops that mission. Kit Carson provides an argument serve most of rural American to further that this is true, and Holy Cross Energy engage in the clean energy transition? another. But these are unusual co-ops. Co-ops serve 56% of the geographic area They uncovered the complaints familiar of the country, serve 42 million people and in the scuffles between the dissident sell 13% of electricity consumed. members of Tri-State that reform in the In particular, they explore the governance model is needed. One complaint relationship of the G&Ts and what they call is that each member co-op gets one vote, the culture of coal. Coal-fired generation whether United Power with its 97,000 contributes to roughly 23.5% of the nation’s members or the smallest co-op with its electricity mix but 40% of the electricity 1,700 members. Most smaller coops, consumed by members of co-ops. without staff expertise, tend to defer to How can co-ops best move forward? management. Their paper explains the challenges of They concluded that G&Ts likely provide the co-ops from their founding to those of the fastest route to co-op decarbonization, today. One constant has been that of density but the co-ops need to work with the G&Ts of customers. Investor-owned utilities to create a more flexible approach to meet deliver power to about 35 customers per the needs. “Not accommodating the mile of power line, municipal utilities 47 merging needs of their fellow member co- customers per mile, but co-ops 7. That ops may lead to the collapse of the G&T sometimes gets overlooked in the model,” they conclude. comparison between investor-owned Many ideas would be a worthy research utilities such as Xcel Energy, Colorado’s topic for these grad students should they largest, and Tri-State, its second largest. elect to continue their environmental studies in the realm of energy at the Ph.D. ri-State is only mentioned once in level. While knowing little about T the first 60 pages of the thesis, but environmental programs, I wonder if an then comes up frequently in two case intertwining with business and economics studies, one about the 2016 departure of Kit studies would be crucial. Carson Electrical Cooperative and then a Meanwhile, the non-academic world of second case study that is focused on efforts energy moves along briskly. The narratives by United Power to exit and Tri-State’s of 2017 or even 2018 already seem like medieval history.

15 protracted dispute about what constituted a Colorado’s 2nd largest fair and reasonable fee for breaking the electrical cooperative contract. Based in Brighton, on Denver’s northern hires WAPA executive side, United Power is the largest of Tri- State’s 42 remaining electrical cooperative by Allen Best members, with roughly 97,000 meters. It has Well, this adds a new and perplexing service territory from exurban homes in the dimension to the dispute between United foothills around Rollinsville sweeping Power, Colorado’s second largest electrical eastward onto the cooperative, and its wholesale power Great Plains, including a supplier, Tri-State Generation and substantial portion of Transmission. the Wattenberg oil- United Power has hired Mark Gabriel as producing field. its chief executive. Gabriel has spent the United believes it past eight years as chief executive of the can get better deals for Western Area Power Administration. WAPA its wholesale power delivers electricity generated at the federal independent of Tri- Mark Gabriel dams in Colorado and beyond to municipal State. It has rejected utilities and cooperatives and the G&Ts that Tri-State’s exit fee, which has not been supply many of the cooperatives. disclosed publicly but which has been said to Just three weeks ago, Gabriel was on a be in excess of $1 billion. United and press conference with Duane Highley, chief Durango-based La Plata Electric Association executive of Tri-State, to announce the appealed to the Colorado Public Utilities launch of an energy imbalance market. Tri- Commission to adjudicate, and a week of State and WAPA, both based in metropolitan hearings were held last summer before an Denver, have a close relationship. administrative law judge. The judge United Power, meanwhile, has been recommended exist fees in line with what trying to get out of its contract with Tri- the cooperatives had been thinking. State. The contract expires in 2050. United However, the PUC commissioners later said Power had sought to follow in the steps of they could not accept the case—at least not Taos, N.M.-based Kit Carson Electrical now, pending resolution of whether they Cooperative, which left Tri-State in 2016, have jurisdiction. and Montrose, Colo.,-based Delta-Montrose This is where it gets really interesting. Electric, which left in2 020. Both paid exit Under Highley, who arrived as chief fees, in the case of Delta-Montrose after a executive in April 2019, Tri-State has sought

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16 to get review by the Federal Energy That was before the disruptions in the Regulatory Commission, bypassing the PUC old business models were only being talked on the matter of rates—and hence also the about. Now, they’re occurring. Far beyond matter of exit fees. FERC has partly accepted Colorado and the Rocky Mountains, Tri-State’s filing, but the devilishly details are electrical co-operatives are trying to break yet to come. free from their wholesale suppliers to find United Power, in the meantime, last better deals for electricity. year filed a lawsuit in Adams County District Some see the G&TS and other more Court, the jurisdiction in which the traditional utilities to the Baby Bell headquarters of both Tri-State and United monopolies of the 20th century. Time will, are located. The lawsuit alleges that Tri- as they say, say. State violated state law in the mechanism it Gabriel brings 25 years of industry used to get FERC jurisdiction. It added experience, including more than eight years several non-utility members, including a as a management consultant and acting greenhouse in Fort president at the Electric Power Research Lupton and a ranch near Institute where he led the nationwide effort Craig, to qualify. known as the Electricity Sector Framework Durango-based La for the Future. Plata Electric, which also When he was much younger, though, has an interest in Gabriel was a ski writer, covering the racing exploring its options, circuit. recently joined the You can see more about his views lawsuit, but under the on this video from October 2020 sponsored terms that it is not by the Smart Electric Power Alliance. responsible for legal costs. For more on Tri-State and its disputes Highley is not shy about public with members, see: appearances. “Watch our feet,” he told the Two small victories for Tri-State from Dec. Colorado PUC shortly after he arrived as 18, 2020 CEO, promising the utility would Tri-State’s big win at PUC from Oct. 24, 2020 decarbonize. If details remain to be worked The cost of leaving Tri-State G&T from July out, he has launched Tri-State on a big pivot. 11, 2020 Speaking recently by video-conference with United Power alleges Tri-State crossed legal about 160 Sierra Club members and others, line from May 5, 2020 he sketched a powerful case for seeing Tri- State as a utility on the move. He also took on many hard questions, including one about the route to Washington D.C. offices through the greenhouse in Fort Lupton. Now, Highley will be seeing his former partner in creating the imbalance market in the courtroom. Or perhaps Gabriel will help Highley figure out a way for Tri-State to remain relevant in the fast-shifting energy Please recommend Big Pivots to world of the 21st century. those interested in Colorado’s great In 2008, Gabriel completed a book, transitions in climate, energy and “Visions for a Sustainable Energy more. Future,” which won the Indie Award for Subscribe at BigPivots.com Environmental Writing.