Boulder Chamber Leads the Passage of Utility Partnership for Cleaner Energy, Hosts Briefing with Senatorial Staff

Utility Partnership: A Boulder Chamber Policy Priority

This past November, Boulder voters decided to move forward in partnership with Xcel Energy to meet critical carbon reduction and clean energy goals, investments in energy reliability and public safety via underground wiring and remove limits on rooftop solar. 

Specifically, Ballot Issue 2C, a policy priority of the Boulder Chamber, passed and approved a franchise agreement between the City of Boulder and Xcel Energy to sell electricity within the city, pursue renewable energy projects, improve system reliability and modernization, advance new approaches to electrification of buildings and transportation, and increase access to energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions.

The Boulder Chamber has encouraged the City of Boulder and Xcel Energy to pursue a collaborative approach to achieving their climate protection and clean energy goals. As an alternative, the City of Boulder had been evaluating the option of forming its own independent utility, an approach the Boulder Chamber believed could lead to high costs risks and service reliability challenges, among other concerns. Leading up to the 2020 election, the Boulder Chamber staff met with dozens of businesses and stakeholders to help articulate the benefits of a partnership approach that Ballot Issue 2C would facilitate. 

“For good reason, our community has fought with near religious fervor for more than a decade over the best path toward achieving our climate protection and renewable energy goals. Record-breaking forest fires, spreading drought, and the other consequences of an overheated planet point to a crisis worthy of such a fight,” said John Tayer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Boulder Chamber. “The new franchise agreement and settlement terms give us leverage to advance climate protection innovation that can revolutionize the energy future for Xcel’s 3.3 million customers across Colorado and its multi-state territory.”

Clean Energy Briefing with Senator Michael Bennet:

As part of the Boulder Chamber’s commitment to clean energy, chamber staff briefed U.S. Senator Michael Bennet’s team on the opportunities and challenges for their community. Senator Bennet, amongst other responsibilities, serves on the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over clean energy tax incentives, and has been a strong proponent for clean energy and climate action for many years.

Lori Call, Boulder Chamber Senior Director of Policy Programs, updated the Senator’s team on Boulder’s recent passage of the Xcel franchise agreement and extension of the Utility Occupation Tax, which funds clean energy programs. She also joined Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver and business leaders from across the state to discuss clean energy solutions in Colorado and across the nation. 

 

“It’s important for senate staff to have local Colorado success stories to help advance federal action on clean energy and climate,” Call stated. “We wanted to ensure that we shared our success story of the passage of Boulder’s electric franchise ballot initiative and our commitment to continue to tackle climate action at a local level.”

To learn more about clean energy opportunities in Colorado, contact Ryan Evans at revans@chambersforinnovation.com. Photo above: John Tayer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. Read More