September 3rd, 2024– Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy (NCP4CE) objects to the Platte River Power Authority’s (PRPA’s) planned addition of gas generation capacity because it will prevent PRPA from achieving, or even coming close, to its 100% non-carbon goal by 2030.

At its meeting on August 29th, the PRPA board passed a reimbursement resolution allowing for a $35M down payment to GE for aeroderivative gas turbines. It is irresponsible of the PRPA board to push ahead with this plan while disregarding their member communities’ clean energy goals, the damage that new fossil fuel generation will do to our already poor air quality, and the high costs the new plant will impose on ratepayers.

PRPA fills the airwaves and the pages of print and online media with the claim that they are “building a non-carbon energy future.” In our outreach to people in the communities that own the PRPA, we have found that most residents are not aware of the plan to build new fossil fuel generation and are outraged to learn the truth. Due to PRPA’s deceptive advertising, they have believed that PRPA is committed to and following through with their non-carbon energy pledge.

NCP4CE calls on the leaders of Fort Collins, Longmont, Loveland, and Estes Park to require an independent review of PRPA’s recently published Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to determine if a new gas plant is needed or if there is a better renewable energy alternative. Agencies that could provide such an independent review include the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Energy. We need to be sure that the PRPA’s decision is the best one possible for both our ratepayers and the environment.

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Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy (NCP4CE) is a coalition of organizations in the four municipalities that own the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA). We have a shared goal of transitioning PRPA to 100% renewable electricity by 2030. NCP4CE is a committee of the Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate, but retains autonomy with regard to its work with the PRPA and all local initiatives. The member organizations of the NCP4CE are: 350 Northern Colorado, Colorado Renewable Energy Society, Community for Sustainable Energy, EnergyShouldBe.org, Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition, Fort Collins Sustainability Group, Renewables Now Loveland, and Sustainable Resilient Longmont. For more information, please visit https://colivableclimate.org/noco-partners-for-clean-energy.