Renewable Energy Opportunities

PUEBLO COUNCIL APPROVES HISTORIC COMMITMENT TO 100% CLEAN ENERGY

The Pueblo City Council recently approved a resolution committing the city to transition entirely to clean, renewable energy by 2035. Pueblo represents the third city in Colorado and 22nd city in the nation commit to 100% clean, renewable energy.

For more than five years, a coalition of groups in Pueblo has been organizing to safeguard local residents from the high cost of energy in the community, while expanding access to affordable renewable energy. Pueblo is home to some of the highest electricity rates in Colorado and the nation due to Black Hills Energy’s decisions to construct costly new gas-fired power plants. On account of Black Hills Energy’s to build costly new gas power plants, electricity rates have increased annually in recent years and over 7,000 Pueblo residents have had their electricity shut off due to the high cost of energy. BHE also imposes an unforgiving re-connection fee for local residents that could range up to $800 after all costs are accounted for.

The Pueblo City Council on Monday approved a resolution committing the city to transition entirely to clean, renewable energy by 2035. Pueblo represents the third city in Colorado and 22nd city in the nation commit to 100% clean, renewable energy.

In response to Monday’s vote, community leaders from Pueblo and across Colorado issued the following statements:

“Congratulations to Sierra Club members, supporters, and the people of Pueblo for this forward-looking commitment. Pueblo’s action raises the bar for Colorado and America, and will help other communities to transition to 100% clean and renewable energy,” said Jim Alexee, Director of the Colorado Sierra Club. “We are growing a powerful movement across Colorado. Together with public leaders, business leaders, and local communities, we will transition from dirty fuels, create jobs, lower electricity bills and conserve Colorado for future generations.” 

"By committing to transition to 100% clean and renewable energy, Pueblo will set a powerful example for other cities in Colorado to join us in making clean energy a priority. Our hometown deserves more opportunities in the growing clean energy sector. This commitment will provide long-lasting benefits to our hometown by creating more jobs and energy security, cleaner air, and equitable access to affordable energy. No one should have to choose between feeding their family or keeping the lights on and our commitment to 100% clean energy will provide important relief to families throughout Pueblo,” said Pueblo City Councilman Larry Atencio.

"This is a great day for the citizens of Pueblo and for the city of Pueblo.  This is a bold and progressive move in the right direction, one the faith community supports because of the imperative we have to care for and be good stewards of our land, water, the environment and all God's creation.  This resolution will put us on a trajectory for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable energy future,” said Pastor Kevin Olsen of the First Congregational Church.

“As a business owner, community organizer and Pueblo native, it is more important now than ever to act on the many issues facing the Southern Colorado community. We live in one of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged municipalities in the state, yet we pay one of the highest electric rates in the nation,” said Rebecca Vigil with Pueblo’s Energy Future. “Profit-driven out-of-state utilities do not have the best interest of our community at heart. Pueblo's Energy Future can bring the community together while working on three interrelated issues: energy justice, business competitiveness, and clean energy. Together, we can be a catalyst to change.”

"The high cost of energy is one of the leading reasons for homelessness in Pueblo. High electricity bills make it difficult for families to stay in their homes and almost impossible for families to secure housing. It's wrong that today the elderly, the disabled, and the poor in our community often have to make choices between paying for food, medication, and electricity," said Anne Stattelman, Executive Director of Posada. "By transitioning to 100% renewable energy, we can safeguard our community from the high cost of electricity while creating more jobs and security for people throughout Pueblo."

“Many of my friends and family are among the more than 7,000 households and businesses in Pueblo that have had their electricity shut off in recent years due to the rising cost of electricity,” said Frank Cordova, a local Pueblo Sierra Club volunteer. “People have lost their homes or have gone without food or medicine because of the fees required to get it turned back on.  We have the solutions to this problem as the cost of cleaner and renewable energy sources – such as solar and wind – keeps declining. There are plenty of opportunities for innovation and good paying jobs in renewable energy from plentiful sources like the sun. Through today's action, Pueblo is setting an example for other cities and regions by committing to produce 100% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2035.”

Monday, February 13, 2017 | For More Information

Hillary Larson, Colorado Sierra Club: hillary.larson@sierraclub.org, (303) 454-3361

Shane Levy, Sierra Club Ready for 100: shane.levy@sierraclub.org, (201) 679-9507

Why Wind | Vestas in Pueblo, Colorado USA

Competitive

Wind power is competitive

Vestas has taken wind power to a level of technological maturity where it can compete on price with conventional sources of energy such as oil and gas, making it a sound business investment.

Wind power is free and plentiful

In 2006, a report by Emerging Energy Research showed that land-based wind power is equal in cost to electricity from a new natural gas fired plant – and only marginally more expensive than electricity from a new coal-fired power station. And that’s before the cost of CO2 emissions are taken into account.

Improved technology drives competitiveness

Since the installation of our first turbine in 1979, we’ve improved output 100 times over. And through our world-leadering turbine technology, we are driving down the cost of wind-generated electricity still further. Today, our global organisation focuses on seeking new ways to improve turbine efficiency. One result of these efforts is our 4 MW platform. Every aspect of the 4 MW platform has been  rethought to reduce the cost per kWh and allowing it to produce enough electricity in three hours supply the average European household for an entire year.

Predictable

Wind power is predictable

As we all know, the price of oil, natural gas and other non-renewable materials can be  volatile. But the price of wind is predictable and stable – and free in every currency. This creates the strongest possible business case for people and governments looking for more secure ways to invest in energy.

Meeting the world’s energy demands

Neither wind turbines nor conventional energy plants run at full capacity 365 days a year.  But  in countries like Denmark, wind already meets one-fifth of the population’s total energy needs – and Denmark achieved this using less than 20 per cent of its wind resources. On continuously windy days, Denmark actually gets all of its electricity from the wind.

Making turbines even more reliable

At Vestas, we’ve been harnessing the power of wind for over 30 years. This explains why our turbines are already the most efficient on the market. But we don’t believe in standing still. Our R&D centers around the world enable us to make our turbines 100 times more efficient than they were 25 years ago.

Independent

Energy independence and local jobs

Wind knows no limits, nor does it recognise national boundaries. It’s an unlimited form of energy, and it’s found freely in countries with even the poorest natural resources. Wherever it blows, it can bring jobs to support the local economy – and break the dependence on energy from external suppliers.

Wind power is independent

This two-fold benefit is important not only for business but for political decision-makers. Energy is becoming an increasingly strategic issue for governments around the world – especially those currently dependent on foreign imports to fuel their homes and economies.

Fast

Wind power is fast

With wind power, there are none of the long lead times involved with conventional fuels. In less than 12 months, a Vestas wind power plant can be up and running – producing energy, and generating a return on investment quickly.

Making wind energy an attractive investment

From a business perspective, we can predict that wind will provide at least 10 per cent of world electricity consumption by 2020. This will require greater investment in wind power throughout the world, and we know it can be achieved.

We are constantly researching ways to shorten the time it takes to install our turbines to make wind power even more attractive.

An investment in wind power through Vestas creates a ‘win-win’ situation for the environment and the economy – with clean energy free from CO2, and thousands of sustainable jobs.

Clean

Wind power is clean

Wind power produces energy, pure and simple. No CO2, no other greenhouse gasses, no hazardous waste left behind as a poisonous legacy for future generations. And, unlike coal and nuclear plants, it doesn’t consume huge amounts of water – which is itself becoming a scarce resource.

Clean energy efficiency

As an example, one V126-3.3 MW wind turbine in a low wind will generate 240,000 MWh during its 20 years of operation – thus sparing the environment the impact of a net volume of approx 230,000 tons of CO2, as compared to the figures for energy generated by a coal-fired power station.

Leading the world in sustainable energy

At Vestas, we already lead the world in turning wind power into clean, sustainable electricity. But we also want to lead by example. So our goal is that by 2020, 60 per cent of our own internal energy needs will be met by clean electricity.

Source Vestas Wind Systems A/S