We strive to reduce
greenhouse gas
emissions in
Metro-Denver at the
fastest possible pace
and we strive
to create a model
for conversion
from the old
fossil fuel economy
to the new
renewable energy
economy.
February 10, 2014
To: Mr. Doug Linkhart, Manager of Environmental Health
Department of Environmental Health City and County of Denver, Colorado
Mr. Linkhart,
Much has changed since the signing of Denver’s 2006 franchise agreement with Xcel
Energy and the drafting of the 2007 Climate Action Plan and even the recent passing of
Mayor Hancock’s 2020 Sustainability Goals.
Climate change is happening at a rate much faster than anticipated in the 2007
report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Readings from NOAA show
that carbon dioxide levels now hover around 400 ppm, already above what many
scientists consider the cut point for climate as we have known it. We already see the
effects of climate change in droughts, wildfires and superstorms. Besides the warming
earth, the acidification from our CO2 threatens the life in the vast oceans. These
worsening environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels confirm that the time is now to
chart the inevitable end of the use of fossil fuels.
Happily, at the same time, the cost of wind and solar energy generation are now
decreasing to a point where both at times even more cost effective than the cost of fossil
fuel generation. New wind predictive technologies developed by NCAR and new energy
storage technologies make wind and solar options viable now.
The full relevant passage from the Franchise Agreement between the City and
County of Denver (the City) and Xcel Energy is attached. Most relevant is this:
" . . . the Company shall continually monitor its operations to mitigate
environmental impacts; shall seek to cost-effectively meet or exceed the
requirements of environmental laws, regulations and permits; shall
invest in cost effective environmentally-sound technologies; shall
consider environmental issues in its planning decision-making; and shall
support environmental research and development projects . . .
Steering Committee
Barbara Donachy MPH
Jessie Fischer MS
Betty Goeble
David Goens
Cyrus Martin
Jeff Neuman-Lee, chair
Tim Robertson, sec.
Technical Advisors
Gregg Eells PE
Jim Pequette PhD.
Already the natural advantages of renewable energies prove more cost effective in the
near term, even before the Franchise Agreement is to be renewed in 2026. When the
franchise is (or if) renewed, the City deserves to receive the most cost-effective, cleanest
energy. The City must now work with Xcel to plan for the future changes which will be
the most “cost effective” for the City. Of course, when we say “cost effective” we
conventionally neglect to include neither the costs of climate change nor the subsidies
for fossil fuels, which if added, would have caused us to move to a renewable future far
more quickly than we have.
Our goal, Mr. Linkhart, is to have the city present a plan in January 2016 to Xcel
energy for the elimination of fossil fuels for the generation of electrical energy to the
full extent of cost-effective, technical ability by 2026. We ask that the mayor propose a
resolution which proclaims this goal and an ordinance that allocates resources toward its
expeditious end and a decision from City Council to enter into negotiations with Xcel
with the aim of accelerating energy from renewables to their cost-effective technological
feasibility, working with all pertinent entities to see its accomplishment. If the
technology to end our fossil fuel use is at hand, we must use it, it is immoral to defer
these necessary changes any longer.
Contact:
Thank
Jeff Neuman-Lee
303 945 5632
2338 Franklin,
Denver 80205
jeffneumanleepop@ gmail.com
you for your leadership.
The Denverites at FossilFuelFreeDenver.org .
Appendices
One page on economic advantages of renewables.
Gregg
Full text of relevant passage from Franchise Agreement.
Human health and community well being
Environment graphs
Jeff
Barbara
Jeff
Environmental background (for beginners, with technical sitations)
review of Franchise and Xcel abiding by the agreement
Boulder’s plan Jeff talk to Leslie Glustrum to obtain “the plan.”
One page: who is FossilFuelFreeDenver.org?