State signals renewed push to override local control on renewable energy siting

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project

Both the Colorado Sun article linked first below, and the video which they likely drew from for the article which is linked second, have our governor saying essentially the same thing.

Quoting form the article:

“Democrats also plan to make energy and the environment priorities at the Capitol this year, though the details of their plans remain in flux. ‘You’re going to hear a lot about energy this session,’ Polis said, ‘including making it easier to permit energy projects and get them done. One of the reasons we can’t have nice things is we don’t let them be built.’ Some of those changes may be tied to a rewrite of the laws governing Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission, which oversees how much some consumers pay for things like electricity and natural gas.”

If you think by “energy” Polis means anything, at all, whatsoever, related to fossil fuels … you don’t know Polis.

He means renewables and by “making it easier” I have the sneaking feeling he will make policy from what an earlier Colorado Energy Office was hinting at: he will make it easier to override/overstep local governments so that the Front Range can put renewables where you live.

I asked my state senator Byron Pelton (long working against efforts like these) if he is aware of any specifics. As of this writing I’ve not seen or heard any (from Pelton or anyone else).

I will update as I hear. If you catch wind of something, give me a heads up so I can share.

As a quick side note, there may be more going on with the PUC and their sunset hearing. Keep your eyes peeled, I will update and touch on that in the near future.

https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/14/big-bills-colorado-legislature-2026/

Related:

Later on in the Sun interview I link to above, they get to legislative leaders.

If you watch the video, here’s a fun experiment. Get a bottle of whisky. You take a shot every time a Sun reporter interrupts a Democrat about their claims. Your friend takes one every time the sole Republican on the panel gets interrupted.

Be prepared to drive your friend home.

READ THE FULL COMMENTARY AT THE COLORADO ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT

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