Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Nuclear Energy

Rep. Gabe Evans is a Colorado Energy Champion
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Rep. Gabe Evans is a Colorado Energy Champion

By Hunter Rivera | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As the seventh-largest energy-producing state in the nation, Colorado has established itself as a leader in not only traditional energy, but renewable and next-generation sources as well. That’s why new, all-of-the-above energy legislation moving through Congress is so important for the Centennial State. Just last week, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the SPEED Act, a bipartisan perm​​itting reform bill that would remove barriers to energy development and deployment. Before it comes to the House floor for a vote, the Energy & Commerce Committee will offer its own contributions to the legislative package. As a member of that important committee and the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus, our represent...
Colorado needs an all‑of‑the‑above energy strategy
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Colorado needs an all‑of‑the‑above energy strategy

By Rep. Ryan Gonzalez | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As we all know, energy is vital in policy making. If we have no secure energy sector, uncertainty will ensue. While there are different views on energy policy, we must not rule out any single source of energy (like fossil fuels) for a clean environment that also secures our demand to provide for our consumers.  Energy affects virtually everything from the cost of raw materials to the finished goods or services you see in the market. More rigorous energy policy that isn’t cost effective, only raises prices and may create scarcity of resources available. In the Colorado legislature, as a first term state Representative, I have seen these concerns unfold in real time as they push a very ambitious 2040 zero emissions ...
350 Colorado Markets Local “Grassroots”, But Operates As National Lobby Arm
Green Leap Forward, Approved, Commentary, State

350 Colorado Markets Local “Grassroots”, But Operates As National Lobby Arm

By: Green Leap Forward Staff | Commentary, Green Leap Forward via Substack In Colorado politics, one pattern is impossible to miss: whenever a bill, ordinance, or rule touches energy - whether at the city council, county commission, or statehouse -someone from the organization 350 Colorado is likely there. Their members sometimes testify in groves, often with the same prepared talking points. And whenever lobbying records are published, their name almost always appears. The group bills itself as “the largest Colorado-based grassroots network” fighting the “climate crisis.” But its constant presence in policymaking reveals something deeper: 350Colorado is less a spontaneous scrappy community uprising and far more a professional advocacy machine. Its ve...
Going Nuclear: DIA Explores Modular Reactor to Meet Growing Demand
Fox31, Approved, Local

Going Nuclear: DIA Explores Modular Reactor to Meet Growing Demand

By Heather Willard | Denver (KDVR) Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver International Airport is soliciting proposals for a feasibility study regarding the possibility of a small modular reactor, which is a type of nuclear reactor, on the campus. DIA said Wednesday that the project would help benefit its goal of becoming the world’s greenest airport and also be energy independent. The study is projected to cost up to $1.25 million and will take upward of a year to complete. “Denver leads with bold ideas, and our vision for the future of our airport is no exception,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in DIA’s announcement on Wednesday. “As we work to make DEN the greenest airport in the world, we must explore every innovative solution available to meet the demands of a growing city and ...
Polis greenlights nuclear power as Colorado rejects “Green New Deal”
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Polis greenlights nuclear power as Colorado rejects “Green New Deal”

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff After years of progressive opposition to nuclear energy, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed House Bill 25-1040 into law, officially recognizing nuclear power as part of the state’s clean energy portfolio.  The move—driven by bipartisan support and grassroots pressure—marks a turning point for Colorado’s energy future, and a long-overdue recognition that nuclear energy must be on the table to meet rising power demands and stabilize the grid. The new law adds nuclear energy to the list of technologies eligible for clean energy incentives and financing, aligning it with solar, wind, geothermal, and hydrogen. While HB1040 does not mandate nuclear projects, it opens the door for utilities and private companies to begin investing in advanced nucl...
Colorado moves toward a nuclear future as energy demands skyrocket
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Colorado moves toward a nuclear future as energy demands skyrocket

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff Colorado is at an energy crossroads, and House Bill 25-1040 is now sitting on Governor Jared Polis' desk, awaiting his decision. The bill, which recognizes nuclear energy as part of the state's clean energy portfolio, has gained rare bipartisan support—but the real question is whether Polis will cave to radical environmentalists or side with the majority of Coloradans who support nuclear energy. With the Craig Station Power Plant set to close and electricity demand expected to double by 2050, leaders across the state are finally acknowledging what conservatives have long championed: nuclear energy is the most efficient, clean and sustainable path forward. But will Polis let that happen? Despite past resistance, HB 1040 passed with support from both si...
HB 1040, adding nuclear to state’s clean energy definitions, gains bipartisan support
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

HB 1040, adding nuclear to state’s clean energy definitions, gains bipartisan support

'If Colorado wants to boost our economy, this is a serious conversation to have' — Rep. Ty Winter By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice A proposal to include nuclear energy in two statutory definitions of clean energy has passed the Colorado House on second reading. House Bill 25-1040 is a bipartisan measure by Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, and Ty Winter, R-Las Animas, with the goal of adding nuclear to "clean energy" definitions, enabling financing. "This does not bring nuclear energy to Colorado," Valdez said, who founded one of Colorado's largest and now defunct solar energy companies in 2008. "This designates it as clean energy." The bill would include nuclear, in definition, alongside solar, wind and other clean energy. "If Colorado wants to boost our economy, this is...
For the first time, Colorado legislators push forward a bill to boost nuclear energy
Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

For the first time, Colorado legislators push forward a bill to boost nuclear energy

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance After years of dismissing the idea of promoting nuclear-energy development in Colorado, some legislative Democrats are coming around on it — and late Thursday, they joined with Republicans for the first time to advance a bill that would incentivize the energy source. House Bill 1040 would redefine nuclear energy as a clean energy, which in turn would make nuclear projects eligible for special clean-energy project financing and would allow utilities to include them in their minimum mandatory clean-energy portfolio. It passed the House Energy & Environment Committee by an 8-5 vote after a lengthy hearing and goes next to the full House for debate. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE SUM & SUBSTANCE
Rapid rise in projected energy demand has ushered U.S. into its Nuclear Era
Approved, National, Real Clear Politics

Rapid rise in projected energy demand has ushered U.S. into its Nuclear Era

By Sarah Rosa , Benton Arnett | Real Clear Energy Nuclear energy has made headline after headline lately, with the latest announcement coming from Amazon and X-energy regarding their partnership to deploy more than 5 GW of next-generation nuclear energy — the largest commercial deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) to date. With a rapid rise in projected electricity demand and ambitious climate targets ahead, it is no surprise that nuclear energy is the focus of many private-sector investments.  The announcement from Amazon and X-energy comes after several groundbreaking announcements from other leading corporations. Earlier this month, the world’s largest banks came together to pledge their support for nuclear energy. Soon after, Google announced its agreement to purchase powe...