Xcel power plant still faces opposition

By JOHN NORTON
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Xcel Energy may have worked out a deal with a number of Pueblo and regional environmental groups to move ahead with plans for a new generating unit here, but that has not ended organized opposition to the project.

Last month, the Public Utilities Commission approved a settlement between Xcel and about two dozen groups, including the Sierra Club. Xcel agreed to greatly reduce pollution from a new 750-megawatt generating unit at its Comanche Station, encourage the use of alternative energy sources and more efficient power and address other sources of pollution in the area.

In return for Xcel's pledges, the groups who signed off on the plan agreed not to oppose the project when it comes up for an air permit later this year.

But other groups say they will continue to oppose the plant.

Leslie Glustrom, spokesperson for the coalition, said, "The Public Utilities Commission decision to approve this plant is in violation of state law and the PUC’s own regulations and would allow a dirty, unnecessary and very expensive coal plant to be built."

She cited state law that requires the PUC to give "the fullest possible consideration to clean energy and energy efficient technologies."

She said that three of the organizations in the coalition are the Rocky Mountain Environmental and Labor Coalition, the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and Women in Sustainable Energy.

Sierra Club official and Pueblo resident Ross Vincent said he wasn't surprised to see continued opposition because of the global warming issue that is a high priority among environmental groups, especially in the northern part of the state, and the lack of a project labor agreement that would guarantee high-paying construction jobs.

"There certainly are people who are not happy in particular with the global warming impact . . ." Vincent said, "especially in the Denver-Boulder area where that issue has a lot more traction. They don't want to see any new coal-fired plants in Colorado.

"The other opposition is coming from the construction trade unions, because Xcel won't commit to a project labor contract and I think that's an issue that could blow up in their faces here as well."

Glustrom declined to say if the group would challenge the settlement in court.

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