Colorado PUC and the Pueblo Coal Plant: Legal Issues 2004-2005
December 2005: Motion for Summary Judgment
Despite a 2002 Notice of Violation of
clean air regulations from the EPA, the Air Pollution Control Division
of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment has
issued a new, 2005 construction permit to Xcel energy to expand its
coal generation facilities in Pueblo. Clean Energy Action, along with
Pueblo Citizens for Clean Air & Water has filed a Motion for Summary
Judgment calling for that decision to be remanded for failing to comply
with existing statues. Read
the Motion 
August 2005. Clean
Energy Action files a complaint seeking final review of the air permits
issued to Xcel by the
Air Pollution Control Division (“APCD” or “Division”)
of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment. See the complaint
(see
press coverage of the lawsuit with summaries)
In February of 2005, the Colorado State Legislature took up the issue
of leglative oversight with a proposal to require bi-annual meetings
between the PUC and legislators. The bill is under consideration by
the Senate as of April 1, 2005.
Leslie Glustrom's testimony
in favor of the bill 
January 2005. Read Leslie Glustrom's "RRR" Application for
Rehearing, Reargument or Reconsideration of the PUC decision to approve
the Pueblo coal plant. More
December 2004. Environmental groups sign an agreement
with Xcel to allow the Pueblo coal plant to proceed. Western
Resource Advocates
September 2004. Ron Binz testifies on behalf of Colorado Energy Consumers that Xcel's proposal would "trample" ratepayer protections, and discusses the problems of allowing Xcel to build a 750 MW plant without putting it out to bid. More
September 2004. PUC Rate Analyst Karlton Kunzie testifies against several of Xcel's financing proposals for the Commanche III plant. More
September 2004. James Greenwood, CO Office of Consumer Counsel testifies on Xcel's Least Cost Resource Plan. More
May 2004 - current. Read the legal text of Xcel's propsal to build the
Pueblo coal plant and links to all relevant documents in the case, including
the settlement agreement with environmental organizations.
PUC
Docket:
