Platte River Power Authority votes unanimously to set zero carbon by 2030 goal

DENVER — Today, and for the second time this week, a Colorado utility announced a goal of zeroing out its carbon emissions. The board of directors of the Platte River Power Authority, which is jointly owned by the communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, voted unanimously to commit to a goal of a 100 percent non-carbon resource mix by 2030. Xcel Energy announced on Tuesday that they plan to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.

Garrett Garner-Wells, director of Environment Colorado, issued the following statement:

“For nearly two years, Environment Colorado and Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy have worked together to show that a clean energy future is within reach. We commend the citizens, leaders and elected representatives of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland for their boldness and vision in taking the steps necessary to solve the climate crisis.

“Throughout our state, communities are grappling with the fact that climate action can’t wait. Climate change is here, it’s happening, and we must act decisively to stop it.

“The tools to solve this problem are at our fingertips. By coupling ambitious goals with concrete investments in solar, wind, energy storage and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, communities can lead the way in cutting the carbon pollution that causes global warming.

“A society powered entirely by clean, renewable energy — something that once seemed far away — is increasingly within reach. Environment Colorado urges other Colorado utilities to follow the Platte River Power Authority’s lead in embracing and acting upon a vision of a 100 percent non-carbon resource mix by 2030.”

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Environment Colorado is a statewide, citizen-based advocacy organization working to protect our land, water and air. www.environmentcolorado.org

The member organizations of the NCP4CE are: 350 Northern Colorado, Colorado Sierra Club, Community for Sustainable Energy, Environment Colorado, the Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition, the Fort Collins Sustainability Group, the Northern Colorado Renewable Energy Society, Renewables Now Loveland, Sustainable Resilient Longmont, and Transition Fort Collins. https://colivableclimate.org/noco-partners-for-clean-energy