Programs:   Lands - Water - Energy  |  Climate Change  |  About Us  |  Events  | Media/Docs  |  Reports  | Donate

Welcome to Western Resource Advocates' Energy Program! On this page you'll find announcements and updates on the issues we're working on, which include promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency, creating business incentives for lowered greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing the impacts of existing coal plants. Use the buttons in the right column to find out more about our work.

WRA: Energy

Energy Program News

• WRA and Tri-State Reach Accord on Electric Resource Planning

  Under a new planning process approved by the Colorado Public Utuility Commission (PUC), Tri-State will voluntarily supplement the information in its electric resource plan filings with the PUC and expand its public involvement process, beginning in 2010. In a two step process, members of the public will have the opportunity to provide input to Tri-State during the development of the resource plan. In the second step, Tri-State will file its plan with the PUC, address any questions the Commissioner’s may have and hear the Commission’s views of the plan and the public participation process.

  WRA energy program director John Nielsen said the new approach is a big step forward “because it provides an opportunity for members of the public to work with Tri-State to consider the role that clean-energy resources might play in its resource plan. We think that this is in the best interest of all Coloradans and consistent with a strong Colorado energy policy.”

  Tri-State had been exempt from public oversight of its energy resource planning because of its status as a rural energy cooperative. This agreement hammered out with WRA opens up their process for the first time. Read the full press release on this agreement here.

  Posted 12-09-09

• WRA model for Cap and Trade Emphasises Incentives

WRA Energy Program Chief Counsel Steve Michel published a report in The Electricity Journal advancing the concept of using reduction credits rather than allowances to drive emission reductions. This approach provides a strong incentive for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and a ready means to harmonize a federal cap-and-trade with state and federal renewable energy portfolio requirements. Read the paper here.

The Energy Program's Research page provides links to other scholarly research done by WRA experts.

• "Permitting Solar and Wind Projects on Federal Lands" Presentation by Charles Benjamin

On Tuesday, August 18, Charles Benjamin, WRA's Nevada Office Director, participated a webinar on the process of permitting solar projects on public lands. This permitting process is an essential step toward increasing this nation's supply of renewable energy and for transitioning away from dirty fossil fuels. The webinar's slides can be seen here. ( 1.72MB .pdf file)

• Two Nevada Coal Plants Are Put on Hold

Two of Nevada’s largest proposed coal plants have been put on hold, thanks to advocacy by WRA and our partners in the Nevada Clean Energy Campaign.

In February, NV Energy indefinitely postponed plans to build the Ely Energy Center coal plant, and chose instead to focus on developing renewable energy and the transmission to distribute it. WRA played a large role in shaping these decisions by encouraging NV Energy to use Nevada’s bountiful renewable energy resources while requesting state regulators consider alternatives to building the plant.

In March, LS Power suspended its application for a permit to build the White Pines power plant and turned its efforts to building new transmission instead. Faced with a stiff challenge by WRA and other groups on a permit to be issued by the Nevada Public Utilities Commission, LS Power chose to step away from the approval process.

“I congratulate NV Energy and LS Power for their decisions. This is good news for the environment, ratepayers, and the Nevada economy,” said Charles Benjamin, director of WRA’s Nevada Office. “We look forward to working with these energy companies to develop a Smart Power Plan that meets Nevada’s energy needs with increased efficiency and makes use of Nevada’s enormous potential for geothermal, solar, and wind energy. Developing these resources will provide jobs and economic opportunity for Nevada for years to come.”

The decisions of the utilities in Nevada are being replicated around the country as energy companies reconsider and reject their plans for coal plants. The poor economics of coal plants in light of possible carbon regulation and diminishing public have decreased the luster of coal.

• Pressing for Renewable Energy in Nevada

Charles Benjamin, Director of WRA's Nevada Office, went on the television program "Face to Face" to discuss NV Energy's plan to step back from developing the proposed Ely Energy Center coal plant with NV Energy CEO Michael Yackira. The program is in four parts. Click here to watch part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4.

You can also see an earlier interview where Charles parries with Sierra Pacific Resource's Roberto Denis over the topic of renewable energy in Nevada. Watch the video here.


• The Shift Is On: Colorado’s PUC Approves Xcel Energy’s Plan to Swap Coal for Renewables

Hard work by Western Resource Advocates over a decade has spurred a large energy company to decide to decommission fossil-fueled power generation in favor of cleaner energy resources and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Colorado Public Utility Commission (PUC) granted final approval to Xcel Energy's Electric Resource Plan, allowing Xcel to phase out two aging coal-fired power plants and greatly expand energy efficiency programs and use of clean, renewable energy sources. This is the first time that a PUC has approved a utility resource plan to retire old and inefficient coal-fired power plants and replace them with cleaner, more modern power generation, with the goal of cutting global warming pollution.

The approval of the revolutionary resource plan marks a significant milestone in WRA’s efforts to push for large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by electric utilities in the West. WRA has worked for more than 10 years to convince Xcel to expand investments in clean energy technologies and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. In recent proceedings, WRA provided extensive expert testimony on the carbon reduction and public health benefits of the Xcel plan, key factors cited by the PUC in its approval.

"This is a pioneering decision by the PUC," said John Nielsen, WRA’s Energy Program director. "It clears the way for Xcel to put into action what is arguably the most innovative utility resource plan anywhere in the country, and it will only strengthen Colorado's status as a clean energy leader."

Xcel's innovative resource plan sets a benchmark for other utilities and states to follow.

WRA's Comments on Western Climate Initiative

• July 23, 2008 “Draft Design of the Regional Cap-and-Trade Program”
• Climate Security and Cost Management
• Electricity Point of Regulation Recommendations
• EPA Assesses Benefits of Reducing Global Warming Pollution
• May 16, 2008 Draft Design Recommendations