Who will provide electricity to residents of the city of Boulder in the future? It’s a question that remained unanswered as of this writing.
The city of Boulder set a goal to use 100 percent clean energy by 2030 and an 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 and has taken several actions to that end.
Voters in 2006 passed a carbon tax, and the city began negotiating with Xcel Energy. The city decided not to renew its contract with Xcel in 2010.
The next year, voters approved paying for an evaluation of costs and effects of the city of Boulder taking over the utility. Boulder created a transition plan in 2014, after the evaluation confirmed the feasibility of the city taking over the utility.
Further steps as of mid-2017 could have included additional negotiations with Xcel to purchase its assets or for the power company to adjust its plans to fit Boulder’s goals.
