DENVER — Planning is underway to put Colorado residents on a path to an all-electric lifestyle before Gov. Jared Polis exits his office in 2026, despite Polis’ own acknowledgment that so-called “electrictification” is driving up utility rates wherever it’s tried.
Electrification generally means replacing fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for power generation with electricity generated by intermittent sources such as wind, solar, and batteries and renewable geothermal.
In a letter obtained by Complete Colorado, Governor Polis admits he’s concerned those same large rate increases are coming to Colorado if electrification is not “carefully managed.” Polis “strongly urges” the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Colorado Energy Office, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Local Affairs to work together for a “proactive whole-of-state approach where sites in Colorado are identified and preliminary early-stage development occurs.”
The letter lays out a goal to offer “developers and owners a comprehensive and attractive package that meets their needs” to electrify all of Colorado.
“Coloradans have never been allowed to vote on whether they want to raise their utility bills by thousands of dollars annually in perpetuity,” said Amy Oliver Cooke, the director of the Energy and Environmental Policy Center at the Independence Institute.* “Polis’s ‘whole-of-government’ coercion to unreliable, unaffordable power is tantamount to a massive regressive tax on every resident. We need a ballot measure to decide if this is where Colorado wants to go.”
Electrification marching orders
The letter, dated Oct. 8, was sent to the heads of the previously named departments, and outlines exactly what Polis demands the departments do to see his idea come to fruition.
“For example, working with the utilities, local government, and private sector developers, the state could develop pre-construction hubs that provide early engagement and planning for access to fiber optic backbone, developable land, water, clean heating options, and affordable and reliable power in a timely and fixed cost manner to meet the needs,” the letter reads in part.
Polis actually uses other areas in the country that have not “carefully managed” the transition as examples of how forced electrification is causing large increases in rates, but according to Cooke, his latest plan is already too little too late.
“Rarely does a week go by without a headline about rising costs,” said Cooke. “The Governor uses California as an example. But it’s happening here too. His own energy office acknowledges that wind, solar, and batteries are the most expensive ways to decarbonize.”
In the letter, Polis outlines how the state would essentially overstep local authorities to put his 11th hour plan in place hoping to minimize the damage already in place, an effort that essentially picks winners and losers.
“By giving developers what they primarily need … the state may be able to negotiate directly with developers seeking access to sites,” the letter continues, adding the Polis plan would remove market-driven competition from the mix by incentivizing chosen companies to develop chosen land. “This approach stands in stark contrast to the status quo where developers play potential sites against each other in a series of confidential negotiations with potentially self-interested utilities with limited public oversight.”
Ratepayers beware
Polis calls it an “opportunity in Colorado to invest a few millions (sic) or tens of millions (which could be potentially be (sic) supported in part by the regulated utility system),” which appears to indicate a willingness to put the onus at least partially on utility ratepayers.
“Significant investments in the electricity system over the coming years and decades are critical to enhance the reliability and resilience of the transmission and distribution system, minimize wildfire risk, replace legacy fossil generation with renewable energy, and increase the utilization of electric products like high efficiency heat pumps, and electric vehicles.” Polis said in the letter.
Cooke called Polis’s letter yet more evidence his desire for an all-electric state is falling on the backs of energy users and ratepayers.
“Governor Polis’s letter is another indication that his forced march to costly, unreliable, weather-dependent sources isn’t going well,” Oliver Cooke said, pointing out that the situation already has the state Department of Health of Care Policy and Finance giving away battery backups to Medicaid patients.
“When Coloradans are staring at mile-high electric bills, the Governor and legislators who codified this fantasy will be long gone. If power matters to you, get a generator.”
The letter is available here.
*Independence Institute is the publisher of Complete Colorado.
