Xcel made the right choice in wake of Marshall Fire
Living in Boulder is tough. It’s not for the faint of heart. Boulder has extreme weather, and it will be getting more extreme due to global warming. Boulder has NCAR and NOAA for a reason.
I voted to municipalize the electric company. However, that did not happen. I want to thank Xcel for turning off the electricity to my condo on Shanahan Ridge, even though I lost some food. I believe the company did the right thing in the wake of the Marshall Fire. 100 mph wind gusts are common up here. I was thankful that I could sleep Saturday night because I was not worried about a fire and possible evacuation.
Roz Lynn Dorf, Boulder
For-profit monopolies aren’t such a good idea
I read with great interest Steve Pomerance’s column on Friday, “What does Xcel really care about?” He poses a couple of questions: “Or did Xcel calculate that it was cheaper to simply turn the power off? Or, as some have speculated, was this mismanaged shutdown some sort of perverted payback for suing Xcel.”
I think the answer is that Xcel is holding our electricity hostage hoping the Legislature gives them immunity from liability for any damage their business causes.
Xcel says they are “responsible by nature” and also touts with great pride their reliability, but now they face the threat of being held liable for damages their system causes. People are learning that they can sue large corporations. So now Xcel doesn’t seem to want to be “responsible” and is willing to subvert its own reliability in order to avoid that “responsibility.”
We see once again that allowing a for-profit monopoly corporation to hold so much power over our lives is not a good idea.
Paul Culnan, Boulder
Support bills to clean Colorado’s air
There is nothing more important than our health and the health of our families. The American Lung Association gave Boulder County an F grade for our air quality due to ozone pollution. Ozone pollution, or smog, is harmful to everyone’s health but particularly that of children and the elderly.
According to the American Lung Association, “The inflammation and systemic stress caused by short- and long-term exposure to ozone can also do damage to tissues, DNA and proteins throughout the body, which can cause or worsen other disease conditions over time.” This includes diabetes, brain inflammation, reduced fertility, preterm birth, low birth weight and premature death. We have an air pollution problem, and we must address it.
Despite years of noncompliance with federal air quality laws, Colorado’s permitting processes routinely green-light new air pollution sources that release the harmful pollutants that form ozone. Fortunately for us, the state Legislature is currently considering several pieces of legislation to reduce ozone pollution in Colorado. Bill HB24-1330 will address issues with current permitting processes. Bill SB24-166 requires that orders of compliance must be issued for those who repeatedly violate air quality laws and include civil penalties. SB24-165 requires the Air Quality Control Commission to adopt rules for certain emission standards and requirements for in-use, off-road and diesel-fueled fleets. All of these bills will improve air quality and our lives. I hope they pass.
Economic damages from ozone pollution in Colorado include health care costs, habitat loss, water quality and depreciated housing values. They are expected to reach between $480 million and $1 billion in 2025. We can’t afford not to take action. Please contact your Colorado representatives. Urge them to vote for these bills.
Ramona Giroux, Longmont
