The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Colorado News

Colorado PUC and potential rules to protect rural ratepayers

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission is revamping its entire rulemaking process. And one of the most important issues it is considering – how to incorporate more protections for rural electric cooperatives and their customers into the oversight process – could impact one of the biggest and most influential co-op G&Ts in the country.

Currently, much of rural Colorado, from the Eastern Plains to the West Slope, is served by rural co-ops that are under long-term contracts to buy all but 5 percent of their power from Tri-State Generation and Transmission.

Despite its monopoly on rural electricity, however, unlike investor-owned utilities such as Xcel Energy, Tri -State is not subject to any sort of oversight to ensure that the nearly 1 million customers of rural co-op customers it serves in Colorado are getting a fair deal for the electricity they buy. One New Mexico co-op has already left Tri-State after determining that even after paying a $37 million fee to buy out its contract, it would still achieve lower rates and lift major restrictions on local development of clean energy projects. Another co-op in Colorado is proceeding down the same path because of dissatisfaction with Tri-State and a lack of any oversight to address issues.

What the PUC will be considering is whether it should exercise its authority and no longer exempt Tri-State from its jurisdiction, the argument being that without a watchdog to oversee things like the rates it charges and its resource planning, Tri-State will continue to operate in a way that harms rural Colorado. Without checks and balances to Tri-State’s stranglehold on power generation, sales and transmission, the gap between what rural co-ops and urban areas pay for electricity will only grow wider and opportunities for developing local wind and solar projects will be lost. Without expert oversight and pressure to adapt to changing energy markets, Tri-State will continue to be overly reliant on coal and rural parts of the state will miss out on the benefits of participating in the booming clean energy economy.

The PUC will begin hearing testimony on its proposed rules revisions on Monday, April 29. It has scheduled a day for public comment on Wednesday, May 1. There will be a number of member-owners from rural co-ops served by Tri-State attending, testifying that the PUC should subject Tri-State to the same rules as other Colorado utilities. The hearings start at 9 a.m. MDT in Hearing Room A at the PUC, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, in Denver. The docket number is: 19R-0096E Amendments to Electric Rules.

If you cannot attend in person, the PUC livestreams its hearings. You can access the webcasts here: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/webcasts

Tri-State serves the following 18 rural electric cooperatives in Colorado:

1.     Delta-Montrose Electric Assoc. based in Montrose

2.     Empire Electric Assoc. based in Cortez

3.     K.C. Electric Assoc. based in Hugo

4.     Gunnison County Electric Assoc. based in Gunnison

5.     Highline Electric Assoc. based in Holyoke

6.     La Plata Electric Assoc. based in Durango

7.     Morgan County REA based in Fort Morgan

8.     Mountain Parks Electric based in Granby

9.     Mountain View Electric Assoc. based in Limon

10. Poudre Valley REA based in Fort Collins

11. San Isabel Electric Assoc. based in Pueblo

12. San Luis Valley REC based in Monte Vista

13. San Miguel Power Assoc. based in Nucla

14. Sangre de Cristo Electric Assoc. based in Buena Vista

15. Southeast Colorado Power Assoc. based in La Junta

16. United Power based in Brighton

17. White River Electric Assoc. based in Meeker

18. Y-W Electric Assoc. based in Akron

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April 26, 2019
Anythink unveils latest collaborative art piece

DENVER, Colo.–April 19, 2019–On Saturday, April 27, the public is invited to the unveiling of Anythink’s latest collaborative art piece, “The Singing Tree.” Created by Denver-based Alt Ethos, “The Singing Tree” is an outdoor installation that uses light and sound to create an interactive experience. Using an integrated MIDI keyboard, “The Singing Tree” operates as a musical instrument for people to play and can be programmed to include a variety of different sounds and effects. At the unveiling, attendees will have the opportunity to be a part of The Singing Tree Orchestra by participating in a live group performance led by musician Adam Green. Green will play “The Singing Tree” and conduct participants to join in song – no previous music experience needed.

In their 2018 report, “Why Public Art Matters,” Americans for the Arts points to the importance of public art as it relates to five distinct areas: economic growth and sustainability; attachment and cultural identity; artists as contributors; social cohesion and cultural understanding; and public health and belonging. Findings in this report conclude that public art is a tool for cities to retain and attract residents, as well as draw in new business and development. It also finds that public art also has clear public health impacts like decreased stress, and that 70 percent of Americans believe that the arts improve the image and identity of their community. “The Singing Tree” will be the first public art piece in the Perl Mack community.

“One of the outcomes of Anythink’s strategic plan is that ‘people are enriched by learning and culture,’” says Anythink Director of Innovations & Brand Strategy Stacie Ledden. “Sharing public art with our community is one way that we do this. ‘The Singing Tree’ will embody all of the whimsy, imagination and informal learning that we celebrate at Anythink. Providing an opportunity for our community to meet the creators from Alt Ethos, hear about their creative process and the technology that powers it, is another way for us to extend that learning.”

“We are honored to be in collaboration with Anythink Libraries,” says Alt Ethos CEO Ethan Bach. “Our goal is to build communities through memorable experiences that are creative and fun. And I must admit that ‘The Singing Tree’ is my new favorite activation.”

“The Singing Tree” is the latest addition to Anythink’s This is Who We Are project, which partners community members with local artists to create public art pieces that represent the fabric of the community. “The Singing Tree” will honor former Anythink Board of Trustees President Ray Coffey. This project is made possible through the support of the Anythink Foundation.

– Event Details –

“The Singing Tree” Public Art Unveiling and Celebration

Saturday, April 27, 1-3 pm

Anythink Perl Mack

7611 Hilltop Cir., Denver, CO 80221

303-428-3576

Celebrate the unveiling of Anythink’s latest collaborative public art installation, “The Singing Tree,” on Saturday, April 27, from 1-3 pm. Enjoy food, art and music while getting an up-close look at this outdoor installation that uses light and sound to create an interactive experience. Created by Denver-based Alt Ethos, “The Singing Tree” operates as a musical instrument for people to play and can be programmed to include a variety of different sounds and effects. Attendees will have the opportunity to be a part of The Singing Tree Orchestra by participating in a live group performance led by musician Adam Green. Green will play “The Singing Tree” and conduct participants to join in song – no previous music experience needed. The event is free and open to the public. All ages and families welcome. Refreshments will be served.

About Anythink™

Anythink is a new style of library – a place of unlimited imagination, where play inspires creativity and lifelong learning. Anythink serves the residents of Adams County, Colo., with seven libraries and a bookmobile. With a focus on innovation, Anythink’s award-winning approach to library service is recognized by industry leaders and organizations across the globe. For more information, visit anythinklibraries.org.

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April 24, 2019
school threat

This is a message to provide clarity on an evolving situation. While the FBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office continue to take the lead on investigating a credible threat, CDPS and the Colorado Department of Education alerted schools in the Denver-metro area to the threat.

CDPS recommended that schools in the Denver-metro area complete a controlled release this afternoon related to a credible school threat. This means that students should be released using heightened safety protocols. CDPS has sent clarification to schools that they may release students if they have not done so already.

There is a credible threat pertaining to one individual who has been identified and is considered armed and dangerous. This is the same individual being sought by the FBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Out of an abundance of caution, we have chosen to alert all Denver-metro area schools so that they can enact heightened safety protocols.

CDPS will continue to monitor this situation and coordinate with the FBI and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office as information is available. We will be establishing a Joint Information Center to manage information flow as this issue develops.

In the meantime, please continue to follow Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI for more information.

April 16, 2019
Investigators looking for man who tried to sexually assault woman in Centennial for Arapahoe County CO

The subject is described as a white male wearing black jeans, a black jacket with a hoodie, and a black mask that hid everything but his eyes. The victim describes him as a white male, approximately 6-foot tall and weighing around 200 pounds.

Anyone with information about this attempted assault or activity in the area is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867) or the ACSO tip line at 720-847-TIPS (8477). Calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.

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April 12, 2019
Colorado Department of Revenue issues health and safety advisory

Public Health and Safety Advisory

April 11, 2019 – In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order (D 2015-015), the Colorado Department of Revenue (“DOR”), in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Agriculture (“CDA”) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (“CDPHE”), are issuing an immediate health and safety advisory due to the identification of potentially unsafe pesticide residues on medical and retail marijuana plant material and marijuana products produced from marijuana cultivated by Mile High Medical LLC dba MMJ America Uptown. CDPHE and DOR deem it a threat to public health and safety when pesticides that are not on the list of approved pesticides for marijuana use as determined by CDA are applied in a manner inconsistent with the pesticide’s label. CDA confirmed the presence of the Off-Label Pesticides, Diuron, in the product samples tested.

Affected products include marijuana flower, trim, concentrates, and infused-

products. Consumers who have these affected products in their possession should return them to the medical center or retail store from which they were purchased so they can be properly disposed of.

All affected marijuana has a label affixed to the container that at a minimum indicates the license number of the medical or retail marijuana business that cultivated the marijuana. Consumers should check the label of their medical or retail marijuana for the following license numbers and harvest batch numbers:

Medical Optional Premises Cultivation License 403-00426 and/or Medical Marijuana Center License 402-00288

N2-GG030619-A

N2-WW030619-A

Retail Marijuana Cultivation License 403R-00023

N2-GG040219-AR

N2-GC040219-AR

N2-BY040219-AR

N2-CT031919-AR

N2-JF030619-AR

N2-GC030619-AR

N2-GG030619-AR

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April 12, 2019
Storm to hit Rockies before forming new ‘bomb cyclone’

By MATT VOLZ

Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. (AP) _ Flood, snow, avalanche and fire alerts popped up Monday from Idaho to Colorado, as parts of the U.S. interior that were paralyzed by blizzards and floods last month braced for round two of an unusual weather phenomenon.

Welcome to springtime in the Rockies and parts of the Great Plains.

It’s not unusual for floods, snow and fire to co-exist in the Rockies thanks to powerful storms blowing through the mountains, melting snow swelling waterways and high winds blowing through dry grasslands and trees that haven’t seen their first green shoots and leaves.

Those conditions are what drove a wildfire Sunday on southeastern Montana’s Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, where a house fire sparked a blaze that quickly burned through 1,700 acres (688 hectares) of dry grass and trees. It forced evacuations Sunday in Lame Deer, a town of about 2,000 people that is the seat of the tribal government, before fire crews were able to contain it.

Also normal are the fire warnings issued for eastern Colorado on Monday, a day after a wildfire near Colorado Springs forced the temporary evacuation of about 20 homes. Forecasters frequently issue red flag warnings for March and April on the eastern and southeastern Colorado plains as the jet stream moves southward and brings stronger weather systems and higher wind, said Jennifer Stark, meteorologist in charge for the National Weather Service in Pueblo, Colorado.

“This is the time of year when we get a roller coaster of weather,” Colorado state climatologist Russ Schumacher said Monday. “Going from 80 degree temperatures one day to a snowstorm the next is not that out of the ordinary, especially in March and April, around here.”

But what is unusual is what’s coming next. A storm system that is moving in from the Pacific Ocean is forecast to intensify and form into a new inland “bomb cyclone.”

A bomb cyclone is a rapid drop in air pressure _ at least 24 millibars in 24 hours _ and often is over or near oceans or seas because it requires warm moist air smacking into cold dry air, along with volatile weather from the jet stream. The central and mountain part of the country may get one of these every few winters, said Greg Carbin, forecast branch chief for the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center in Maryland.

But this would be the second such storm in less than a month. The March 13 storm caused massive flooding in the Midwest, a blizzard in Colorado and Wyoming, and produced winds of between 96 mph and 110 mph (155 and 177.02 kph).

This week’s bomb cyclone one is expected to be similar in intensity and in snowfall, meteorologists said. Heavy, wet snow will fall from the Nebraska panhandle through south central and southeastern South Dakota into western Minnesota. Wind speeds can reach 50 mph to 60 mph (80 to 96 kph) across Kansas.

“This blizzard will further exacerbate flooding in Nebraska with the added insult of heavy snowfall to eventually melt,” said Ryan Maue, a meteorologist at the private weathermodels.com. “This is more bad news for suffering farmers who are unable to flip the calendar on winter.”

But first, the storm is expected to flooding in Idaho and western Montana, and dump up to 2 feet (61 centimeters) feet of snow in the mountains of Montana and Wyoming as it moves in from the Pacific Ocean. Parts of Colorado that were under a fire warning Monday are expected to see snow and temperatures drops of more than 40 degrees by Wednesday at the southern edge of the storm, meteorologists said.

While it’s unusual to see two consecutive inland bomb cyclones, it’s difficult to pin the cause on climate change, said Schumacher.

“I think it’s an interesting question to ask whether there’s some climate change fingerprint on this,” he said. “But it’s a complicated puzzle to piece together.”

That includes what is happening as the storm forms over the Pacific Ocean, what happens once it’s over land and what effect climate change may have on those variables.

“I’m not sure we have the answer,” Schumacher said.

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April 9, 2019
Blizzard Warning: Wednesday April 10, 2019

A Blizzard Warning will go into effect, Wednesday April 10, 2019 at 12 p.m. until Thursday April 11, 2019 at 12 p.m.

Very warm temperatures are expected today, ahead of a developing upper level storm system moving over the Great Basin. Drastic changes in the weather are expected to occur on Wednesday as a strong cold front will race across northeast Colorado which will bring much colder temperatures, strong north winds and heavy snow. Areas of heavy snowfall across the Front Range to the far eastern plains and strong winds will result in poor visibility and difficult driving conditions. Temperatures plummeting will result in icy roads. Residents of northeast Colorado should begin making preparations for this developing storm to avoid being caught by harsh winter conditions.

Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches expected, heaviest south of I-76. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph.

Travel could be very difficult. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the evening commute. Strong winds and heavy snowfall could cause tree damage. Roads will likely become icy due to plummeting temperatures and strong winds.

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle.

More Information:

National Weather Service

Road Conditions

Town of Bennett Snow Plow Routes and Procedures

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April 9, 2019
Governor Polis Declares April “Dig Safely Month” in Colorado

DENVER) –Gov. Polis has issued a proclamation declaring the month of April as Dig Safely Month in Colorado.

Beneath our feet lies an underground maze of different municipal and utility networks, including traffic signal and telephone systems, fiber optic cables, electric power lines, water, natural gas, oil pipelines and more. Hitting any of these buried lines during excavation work can result in service disruptions and subsequent repair costs and fines. More importantly, however, striking a utility line can be dangerous, resulting in injury or death.

Whether the project is done by contractors or landscapers or is a simple homeowner project, such as planting a tree or installing a mailbox, excavation work has potential hazards.

Preventing those hazards is the work of a non-profit organization called Colorado 811. Digging projects, no matter how small, should only begin after contacting 811. In fact, those doing excavation work are more than three times as likely to hit a buried utility line because they did not contact 811 before starting their project.

Contacting Colorado 811 results in the appropriate utility companies being notified and professional utility locators being sent to the site to mark the locations of underground lines with flags and/or paint. It’s a simple first step that can result in avoiding a problem – or even a catastrophe.

The April 2017 home explosion in Firestone, caused by a leaking uncapped gas flow line, underscored the need for enforcement oversight of excavation activities. Colorado’s revised One Call Law and Senate Bill 18-167 were enacted in 2018 to address the public safety issues surrounding underground facilities and excavation.

This year marks the beginning of a unique collaboration between Colorado 811 and the Department of Labor and Employment in assisting the new Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission that was created through the legislation. The Safety Commission is a governor-appointed, 15-member group that reviews complaints of alleged violations of the One Call Law and develops best practices and training to enhance public safety.

Homeowners and businesses who have questions about the new Colorado 811 legislation can visit colorado811.org, and anyone doing digging is urged to contact 811 at least three days prior to excavating.

The Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission and the Division of Oil and Public Safety are both working closely with Colorado 811 to help keep Colorado families, properties and communities safe.

Link:

Proclamation Declaring April as “Dig Safely Month”

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April 9, 2019
Park County Sheriff, Maggie Long Task Force release sketch of third suspect

BAILEY, Colo.- The Park County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Maggie Long Task Force, released a third sketch of an individual who officials believe may have been involved in the murder of Maggie Long on December 1, 2017.

The sketch will be posted alongside two additional sketches released with the launch of the Maggie Long Task Force website, www.maggielongtaskforce.com, in January.

Sheriff Tom McGraw promised the release of the third sketch during a community meeting January 28, 2019.

“I am committed to keeping my promises to our community and working with the public and the Task Force to find those responsible for Maggie’s murder,” McGraw said. “We ask the public to carefully review the updated information and consider whether someone they know could have been involved in this incident or whether someone they know has demonstrated behavior that could be suggestive of involvement in this incident.”

The Maggie Long Task Force developed the website for the purpose of providing the public with additional information on the case. It contains factual information, to include pictures of Maggie and the crime scene.

The website also allows witnesses anonymity and an opportunity to receive a reward of $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.

“We appreciate the influx of the tips and the continued support of the Park County community related to this investigation,” McGraw said. “The Task Force and my office remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice for Maggie Long, her family and friends and our community.”

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April 2, 2019
Aurora: The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and Aurora Police Department Need Your Help Identifying a Bank Robber

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and Aurora Police Department need your help identifying a bank robber. The bank where the robbery occurred is:

Key Bank
603 Peoria Street
Aurora, Colorado
March 25, 2019, 4:33 p.m.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 20 to 30 years old, approximately 5’4” to 5’5” in height, black hair, brown eyes, a medium build, and tattoos on his neck, forearm, and near his eye. The suspect wore a black baseball hat and black hooded sweatshirt.

The suspect entered the bank, verbally demanded money, threatened a weapon, and fled the bank on foot in a southbound direction.

Please be on the lookout for anyone matching the suspect’s description. Be aware of anyone similar who might have recently changed their spending habits or discussed coming into money suddenly.

Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/denver/news/press-releases/the-fbi-rocky-mountain-safe-streets-task-force-and-aurora-police-department-need-your-help-identifying-a-bank-robber

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March 29, 2019