The Western Slope delivers 70% of the Colorado River water. So why do Aspen, Vail and other places want to replace thirsty turf?
Author: Allen Best
Allen Best publishes the e-journal Big Pivots, which chronicles the energy transition in Colorado and beyond.
BIG PIVOTS: Squeezing Water from Urban Landscapes in Colorado, Part Three
After planting buffalo grass in their yard in Colorado Springs, Don and Jill Brown rarely need to mow it and give it little water…
BIG PIVOTS: Squeezing Water from Urban Landscapes in Colorado, Part Two
In southeast Denver, Meredith Slater took a break on an August morning, to explain why she and her husband had replaced the lawn of their brick home…
BIG PIVOTS: Squeezing Water from Urban Landscapes in Colorado, Part One
The pace of transition has accelerated, deepened and broadened as the ‘headwaters state’ struggles to embrace limits of the water supply…
BIG PIVOTS: How About 98% Emissions-Free Electricity by 2040?
Study finds that existing technology can get Colorado to near-zero electricity without need for breakthroughs in geothermal, nuclear or other realms…
BIG PIVOTS: Boulder City Council Looking at Natural Gas Ban
This story by Allen Best appeared in ‘Big Pivots’ on July 25, 2023. In a straw poll, eight members of the Boulder City Council indicated support for banning natural gas in new buildings. The ninth member indicated only partial support. The Boulder Reporting Lab reported that Mayor Aaron Brockett called for the straw poll about READ MORE
BIG PIVOTS: Colorado Ranks High in Energy Transformation Effort
Two new analyses rank Colorado third and fourth in nation for its energy transformations…
BIG PIVOTS: Colorado Rapidly Adding Clean-Energy Jobs
Transportation matters greatly for solar and battery manufacturers. But what about Colorado’s coal towns?
BIG PIVOTS: Colorado’s Biggest Battery
Xcel Energy will add more from planning begun in 2016 — with much more coming beyond this wave…
A Jobs Bonanza in Colorado’s Energy Transition?
Transportation matters greatly for solar and battery manufacturers. But what about Colorado’s coal towns?
BIG PIVOTS: Tribal Voices at the Colorado River Table
Native Americans were not invited to craft the Colorado River Compact in 1922. Now they insist they must be part of solutions…
BIG PIVOTS: Trustafarians on the Colorado River, Part Two
“I wasn’t surprised by the two-million acre-feet,” recounted Mitchell at the conference. “It wasn’t rocket science. It was addition and subtraction…”
BIG PIVOTS: Trustafarians on the Colorado River, Part One
“So we have what are referred to as the trustafarians, which is a tribe of people who live off their trust funds…”
BIG PIVOTS: Colorado Democrats Gather to Celebrate the Republican River
A revision of federal regulations may help Colorado meet irrigation reductions on a river in eastern Colorado… and slow the decline of the Ogallala Aquifer…
BIG PIVOTS: ‘Breakthrough Energy Catalyst’ Awards $20 Million to Energy Storage Projects
Wired Magazine in a March 2023 story entitled “Why Rust is the Future of Very Cheap Batteries,” explained that the five-cofounders set out to build a better battery…
BIG PIVOTS: Electric Cooperatives and the Big Bad Wolf
Highley wants them to be wary of turbulence ahead. The theme of the two-day gathering was “resiliency.” And, of course, Tri-State is resilient….
BIG PIVOTS: What Fenberg’s Energy Bill Does — and Does Not Do
Proposal would trim Xcel’s sails and start pushing back on natural gas expansion, but falls far short of a major overhaul…
BIG PIVOTS: High Hopes for Hydrogen? Maybe Not… Part Two
“If you emit some hydrogen into the atmosphere now, it will lead to a progressive buildup of methane in the following years,” said Princeton’s Matteo Bertagni…
BIG PIVOTS: High Hopes for Hydrogen? Maybe Not… Part One
Both Xcel and Colorado state government issued press releases this week announcing that the states — New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah, in addition to Colorado — had submitted their application…