PUEBLO — Thursday, Gov. Jared Polis and Black Hills Energy announced that Black Hills has now joined all other major utilities in Colorado in striving towards the goal of reducing air pollution and emissions by at least 80 percent by 2030 by filing a Clean Energy Plan as part of its upcoming Electric Resource Plan.
A release from the Governor's Office said Xcel Energy, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, Colorado Springs Utilities, Platte River Power Authority and Holy Cross Energy have all made significant commitments to reduce pollution and transition to renewables, and the commitment from Black Hills marks a major milestone toward the Governor’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy in Colorado by 2040.
“Colorado is well on our way to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2040 and will continue to win lower rates along with the health and environmental benefits of green energy,” said Governor Polis. “I’m proud of the work the state has championed thus far and appreciate the private sector and climate advocates working together to meet the bold goals and demands of this generational challenge. The state’s transition to low-cost renewable energy also creates many clean energy jobs in Southern Colorado and across the state.”
According to the Governor's Office, Xcel Energy committed to an 80% pollution reduction goal by 2030 in December 2018. Tri-State unveiled in January 2019an emissions reduction plan of closing all coal units in Colorado by 2030 and a commitment to build one gigawatt of renewable energy by 2024, increasing this in December with a plan to add another gigawatt of renewables and an 80% pollution reduction by 2030.
In June 2020, Colorado Springs Utilities voted to retire the Drake coal plant by 2023, the Nixon coal plant by 2029, and achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas pollution by 2030. The Platte River Power Authority in July 2020 committed to retiring the Rawhide coal plant and achieving 90% greenhouse gas pollution reduction by 2030. In December 2020, Holy Cross Energy made a commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2030, the Governor's Office said.
