Appeals to the Public Utilities Commission
Re: “Utilities jumping the gun on PUC appeals,” Aug. 22 editorial.
We wish to correct several misrepresentations that Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association made in its Aug. 24 letter replying to your Aug. 22 editorial.
Tri-State claims it “supplied a detailed report of a professional appraiser” regarding the cost of acquiring land for its project. In fact, the report was prepared by a Houston-based appraiser who demonstrated little familiarity with Colorado real estate, and Tri-State subsequently urged the Public Utilities Commission to ignore both the report and the issue.
Tri-State also claims it provided “detailed construction cost estimates from two national engineering companies.” In fact, both reports were found insufficient by the PUC, which termed them not very accurate. Tri-State’s own expert witness testified to the PUC that their most recent estimates were merely “educated guesses” and admitted that Tri-State simply does not know the costs in question.
Tri-State also says it “hopes to continue to work with the affected local governments and the landowners” on the project. In fact, Tri-State has repeatedly refused to meet with us for this purpose.
Tri-State’s misrepresentations ignore the real issue: Would underground construction of the new transmission line be more expensive than overhead construction? Because Tri-State jumped the gun with its appeal, the PUC has twice found that the record “does not contain adequate information” to decide this issue. It would be a shame if the PUC now changed these decisions and absolved Tri-State of its legal obligations to provide such proof.
Elaine R.C. Fischer and Art Goodtimes, San Miguel County Commissioners
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The Denver Post wrote that Xcel Energy is “abusing the statutes” regarding what we are doing to site a temporary natural gas compressor station in Louisville. Contrary to the editorial, we have not appealed the Boulder County Commission’s decision. There has been no decision. More accurately, what we did was seek a declaratory ruling from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that the temporary compressor is needed to serve mountain communities, while an application for the same compressor station is in process with Boulder County.
We believe there will be no dispute that the additional pipeline pressure to be provided by the temporary compressor is needed this winter. This pressure will ensure that there is sufficient capacity in December to meet the growing needs of customers in Summit, Grand and Lake counties. It is also for the overall reliability of the natural gas delivery network.
In our view, our recent filing with the PUC to install the temporary compressor was necessary because of the short time available to conduct all legal proceedings before construction on this compressor must commence. We believe that the PUC and the affected mountain communities needed to be immediately apprised of the critical natural gas reliability issues pending before Boulder County so that these other governmental agencies can express their views on this issue. In our pleadings, we made it clear that we respected the roles that both Boulder County and the PUC are legally required to play in this situation. We further made it clear that, should Boulder County deny the permit for the temporary compressor, Xcel Energy would immediately appeal that denial to the PUC to ensure sufficient deliverability of natural gas to our mountain communities during the holiday season.
There are times when the parochial interests and attitudes of local governments must come second to the larger public interest and welfare of all Coloradans. When this is necessary, it is not a matter of the state undermining local government. It is a matter of a higher perspective and good state government.
Fred Stoffel, Vice President of Policy Development, Xcel Energy
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Defining sex predators
Re: “Predator alarms Fort Collins,” Aug. 25 news story.
When I hear the term “sexually violent predator,” the first thing I think of is Ted Bundy. Or how about the creep who recently made a plea bargain for only two counts of sexual assault after raping his stepson and daughter for the last 10 years? I also think priests who sexually abuse children for decades qualify as “sexual predators.”
The Colorado Parole Board labels Jason Matthew Ballard as a “sexually violent predator,” the first released from prison in the state. The criteria? Failing first grade? Come on! Using alcohol during the assault? The 17-year-old girl he raped was drunk at a party and he would have been 18 or 19 years old, and was drinking at that same party. Drinking at parties has been, and continues to be, a bad choice for teens and a serious problem in our society.
I’m not justifying any crime – it was wrong and he served prison time for it. I just don’t understand the label “sexually violent predator” for this case.
Karen Culver, Lakewood
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