Q: What are some of your top priorities as a PUC commissioner?
A: My top priorities are to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable forms of energy for the Colorado consumers, to promote lowest- cost energy-efficiency policies, and to advance the governor’s new energy economy.
First, that means keeping the lights on and not breaking the bank. Second, changing the energy-supply paradigm to one that starts with the notion that the kilowatt or therm saved is the lowest-cost way to meet our energy needs. Third, that Colorado sits on a clean energy gold mine, and we need to do all we can to mine it.
Q: Do you think Xcel Energy’s recent decision to cut its solar-energy subsidy is justified?
A: I think the justifications the company provided are sound, namely the recent increase in federal subsidies should offset some ratepayers dollars that are going to the solar program. Whether the reduction is too much or poorly timed is an open question.
Colorado is becoming a solar-energy leader. Companies are locating here, prices are coming down, and consumers in large numbers are moving to solar. We need to build on this success and not jeopardize it. I think it is in Xcel’s and the public’s interest for the company to work more collaboratively with the industry, advocates and the Public Utilities Commission to develop a plan that increases solar adoption, builds the new energy economy and protects ratepayers.
Q: How feasible is it for the nation to move away from fossil fuels and depend largely on renewable power?
A: I think between clean-energy technologies and energy efficiency, we can meet a substantial percentage of our energy needs in the near future — i.e. by 2020. In the long and medium term, we need progress in three areas to move off traditional means of power production.
First, we need to redouble our efforts to use all energy in the most efficient manner possible. Second, we need to develop ways to store or manage electricity in ways that allow us to meet base-load power needs (via smart grid-type technologies). A traditional coal plant runs almost 2 4/7, while wind and solar are intermittent. Intermittency can also be ameliorated by spreading these resources over a wide geographic area because if the wind is not blowing in southeastern Colorado, there is a good chance it could be blowing in Wyoming. This makes building out our regional or national transmission infrastructure important. Third, we need to develop clean ways to utilize traditional fuels. Many utilities currently have plans to increase the amount of renewable energy to almost 30 percent of their load in the near term, so the goals are doable.
Q: The view from the outside is that you would see eye-to-eye with Chairman Ron Binz and not so much with Commissioner Jim Tarpey, the lone Republican on the commission. Is that the case?
A: Not at all. It has been my experience that all the commissioners have checked their party affiliation at the door.
Our commission works well together. We all have our areas of expertise and rely on each other. I look to Commissioner Tarpey for leadership on transmission policy and utility law. In much the same way, I look to Chairman Binz for his expertise on rates and the impacts of our decisions on ratepayers.
Q: Where do you stand on nuclear power, particularly in Colorado?
A: In the past, I have been skeptical of the role new nuclear power can play in electrical generation. But given all the challenges we face, I believe it is important to keep an open mind and not take it off the table.
Q: What are your thoughts about T. Boone Pickens’ plan to cut the country’s dependence on foreign oil?
A: I support the Pickens plan. It is a national plan, and as I understand it, there are two parts. First we would generate 20 percent of our nation’s electricity from renewable energy. We are on track to do that here in Colorado.
The second part would be to take the natural gas that the wind and solar power displaces and use it to fuel our nation’s truck fleet. This would reduce oil consumption by up to 25 percent. I think creating a national goal of getting 20 percent of our electricity from renewables by 2020 is a critical. I have some concerns about natural-gas availability with regards to the second part of the goal and a personal belief that electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles may play a much larger role than compressed natural gas, but given our energy and climate problems, more solutions are better than fewer.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I have a 4-year-son, Charlie, and I try to spend as much time with him as possible.
Q: What’s your favorite movie or book?
A: I am reading “The Black Swan” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. The book makes the case that our world is mostly shaped by highly improbable events such as 9/11 and the emergence of Google. It is an excellent primer on statistics and the limitations of forecasts.
Edited for length and clarity by Andy Vuong
