The Colorado Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously today not to recuse two of its members due to conflict-of-interest charges in the case of Xcel Energy’s $1.3 billion plan to shut aging coal-fired power plants.
A motion by the Colorado Mining Association had sought to keep Commissioner Chairman Ron Binz and Commissioner Matt Baker from voting on the plan.
At issue are negotiations and discussions involving Binz and Baker before the introduction of the Clean Air-Clean Jobs bill last March.
The act gives Xcel financial incentives to close coal-fired plants to improve air quality.
At a hearing this morning, Binz said that the discussions were part of the commission’s normal business and had been publicly noted.
Binz also said there was no showing there had been any personal profit or self-interest in the discussion.
Binz, Baker and Commissioner James Tarpey voted to reject the motion.
The Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act aims to cut pollution from nitrogen oxides 70 percent to 80 percent from Xcel plants so the state can meet federal clean-air standards.
Xcel would do this by shutting down or retrofitting five Front Range coal plants.
