Colorado utilities say they can meet final air standard

Colorado’s largest utility says it is well positioned to meet a new federal requirement that the state cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 28 percent by 2030.

Xcel Energy tells The Denver Post that it is on track to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 28 percent. That’s the Colorado cut announced Monday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Similarly, Colorado Springs Utilities tells KRDO NewsChannel 13 that based on what it knows about the draft rule; it feels it is well positioned to comply with the final rule. The utility says the fact that it is not entirely dependent upon one fuel type works in its favor. It says it already has a goal of operating on 20% renewable power and reducing its energy usage by 10% by the year 2020, which will also help it meet the new federal standard.

Colorado Springs Utilities says it expects the federal mandate to drive up costs for all electric companies in the state.

Nationwide, the plan seeks a 32 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 from measures taken in 2005.

Each state has its own emissions-reduction goal and each will have flexibility in how the targets are reached. Colorado’s goal was set using a measure set in 2012.

Colorado in 2010 set a goal for investor-owned utilities to generate 30 percent of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020.