Paleontologist to become next CEO of Denver museum
A careful scientist but colorful speaker, Kirk Johnson had led the Snowmastodon excavation on behalf of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science before spending the last 14 years at the Smithsonian
As a coal mine closes, solar comes on
Craig’s Trapper Mine began operations in 1977. In Severance, Black Hollow Sun is being completed as Colorado moves beyond 50% renewables
Renewables continue to gain in Colorado
A dip in percentage during July, but still responsible for 53.3% of electricity in Colorado in 2026
Implications of Michigan case for Craig coal unit
Trump and his team lost a key court decision involving a coal plant in Michigan. But Energy Secretary Chris Wright has issued another “emergency” order for Craig. Why?
A big widening of this narrow electronic highway
Federal money will help two efforts in southeastern Colorado for electricity sharing with the eastern grid. Why does that matter?
Two Denver-based firms get geothermal grants
But no projects in Colorado awarded federal funding by the Department of Energy’s $99 million disbursement
Contain a wildfire? Call in the cows
Hard to believe? You bet. But new technology has already proven effective as a wildfire-fighting tool in Colorado
Political theater at the Ray Nixon plant
Energy secretary and congressmen make the case that coal keeps the lights on and electricity affordable. To make that case they must be selective in their facts.
Gaps narrowing between high-speed EV chargers on Colorado’s highways
Ironically, sale of EVs has faltered in 2026 even as drivers now are within 30 miles of fast-charger on 83% of federal and state highways
We can’t build our way out of this ‘drought’
Some of those on the campaign trail call for more storage. They need to visit Green Mountain Reservoir.
Agribusiness and its antithesis
Wendell Berry understood what Harvard business professors and at least several agriculture secretaries did not. He understood culture.
More utility-scale battery storage
Black Hills Energy plans 50 megawatts at Pueblo to allow it to store excess wind energy to help meet peak demands
A first in this canal’s 110-plus-year history
Farmers served by the Government Highline Canal as of today will get no water, a result of last winter’s dismal snowpack and low levels in Green Mountain Reservoir
Amid the y’alls, two themes at the Colorado Water Congress conference
Many political office-seekers spoke at the annual summer conference in Steamboat. Some ‘y’alled to the attendees. Others not so much. Most called for more water storage and “forest resilience.”
Extinction of the Gunnison sage-grouse
We still have these birds in Colorado, but the Trump administration is not improving their odds of survival. Not at all!
Absurdity of the Colorado River crisis
Nearly half the river’s water goes to growing feed for livestock, including large herds overseas. That should not continue.
Another record for renewables in Colorado
Wind, solar and hydro delivered 56.1% of Colorado’s electricity in the second quarter of 2026
Green Mountain 15.9% full
Reservoir on the Blue River in western Colorado started the runoff with the lowest water level since it began filling in the 1940s. Now, it’s even lower.
Lawn watering ends Oct. 1 in metro Denver
Temperatures 5 degrees above average. Precipitation 4 inches below.
The view of a hinterland native
Michael Bowman farmed and ranch in far eastern Colorado. He says the rural-urban divide is a myth concocted by those who want to capitalize on division.
