Colorado gleanings

A geothermal driller unning for state senate, Rio Blanco County commissioners endorse nuclear, and more items from across Colorado

Geothermal driller for State Senate

Sam Bandimere knocked on the door of the world headquarters of Big Pivots on a recent Friday and quickly promised lower taxes of many kinds if he is elected to the Colorado State Senate from the District 19 seat being vacated by term-limited Rachel Zenzinger.

Bandimere’s campaign material also talked about limiting government while safeguarding individual rights and securing the border. A pair of checkered flags suggested a connection to the race track located along a Dakota hogback west of Denver.

But here is where he diverted from a normal MAGA Republican candidate: His material said he had a net-zero home and advocates using ground-source heat pumps.

Pressed for explanation, he explained that he had owned a geothermal drilling service since 2001. Eyeing the smallish front yard of Big Pivots, he said it was big enough to drill a geothermal well, and the payback on it could be achieved in seven years.

Nuclear and Rio Blanco County

“Following the hospital discussion, the board (Rio Blanco County commissioners) addressed nuclear energy and how Northwest Colorado can promote it. A local survey and a nationwide survey revealed that 65% of people in Northwest Colorado favor nuclear energy and are more informed about it compared to the national average.”

From the Rio Blanco Herald Times

Greener and faster

“We intend to build high-quality homes that are less costly, greener, and faster to construction at our new Modular Housing Production and Education Center in Rifle. With this facility, our yearly construction volume of net-zero-ready homes will multiply by a factor of more than five….

… Habitat RRV is wrapping up construction of its Wapiti Commons neighborhood of 20 net-zero homes in Rifle, preparing for groundbreaking at The Confluence in Glenwood Springs this fall; planning for a new neighborhood in a partnership with the Town of Basalt; and pursuing our first apartment building conversion to condos in Glenwood Springs.”

Gail Schwartz

President

Roaring Fork Valley Habitat for Humanity

(And former state senator).

(Glenwood Springs) Post Independent

A second extension for Xcel

The Colorado Public Utilities Commissioners on July 17 issued a decision granting Public Service Co. of Colorado, a.k.a. Xcel Energy, an extension to Oct. 15 to file its Pueblo Just Transition solicitation. This is the second extension. The original due date was June 1, a date that had been set more than two years before.

Why the delay? To better incorporate the results of its 2021 electric resource plan and clean energy plan proceedings, which lasted longer than expected. Plus, the company cited “multiple geopolitical dynamics,” including the possibility of new duties on solar cells imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as increased tariffs already ordered by President Joe Biden on certain Chinese imports. The company also reported supply chain challenges with the interconnection of generation resources.

Why support Big Pivots?

You need and value solid climate change reporting, and also the energy & water transitions in Colorado. Because you know that strong research underlies solid journalism, and research times take.

Plus, you want to help small media, and Big Pivots is a 501(c)3 non-profit.

Big grants would be great, but they’re rare for small media. To survive, Big Pivots needs your support. Think about how big pivots occur. They start at the grassroots. That’s why you should support Big Pivots. Because Big Pivots has influence in Colorado, and Colorado matters in the national conversation.