(Message from 350 Boulder Team and Allies…)

Hey climate and democracy protectors!

Your help is urgently needed. After Boulder voters have time and again expressed our utmost desire to do our part (even to tax ourselves) to address climate change and to create a local, affordable, 100% renewably-powered municipal electric utility, we are standing at the crossroads again.

Years of incredible, tireless work by Boulder’s Energy Future Staff have shown that it is not only possible to create a local municipal electric utility that is reliable and 100% renewable, it would in fact be more affordable as we increase the amount of clean energy since renewables are now cheaper than fossil fuels! They have also done the engineering and legal work necessary so that finally on April 19th the muni application hearing between our City and Xcel will begin at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

As you might expect, Xcel is pulling some last minute moves to try to keep the ~$35 million in pre-tax profits they take out of Boulder every year. Xcel is pressuring our City Council to stop the PUC municipalization process and offering two terrible last minute “deals” – neither of which will bring us the clean affordable energy future we know is needed:
1. A so-called “partnership” – in which Boulder signs another 20-year deal that gives XCEL all the power and offers us no guarantees of reaching our climate goals, or
2. A “buyout” – which is so overpriced ($900 million!!) that it would require Boulder spend so much money that it would put Boulder’s bonds in junk bond status and raise our electricity rates.

The Boulder City Council needs to hear from us right now! Please help by doing the following:
1. Send an email now to council@bouldercolorado.gov and tell them to stay the course with the municipalization process at the PUC! (talking points below)
2. SHOW UP on April 17th to show your support at a “Stay the Course for Clean Local Power” Rally at 5pm before a special public hearing at 6pm. Location: in the plaza on the broadway side of the Municipal Building (1777 Broadway) Wear green! ***RSVP and invite friends on Facebook here.*** And please sign up (https://bouldercolorado.gov/city-council/speaking-at-council-meetings) to speak at the hearing and tell the City Council: Don’t let Xcel derail the PUC process. Keep going forward with the muni.

We must defend the municipalization process at the PUC or give up everything we’ve worked for over the past seven-plus years if Council accepts one of Xcel’s flimsy offers. See you at the rally and hearing on the 17th! Spread the word!

Thank you for standing up for a clean energy future!

350BoCo

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Sample email: (Please put it in your own words and send to council@bouldercolorado.gov)

Dear City Council Members:

Please stay the course on the municipalization process at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Boulder voters have time and again expressed our utmost desire to do our part (even to tax ourselves) to address climate change and to create a local, affordable, 100% renewably-powered municipal electric utility.

Years of incredible, tireless work by Boulder’s Energy Future Staff have shown that it is not only possible to create a local municipal electric utility that is reliable and 100% renewable, it would in fact be more affordable as we increase the amount of clean energy since renewables are now cheaper than fossil fuels! They have also done the engineering and legal work necessary so that in just 2 weeks the muni application hearing between our City and Xcel will begin at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Please do not let Xcel derail our 7-year effort to create a clean, renewable-powered electric utility with its last minute moves to try to keep the ~$35 million in pre-tax profits they take out of Boulder every year. Xcel’s two terrible last minute “deals” only protect Xcel’s bottom line and will not bring us the clean affordable energy future we know is needed.

•  NO so-called “partnership” – in which Boulder signs another 20-year deal that gives XCEL all the power and offers us no guarantees of reaching our climate goals, or
• NO “buyout” – which is so overpriced ($900 million!!) that it would require Boulder spend so much money that it would put Boulder’s bonds in junk bond status and raise our electricity rates.

The best long-term solution to reach our community goals of reducing our greenhouse gas footprint, improving our resilience and security, and having local control over our energy policy is creation of a municipal utility. Municipalization is the best and currently the only way to achieve our goals of decarbonization, democratization and decentralization. Xcel’s clinging to the vertically integrated regulated monopoly structure does not give us the flexibility to reach our goals.

After 7+ years of effort to bring us to the point of consideration before the PUC, it would be foolish to allow Xcel to bully our city out of our efforts to create a clean-powered municipal electric utility. Future generations are counting on us, so doing the right thing, even if it takes more time and money, is worth it to achieve the right outcome. It would be completely unacceptable and irresponsible to continue on a fossil fuel track with Xcel for decades to come or overpay Xcel when we have the right to municipalize after multiple votes from the people expressing our will to fully explore creating a clean affordable local utility.

I urge you not to pull out of this process at the PUC, as that likely would prove fatal to the municipalization effort. Our community is counting on your bravery, your dedication, and your tireless efforts to find a real solution to do our part to address the climate crisis we face. With the federal government cutting back our climate policies at every turn, nothing is more important than action and leadership at the local level.

Thank you,

[Your name and address]