Xcel Energy has asked the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to approve changes to how Boulder would receive incentives for solar, wind and other efficiency-related programs. The City of Boulder has responded that any changes that treat Boulder as different from Xcel’s other customers would not be fair. Boulder’s continued research into municipalizing the electric utility has prompted this step by Xcel as the company analyzes the long-term costs if Boulder does move ahead with this option.

Come hear from David Eves, CEO of Public Service Co. of Colorado (Xcel Energy) and Jane Brautigam, Boulder City Manager as they discuss the rationale behind their positions regarding potential changes to the way Boulder could recieve various rebates and incentives for alternative energy efforts.

Confirmed: Moderator Chris Wood, Publisher of the Boulder County Business Report.  Register Today!

By Chris Wood, Publisher of the Boulder County Business Report – Boulder’s city government is known to take its lumps. The old mantra of the city as anti-business still holds for many people — although, from my perspective, it’s way overblown and somewhat of a holdover from years gone by.

Business people do have some legitimate concerns, including the cost of alternative-energy mandates for commercial buildings, how municipalization of the city’s utility system would affect their costs, and other issues.

But Boulder also has done some noteworthy things in recent years to improve the climate of business within the city, and it’s important to note the good work that is occurring. Some of that became apparent at a recent event that I moderated for Boulder Tomorrow, a local business organization. Read more>>>

What is on the horizon for Boulder’s primary employers and growing entrepreneurial companies? City officials have heard a common theme from businesses looking t stay in Boulder as they expand: that the availability of functional, let alone desirable office space for their needs is lacking. Yet Boulder’s long-term economic sustainability relies on keeping such companies here – or does it?

At Boulder Tomorrow’s April 24 lunch meeting come hear from City of Boulder Economic Vitality Coordinator Liz Hanson, Boulder Economic Council Director Clif Harald and representatives from the commercial property community including Jeff Wingert, President of WW Reynolds and others. See more details and register here.