Valmont Station

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{{#badges: CoalSwarm|Climate change}} Valmont Station is a coal-fired power station owned and operated by Xcel Energy near Boulder, Colorado.

<googlemap version="0.9.4" zoom="16" lat="40.019889" lon="-105.202833" type="satellite"></googlemap>

Citizen action against Valmont

July 14, 2009: Residents protest Valmont at public hearing, push for conversion

Xcel and the City of Boulder are in negotiations to renew Valmont Station's contract with the city. The agreement must be renewed every five years and is slated to expire in August 2010.[1] Many Boulder residents are pushing for the plant to stop burning coal and either shut down entirely or convert to cleaner energy.[2][3]

On July 14, 2009, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission held a hearing to solicit public comment on renewing the plant's permit. More than 300 people turned out to oppose the plant at a rally before the meeting. About 50 people addressed the Commission, asking its members to deny the permit because the plant emits more than 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.[4]

However, the Air Quality Control Commission disregarded the public comments in opposition to renewing the permit and gave the plant the go-ahead to continue its operations. The Commission ignored an Executive Order by Governor Bill Ritter to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the state.[5]

November 18, 2009: Demonstrators protest Cherokee and Valmont Stations: Denver, CO

Protesters dressed as clowns visited Colorado Governor Ritter's office to urge him to "stop clowning around when it comes to confronting global warming." Environmental groups are opposed to Xcel Energy's request to renew expired permits at its Cherokee and Valmont Stations and want the state to pursue clean energy options instead. New research has shown that nitrogen oxide emissions are clouding lakes, changing lake biology, and threatening the aquatic life in the Colorado mountains.[6]

Plant Data

  • Owner: Public Service Company of Colorado
  • Parent Company: Xcel Energy
  • Plant Nameplate Capacity: 192 MW (Megawatts)
  • Units and In-Service Dates: 192 MW (1964)
  • Location: 1800 63rd St., Boulder, CO 80301
  • GPS Coordinates: 40.018889, -105.200833
  • Coal Consumption:
  • Coal Source:
  • Number of Employees:

Emissions Data

  • 2006 CO2 Emissions: 1,464,298 tons
  • 2006 SO2 Emissions:
  • 2006 SO2 Emissions per MWh:
  • 2006 NOx Emissions:
  • 2005 Mercury Emissions:

Articles and Resources

Sources

  1. "Xcel franchise negotiations likely to drag into next year," Colorado Daily, June 3, 2009.
  2. Judith Mohling, "Peace Train: Convert Valmont plant to clean energy," Colorado Daily, July 11, 2009.
  3. Anne Butterfield, "Selfishly seeking clean energy," Daily Camera, July 12, 2009.
  4. "Public packs Valmont power plant hearing," Colorado Daily, July 14, 2009.
  5. Bruce Finley, "Colorado Air Division Thumbs Nose at Governor Ritter," Jeremy Nichols, HuffingtonPost.com October 27, 2009.
  6. Bruce Finley, "Protesters want Colorado to 'stop clowning around' on clean air," Denver Post, November 19, 2009.

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