Changes

In mid-July, hundreds of locals 2009 over 300 local residents spoke during air permit hearings at the county courthouse Boulder County Courthouse where the Air Quality Control Commission was debating on whether or not to renew the power plant's Title V air permit. All the speaker, except for one, argued that instead of granting a new air permit the facility ought to be shut down, as the permit process did not consider the plant's contribution to climate change.<ref>Bruce Finley, [http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_13129878?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com "Valmont power plant foes focus on air permit,"] ''Daily Camera,'' August 9, 2009.</ref> 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.<ref>Bruce Finley, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-nichols/colorado-air-division-thu_b_335711.html "Colorado Air Division Thumbs Nose at Governor Ritter,"] Jeremy Nichols, HuffingtonPost.com October 27, 2009.</ref>