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===July, 2009: Residents Pack Hearings===
In mid-July, 2009 over 300 local residents spoke during air permit hearings at the 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>
SW: →Citizen action against Valmont: fixed section
==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.<ref>[http://www.coloradodaily.com/news/2009/jun/03/boulder-xcel-franchise-negotiations/ "Xcel franchise negotiations likely to drag into next year,"] ''Colorado Daily,'' June 3, 2009.</ref> Many Boulder residents are pushing for the plant to stop burning coal either shut down entirely or convert to cleaner energy.<ref>Judith Mohling, [http://www.coloradodaily.com/news/2009/jun/11/convert-valmont-plant-to-clean-energy/ "Peace Train: Convert Valmont plant to clean energy,"] ''Colorado Daily,'' July 11, 2009.</ref><ref>Anne Butterfield, [http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jul/12/selfishly-seeking-clean-energy/ "Selfishly seeking clean energy,"] ''Daily Camera,'' July 12, 2009.</ref>
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 200 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.<ref>[http://www.coloradodaily.com/news/2009/jul/14/boulder-valmont-power-plant-air-permit-hearing/"Public packs Valmont power plant hearing,"] ''Colorado Daily,'' July 14, 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>
===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|Xcel Energy's]] request to renew expired permits at its [[Cherokee Station|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.<ref>Bruce Finley, [http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13819745 "Protesters want Colorado to 'stop clowning around' on clean air,"] ''Denver Post,'' November 19, 2009.</ref>
==Plant Data==
