FORT COLLINS REQUESTS "ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS" FOR THE WINDY GAP FIRMING PROJECT
Release Date: August 11, 2009
Fort Collins, CO
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Contact:
Becky Long
CEC
303-405-6714 |
Contact:
Gary Wockner
Clean Water Action
970-218-8310 |
Alternatives could be cheaper and less environmentally damaging
FORT COLLINS, CO -- At the August 11, 2009 Council work session, multiple Fort Collins City Councilmembers requested that the City do an "alternatives analysis" to see if the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) can find other sources of water rather than participating in the Windy Gap Firming Project. Fort Collins owns 49% of PRPA, and PRPA is the second largest participant in the Windy Gap Firming Project. PRPA proposes to use the water to cool its coal-fired "Rawhide Station" power plant.
City Councilman Kelly Ohlson, who is also Mayor Pro-tem, stated, "It's the 21st Century, and I think this is a 1950's solution. I'd like us to pursue alternatives to this project."
Councilmember David Roy agreed with Councilman Ohlson and asked the City staff to prepare a cost and time estimate to come up with an "alternatives analysis." Councilmembers Poppaw and Manvel both also noted that the Windy Gap Firming Project appears to be facing stiff resistance from regulatory agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which made formal "objections" to the project. In addition, Councilman Manvel asked questions about the likelihood of West Slope oil shale rights taking WGFP water in the future.
The capital cost for the Windy Gap Firming Project is predicted to be at least $272 million of which PRPA will pay at least $38 million. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement stated the PRPA would pay for the project with cash; however at the City Council meeting, Brian Moeck, General Manager for PRPA stated that PRPA would pay for WGFP with 30-year bonds that would be paid back by electric ratepayers in Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, and Estes Park. If PRPA were able to get a low 4% interest rate on the bonds, the total principal and interest would be at least $65 million, or between $12,000 to $15,000 per acre foot of water.
PRPA already has over $265 million in outstanding revenue bonds and a strong cash position, according to Moody's, the bond investment grading firm. PRPA has also stated that they will be seeking a 4% - 6% rate increase in the next two years. (Read the article here)
"It is fiscally prudent and environmentally responsible for the City of Fort Collins to seek alternatives," said Gary Wockner of Clean Water Action. "The idea of spending at least $65 million to drain water from the Colorado River to support a coal-fired power plant should cause all citizen ratepayers to ask serious questions about this project."
The Windy Gap Firming Project has nothing to do with wind, but rather is a huge dam/reservoir project that will further drain the Colorado River, pipe the water through the Continental Divide to 12 Front Range cities, and send part of the water to the Platte River Power Authority.
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Clean Water Action is America's largest grassroots environmental organization with 1.2 million members, including over 35,00 in Colorado, 7,500 in Fort Collins, 3,500 in Longmont, and 1,500 in Loveland.
Environment Colorado has over 50,000 members in Colorado.
Sierra Club Poudre Canyon Group has over 1,400 members in northern Colorado
Colorado Environmental Coalition represents over 70 environmental organizations in Colorado.
Fort Collins Audubon Society has over 700 members in northern Colorado.
Western Resource Advocates is a non-profit environmental law and policy organization with offices seven western states.
