In 2026 we plan to speak with over 10,500 Fort Collins residents about priority outlined below:
Mission: Raise public awareness of local energy issues and organize support for sustainable energy policy and practices that lower energy costs, reduce pollution, and enhance the local economy.
2026 Priorities
I. Independent audit of Platte River Power Authority plan to build new gas plant
A. Cost balloon $250 million in 2022 to $625 million in 2025, with two years to go before construction
a. Financing expenses?
b. Fuel costs?
c. Future inflation of CapX?
B. Lower cost, less polluting, and more local options may be available
a. Southwest Power Pool reserve requirements and renewable energy accreditations?
b. 2028 cost estimates for utility scale alternatives to new gas?
c. VPP and vehicle to grid potential?
II. Reform Fort Collins Utilities policies and practices
A. Climate tax budgeting – prioritize cost effectiveness and ROI
a. Lifetime comprehensive cost comparison ($/MTCO2e reduced) of budget offers
b. ROI & cost effectiveness as a priority metrics for budget adoption
B. Building Performance Standards - Redefine, only applying to monthly net positive cash flow projects
C. 100% Renewable electricity goal
a. Let’s be honest, not physically possible
b. Reset goal to a closest possible strategy – minimize purchases from PRPA during gas-fired
generation events
i. Adopt Distributed Energy Resource/Virtual Power Plant capacity goal of offsetting PRPA gas
events
ii. Call on DER/VPP assets during those events
D. Value of Solar and Distributed Energy Resource study
a. Current value/compensation is arbitrarily based on electric rates, not actual value of resource
i. Could result in ratepayer subsidy to resource owners
ii. Could prevent development of beneficial resources to community
b. Compensation based on comprehensive community value is equitable, and may lead to greater
resource development
III. Specific Projects
A. City work with Colorado Energy Office on efficiency and solar plan for City property
a. CEO has completed hundreds of projects for public sector entities to save money and reduce
pollution. Poudre School District currently engaged with CEO
https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/epc
B. Solar Shaded Community Gardening at Hughes
a. Jack’s Farm in Longmont model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGMNFPC-9fk
b. 5 acres on NE corner, legacy water and wires from stadium
c. Housing catalyst to buy power and pay for solar
d. Garden subscriptions and NoCO Foodshed to fund gardening
e. Educational/Research partnership with CSU and PSD
f. Consulting/partnering potential with indigenous community
g. Eco-oasis (not a hippie Oasis cover band) planting for pollinators/wildlife
C. Plug-in (Balcony) Solar
a. Utah model – 1.2 kW limit (~18% of average household consumption), 5 other states introduced
legislation 2026
b. Does FCU need state legislation to allow?
c. Available to renters!!
d. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ3Lx_ebLuw