Future air quality could be factor in building power plants
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: AP
Colorado lawmakers are debating whether to give state regulators the ability to factor-in future costs of greenhouse gas emissions when evaluating new power plants. Public Utilities Commission director Doug Dean says the commission has already been looking at the possible costs of emitting carbon dioxide when reviewing utilities' long-range plans.
But Dean told lawmakers Tuesday that some have questioned whether the commission has that authority. The bill being considered, House Bill 1164, aims to attract large scale solar projects to Colorado. The bill also states that the Public Utilities Commission must consider the future costs of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, when utilities propose adding power plants.
Those costs could include a possible tax on carbon emissions or an emissions cap. That would make it more expensive to operate coal- and gas-fired power plants.
