Henry Curtis of Life of the Land discusses Boulder Colorado’s push to municipalize their electricity.

For years the utility gave lip service towards increasing the amount of renewable energy. The 100,000 or so residents became increasingly frustrated with the unwillingness of the utility to engage in meaningful community dialogue. So the government suggested municipalization of the utility. 

The response of the utility was two-fold. We will interact with the community and we will install a Smart Grid. But the utility did not understand the cost issues with the Smart Grid, which in reality raises rates.

So the voices favoring municipalization grew louder. his story is not about Maui, but about Boulder, Colorado! In 2011 the voters voted to support studying the issue. This month the City Council will consider first reading of a condemnation ordinance.

Boulder Deputy Mayor Lisa Morzel asserts that the goal of municipalization is to “decentralize, decarbonize and democratize energy.”

Read the whole article here.