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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, February 17-20, 2018 Continued from A-26 Mountain town renewables were shockingly low. Even more than those low prices, though, were those prices that coupled renewables with energy storage. Low-priced storage eliminates the problem of intermittency found with wind and solar. That makes goals of 100 percent renewables more realistic. But even if the two coal plants are closed by 2025, as is now proposed, both Vail and Aspen lifts would continue to be powered by so called “dirty” electricity. Holy Cross Energy, a supplier to both, owns a part of a new generating station, Comanche III, which began operations in 2010. rpressure from South Lake Tahoe, ,about an hour away at the base of oHeavenly, to advance renewable eenergy. The town has a goal of 100 percent renewable generation. Liberty Utilities has a long way to go. Today just 25 percent of the power mix includes utilioties, but it has been rapidly addeing solar farms in Nevada. Marijuana sales grow 16 pery Ambitions of Squaw and cent during 2017 in Steamboat -South Lake Tahoe may be bolSTEAMBOAT SPRINGS, ystered by business developments Colo. – Sales of marijuana in gin Colorado. There, the state’s Steamboat Springs grew last ,major investor-owned utility year by 16 percent, pushing past dcompany, Xcel Energy, propos- $12 million. es early retirement of two aging Marijuana, which became legal ecoal-fired power plants, called in Colorado in 2014, now constisComanche I and II. The power tutes 1 percent of the annual sales eis to be replaced by renewable tax revenue collected by the city. denergy and perhaps natural gas. This compares with 3 percent - The units generate electricity for from liquor stores. -several ski areas, including the four Steamboat Today says that in Summit County, plus Steam- sales increased partly because of &boat, Vail, and Beaver Creek plus extended hours of sales. Stores sthe four ski areas owned by the are now permitted to close at 10 tAspen Skiing Co., among others. p.m., instead of 8 p.m. Stores are e The Aspen Skiing Co. and also being allowed to move to aAlterra together entered testimo- more central locations, instead of ny in support of the early retire- light-industrial areas. ments. In his testimony, Auden Business owners tell the newsySchendler of the Aspen Skiing paper that they expect sales to Co. pointed out that rained every plateau at some point, especially wmonth of ski season last year. He as more states legalize sales of ,also noted a report by the Aspen cannabis for recreational purposnGlobal Change Institute that As- es. City officials expect to see ypen now has 23 fewer frost-free continued growth in revenues sdays than in 1980. from marijuana taxes. - Shortening winters, he testi-fied, threatens the business mod- Dark week for fans of stars as el for ski resorts. “Most run in county rejects light ordinance ,deficit until spring break, which WESTCLIFFE, Colo. – Dark -is crucial because it delivers sky proponents in Colorado’s -much of the profit for the sea- Custer County had hoped to eson,” he wrote. “Lose spring and become the first international ayour business fails.” dark-sky reserve in North Amer- Breckenridge, the town, also ica certified by the International has an interest in the proceedings. Dark-Sky Association. yIt also has a goal of 100 percent They were buoyed in their efrenewable generation in its elec- fort by the great success of darkrtricity from Xcel Energy. Renew- sky designations for Westcliffe nables today represent 29 percent and Silver Cliff, the two adjoining gof the total power mix, but the towns in the Wet Mountain Valley. nutility estimates that this will rise It didn’t happen, though. Ida”to 55 percent with its intentions of ho earned that distinction late last dretiring the two Comanche units. year for a broad swath of the state Most remarkable about the Col- that includes the headwaters of the rorado story is not the retirement of Salmon River as well as the land the old coal plants. That is happen- around Ketchum and Sun Valley. Darplaces. Williams.pdf 2/9/2018 6:45:40 AM But even being No. 2 may now But3when Xcel 7ing at many asked for proposals, the prices of be out of the question. Last week The Park Record the local planning commission rejected a resolution to change the definition of light pollution. Partly at issue has been the intensity of new energy efficient LED lights. With less energy, they produce more light, and more disruptive white light. Dark sky proponents in Custer County wanted to throttle down the color temperature to 3,000 Kelvin, a warmer and less intense light. A regular incandescent or Halogen light has a “color” of about 2,700 Kelvin. More industrial settings, such as the lights you often see on the sides of warehouses, use 5,000 Kelvin lights or even stronger. John Barentine, director of conservation for the International Dark-Sky Association, says removing all reference to light pollution in the county ordinances would be a significant step backward.” Barentine tells Mountain Town News that he’s dubious the Wet Mountain Valley will achieve designation as a darksky preserve. “It would be a very uphill effort, if not outright impossible,” he said by e-mail. For Idaho to achieve the designation, it took amended regulations in three counties as well as towns. Jim Bradburn, president of the Dark Skies, Inc. of the Wet Mountain Valley, said he and other proponents will continue to make their case. The valley’s ranchers opposed the proposed restriction on high-intensity lights. He says that as American’s shift their diets away from beef, the valley will need economic development strategies. The dark sky is an asset that can be used to draw overnight visitors from Denver, three hours away, and from Colorado Springs, about 90 miles away. The Wet Mountain Tribune reported a packed courtroom for the meeting. In persuading the planning commissioners, opponents warned of government over-reach. “We don’t need the strong arm of government,” said one individual, who instead advocated voluntary compliance. Opponents of the limitations on light-pollution also fretted about fines imposed and possible jail time meted out to offenders. Located along the Sangre de Cristo Range in south-central Colorado, Custer County has often had fractious political fights. In November, two of the three county commissioners were recalled. 1/4 Vertical Trib A-27 2017 ICON AWARDS #2 TEAM PRODUCTION Ginny & Dean Schulman 435.602.3600 www.SkiPC.com 2017 ICON AWARDS #3 TEAM PRODUCTION Nick Caravaglia & Carol Kret 435.731.0113 | 435.901.1299 www.E7ParkCity.com PROFESSIONAL LIFESTYLE ELEVATED • Elegant, turn-key executive suites and work stations designed to motivate and increase your bottom line. • Short/long term leases available. • Secured underground parking available. COMING NEXT MONTH! INQUIRE NOW FOR A FREE FIRST MONTH* *Limited time offer and rules apply 435.640.4964 | theprospectpc.com 2078 Prospector Avenue |