My Comments on the Xcel JTS Proceeding
Not an intervener, but I can still comment
Here’s the comments I submitted to the PUC on the Xcel JTS proceeding.
Energy Sources - Affordable & Reliable. Affordable & Reliable. Affordable & Reliable!
TL:DR; We need to ascertain the total cost of wind/solar/batteries vs. nuclear for baseload. Then we can discuss which is better.
Transmission & Distribution Lines - Let's not go overboard
TL:DR; I think we can take this a lot slower than proposed. And slower means less expensive.
Data Centers - They need us more than we need them
TL:DR; I come from the high tech world. I think A.I. is transforming on the level of electricity and the semiconductors. And… I don’t care if the data centers to run all this are in Colorado. Only if they lower rates for the rest of us.
Will the commissioners pay attention to my comments? Who knows. But they might.
What’s interesting is while I think the most important issue I advocate for above is figuring out real numbers for different energy sources, it’s likely the most impactful of my comments are likely the other two - transmission/distribution lines & data centers.
"We need to ascertain the total cost of wind/solar/batteries vs. nuclear for baseload. Then we can discuss which is better."
Hah. The fact this ISN'T being done is the answer. Their reluctance to tell you what the all in number is like a used car dealer being vague about your financing charges.
"I don’t care if the data centers to run all this are in Colorado." seriously, who cares WHERE the data center is located? You are talking about a few dozen jobs. Once built, these things are devoid of human life.