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Utilities pitches scrubbers but gets no responses

October 29th, 2012, 10:01 am by

David Neumann, founder and CEO of Neumann Systems Group, poses with boxes that are a part of the system the company manufactures to scrub sulphur out of exhaust gas. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette

Colorado Springs Utilities is trying to drum up business for the local company that invented sulfur dioxide scrubbers that are now at the center of a community debate about the future of the Martin Drake Power Plant downtown.

But so far, no one has called back.

In September, Chief Energy Services Officer Bruce McCormick sent a letter to 10 utilities with coal-fired power plants in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, Utah and Iowa touting Neumann Systems Group’s wet flue gas desulfurization system.

“We chose NeuStream®-S scrubbers because we thought NSG represented the best technology and best value for our ratepayers. We still do,” McCormick wrote in the one-page letter.

“Based on our success to date, we are happy to have partnered with NSG in this effort, and recommend them highly as a smart, honest, responsive, and cooperative partner for your flue gas desulfurization needs,” he wrote.

The letter was obtained by The Gazette under an open-records request.

The purpose of the letter was to “generate awareness and interest in the NeuStream solution among utilities with similar emissions control needs,” Utilities spokesman Dave Grossman said in an email.

“The effort supports the 3 percent sales assistance fee portion of the agreement with Neumann Systems Group,” he added.

Under the agreement with Nuemann, Colorado Springs Utilities stands to make 3 percent on the company’s gross sales of its scrubbers for 10 years.

McCormick’s letter apparently didn’t generate much interest.

“Bruce has not yet been contacted by any of the utilities,” Grossman said.

Here is the full text of the letter and its recipients:

August ___, 2012

 

<<NAME>>

<<TITLE, UTILITY COMPANY>>

<<ADDRESS1>>

<<ADDRESS2>>

RE:       Support for Neumann Systems Group’s wet Flue Gas Desulfurization

Dear <<Utility CEO>>,

You may know that Colorado Springs Utilities is more than 60% complete on a $73.5M contract to design and construct SO2 scrubbers on our Martin Drake power plant located near downtown Colorado Springs.  We have contracted Neumann Systems Group, Inc. (NSG) to design and build two full-scale NeuStream®-S scrubbers (combined 227 MW).  Colorado Springs Utilities has invested approximately $50 million in research and development services with NSG for the design, building, testing, and operation of separate, escalating 2 MW and 20 MW pilot plants to test and develop NSG NeuStream® multi-pollutant control technology.  Scrubber construction is due to start later this year for a fully operational system in 2014.

I am pleased with the outstanding results NSG has obtained across the spectrum of air pollutants, from SO2 to CO2 capture, in a series of relatively low-cost retrofit systems with small “footprints.”   Our internal testing of SO2 capture, verified by EPRI, shows the NeuStream®-S scrubbers:

– Capture 97% of SO2 from our PRB coal-fired power plants,

– Are extremely reliable, exceeding our two-year continuous operation requirement,

– Are capable of handling either high- or low-sulfur coal,

– Use about one-fourth to one-half as much water as competing desulfurization systems,

– Use about one-half as much parasitic power as competing systems (~1%),

– Cost about half the CapEx and OpEx of wet FGD (limestone forced oxidation) and Dry FGD (lime spray dryer) on the market, and

– Require about one-tenth the absorber volume of competing desulfurization systems.

We chose NeuStream®-S scrubbers because we thought NSG represented the best technology and best value for our ratepayers.  We still do.   Based on our success to date, we are happy to have partnered with NSG in this effort, and recommend them highly as a smart, honest, responsive, and cooperative partner for your flue gas desulfurization needs.

Sincerely,

Bruce McCormick, P.E.

Chief Energy Services Officer

Posted in: People • Utilities • • • • • • | 7 Comments »

Hente invites Bach to see budget process firsthand

October 16th, 2012, 4:22 pm by

On Friday, Mayor Steve Bach sent Scott Hente two separate letters offering recommendations to make the Colorado Springs Utilities budget process better.

The two letters basically said the same thing, but one was addressed to Hente as the City Council president and the other as the chairman of the Utilities Board.

Hente responded to the mayor’s letters Monday.

Hente sent only one letter.

Here is the full text of that letter:

October 16, 2012

 

Honorable Mayor Steve Bach

City Administration Building

Suite 601, MC 610

 

Dear Steve,

Thank you for your recent letters regarding the Colorado Springs Utilities budget and process. I, along with my colleagues, appreciate your input.

Colorado Springs Utilities has always been committed to discussing its budget in an open forum and provides much of the information you suggested, including placing   all materials and videos of past Utilities Board meetings online for public viewing. In addition, every December the Board adopts, by vote, (and publishes) a planning calendar for the upcoming year which outlines expected reports and decisions required at each meeting. This ensures that the Board receives regular presentations on the budget and financial conditions, and provides a public record to our ratepayers so that they know, with sufficient notification, when they can comment on the budget. Last year was no different.

For example, in July of each year, staff presents the Financial Planning and Budgeting overview for the upcoming five years. The report presented at the July 18, 2012 Utilities Board meeting included the 2013 – 2017 projections by year on debt, days cash on hand, customer energy and water sales/consumption, planned capital projects, and programs and other projections. This report, as is the case for all reports and presentations dealing with the budget, was made in an open forum and was subject to public comment.

It is also important to note that Colorado Springs Utilities is not a municipal government and operates under a different planning and budgetary process. Unlike a municipal government budget, Colorado Springs Utilities’ budget is developed and presented in a specific accounting format that identifies the costs for providing services. This detailed format is used to develop an Annual Operating Plan (AOP) that is an integral part of the planning and budgeting process. The AOP provides financial data based on analysis of the current budget and a forecasted five-year financial plan. Once the AOP and budget is adopted, the Board holds the organization accountable through the CEO Performance Plan and Scorecard.

One other aspect that is significantly different is that the Utility budget is specifically tied to the utility rates that are regulated by the Colorado Springs City Council. The City Council, acting within its authority under both the State Constitution and the City Charter, has certain obligations with respect to public notification and the process in setting the rates.  The calendar approved by the Utility Board for each year ensures that the law is being followed with regards to the dates associated with the rate settings.

The draft of the Colorado Springs Utilities 2013 Annual Operating Plan and Budget was provided to Utilities Board members for preliminary review last week and posted on the Colorado Springs Utilities web site for public viewing.

Colorado Springs Utilities leadership will present the proposed 2013 AOP to the Utilities Board on Wednesday, October 17. No action will be taken at this meeting as City Council will be requested to consider and approve the annual budget, the appropriation of monies, and the identification of the annual sources of funds during the November Formal Council meetings. If approved, the Annual Operating Plan will become effective on January 1, 2013. The public is encouraged to attend and comment throughout this process.

The Utilities Board members have had several opportunities to participate in the 2013 budget process, including a public workshop on September 14. While not every Board member was able to attend the workshop, Jerry Forte and members of his executive team met with them individually to discuss the 2013 budget and approval process.

Thank you again for your comments and input. I hope you will consider attending the upcoming Utilities Board meeting and the subsequent Formal City Council meetings to see firsthand how the process works.  I’m confident you will walk away impressed with the operations and management of Colorado Springs Utilities.

Respectfully,

Scott Hente, President

Colorado Springs City Council

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • Budget • City Administration • City Council • Meetings • Politics • Utilities • • • • | 1 Comment »

Landlord: Bach gives public ‘greater voice’ at Utilities

October 16th, 2012, 9:19 am by

The people of Colorado Springs have a “greater voice” on issues involving Colorado Springs Utilities since Mayor Steve Bach came into office.

That’s the gist of an email that a Colorado Springs landlord sent to the city’s Communications Office Tuesday morning.

“We live in Georgia for now, and I wish I was there to review the CSU budget and speak up about CSU budgets in front of Council.  When I lived there, we made an effort, but CSU was always stronger than the public comments and typically got what they wanted,” Marge McCarthy said in the email.

“From what I have read about the Strong Mayor, and the new transparencies, I think the public has a greater voice,” she said.

The Communications Office shared the email with The Gazette and other print media.

“I know that there are some print folks writing about Utilities issues right now, so I just wanted to pass (it) along,” city spokesman Jarred Rego said in a telephone interview.

Here is the full text of the email:

Bravo!

Even though I don’t live in CS right now, we own a home there that we rent.  We wrote into our lease that we will pay 30% of water during the summer months in an effort to keep the tenants watering the lawn.

We live in Georgia for now, and I wish I was there to review the CSU budget and speak up about CSU budgets in front of Council.  When I lived there, we made an effort, but CSU was always stronger than the public comments and typically got what they wanted.

From what I have read about the Strong Mayor, and the new transparencies, I think the public has a greater voice.

In August, I came back to get our home ready for new tenants.  For about 3 weeks in August, we placed utilities in our name and the bill for 3 weeks was just under $400.  It was quite a shock, but somewhat expected.  The September portion of WATER ONLY from the tenants’ utilities bill is $170, that is water only. (I wish we could xeriscape more, but the appeal is to have a yard that is user friendly, so that is what we have…bluegrass.)

Anyway, CS always used to boast about low utility costs, but somewhere along the line that went out the window.  I would love to have the opportunity to review the CSU budget and find savings, but I don’t live there right now and doubt anyone would listen to me from Georgia, even though we plan to move back someday.

I am grateful to Mayor Bach for being a Strong Mayor. The moniker fits and I like the changes that I have read about.

Carry on,

Marge McCarthy

 

Posted in: City Administration • People • Utilities • • • • | 9 Comments »

Quote of the Day

September 21st, 2012, 12:30 pm by

Colorado Springs Utilities is all the talk these days, and everybody seems to have a iron in the fire, including Mayor Steve Bach.

But under the new form of government, it’s the City Council — not the mayor — that oversees the $1.1 billion city enterprise.

So, what does council President Scott Hente think about Bach’s constant involvement with the four-service utility?

“The mayor has the right as any citizen in this community does to express his opinions about any of the services that our municipality provides. However, he tells me on a very frequent basis that some things are the responsibility of the executive branch of this community. You know what? I respect that, so if some things are the responsibility of the executive branch of this community, then some things are the responsibility of the legislative branch of this community and Utilities is one of them. So, I guess what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

 

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • City Administration • City Council • Politics • Utilities • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

Forte: Springs Utilities ‘a treasure worth preserving’

September 21st, 2012, 10:21 am by

Jerry Forte

Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Jerry Forte is trying to calm his employees after a tumultuous week.

Forte sent employees an email Friday assuring them that the city-owned enterprise is a “treasure worth preserving” despite talks of selling it.

“I am confident that our organization will more than meet the demands of our time- because I know you,” Forte said in the email.

“When the facts are all researched and debated, I know that the overwhelming conclusion will be that Colorado Springs Utilities is a treasure worth preserving, because our people are a treasure,” he said.

Here is the full text of Forte’s email, which he also sent to the Utilities Board:

We certainly are living in interesting and challenging times! During periods like this, I like to fall back on what I know is true. That always helps me see the path forward with more clarity. So what do we know? We know that Colorado Springs Utilities is one of the finest four service utilities in the entire nation because our mission is grounded in the values of safety, reliability and competitiveness. Our vision to be a treasured community asset for Colorado Springs is realized because our people strive to work every day by a set of values that are much more than a sound bite or a plaque on the wall.

The recent conversations concerning the sale of Colorado Springs Utilities prompt several questions in my mind. How do you place a value on our employee’s response to the Waldo Canyon fire? How do you place a value on having some of the best customer satisfaction in the country? How do you place a value on world class reliability? What about competitive rates? How do you value record breaking volunteerism in service to our customers? How do you value employees that go the extra mile every day to serve the community they cherish and live in?  What is the value of local ownership- the ability to appeal directly to elected officials as opposed to an unelected bureaucracy in Denver, or a Board of Directors that resides in another state? If the community wants to discuss the future of a power plant, in Colorado Springs, that can take place in an open, transparent, fact-based and constructive manner. What is the value of that?

While these conversations may seem difficult, we must not shy away from them. We are proud of our track record and believe that it will stand up to any and all evaluation. We are not afraid of facts, in fact, we insist on them. What we all stand for is an open, honest, informed and transparent public conversation that allows all stakeholders a place at the table. That is what community is all about, that is what we are all about.

So how do we navigate these times and move forward? First, since we exist to serve this community, we must always keep in mind what is genuinely best for all of Colorado Springs.  Second, we need to insist on honest and balanced public conversations, seeking to understand and then to be understood, being open to new ideas. Third, and most importantly, we need to arm ourselves with the facts and get involved. We need to have many conversations with our friends and neighbors, and we need to inform them in a non-defensive manner. We need to enrich every conversation by the way we demonstrate our values, by the way we boldly stand for the truth.

I am confident that our organization will more than meet the demands of our time- because I know you. When the facts are all researched and debated, I know that the overwhelming conclusion will be that Colorado Springs Utilities is a treasure worth preserving, because our people are a treasure.

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • City employees • Politics • Utilities • • • | 6 Comments »

Councilwoman says Utilities kept her in the dark

September 18th, 2012, 10:38 am by

Angela Dougan

The Colorado Springs Utilities Board is expected to make a decision Wednesday about the Martin Drake Power Plant downtown.

But at least one member of the board — City Councilwoman Angela Dougan — didn’t know anything about it.

“I was going to walk in blind tomorrow,” she said.

The Gazette is calling other members of the City Council to find out whether they were kept in the dark, too. The council doubles at the Utilities Board and oversees the $1.1 billion city-owned enterprise.

According to the revised Utilities Board agenda, the board is expected to make a decision regarding the “Drake Retirement Analysis.”

The agenda doesn’t include any supporting documentation.

The board and members of the community, including Mayor Steve Bach and his supporters, have been debating whether or not to conduct a decommissioning study on Drake this year or next.

Dougan said the agenda packet she received Friday didn’t include any decision on Drake. In fact, she said, the last agenda item was scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and according to the revised agenda, the board will consider the Drake decision at 4 p.m.

“Ours goes to 3:30 p.m.,” Dougan said, referring to the agenda she received Friday.

“Nobody has talked to me about it, so I’m very concerned about a decision being made at this point in time,” she said. “How can we make a decision when we don’t even have documentation 24 hours out?”

 

 

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • City Council • Meetings • Transparency • Utilities • • • • • | 9 Comments »

Councilman: Should Utilities CEO hit the road?

September 17th, 2012, 8:10 am by

Jerry Forte

Has the time come to replace Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Jerry Forte?

That’s the question City Councilman Tim Leigh ponders today in his electronic newsletter.

“I’m still fuming over the Neumann contract with the Colorado Springs Utilities.  I can’t figure out who thought this was a good deal,” Leigh wrote.

“Who should be held to account? Is it time to consider changes in leadership?” Leigh asked.

Here is the full text of Leigh’s newsletter:

I’m still fuming over the Neumann contract with the Colorado Springs Utilities.  I can’t figure out who thought this was a good deal.

The underlying rationale for the decision is easy to understand.  [Pay less-get more.]  The ultimate business points aren’t as easily understood.

Nuemann was going to provide a robust, full-bodied technology and equipment that would clean Drake’s coal-fired power plant emissions, removing SOx, NOx, particulates and CO2 at ½ the cost of other, (readily available), solutions and we were going to receive sale commissions when he sold the elixir.  Now he’s merely brewing Neumann-Lite, a solution for SOx only with significantly less cost savings; and there are no customers.

From Neumann’s perspective – this is a sweet deal.  He gets all his costs covered plus 10%.  And there is NO cap on costs and NO date-certain for installation.  And, if we use his technology at the Nixon Power Plant, we pay him more!  His contract becomes cost plus 15%!  How wonderful it must be, to be a government contractor.  (Remember fishing when you were young?  It was always a good time – except for the fish.)

I’m not faulting Neumann for being clever enough to pull-this-off.  I’m faulting CSU’s system-of-governance and those board members specifically who were driving it when the contract was contrived.  There was no legitimate oversight then, nor is there yet.

Realize – Neumann had no buyable product – nor does he.  [He does not yet possess a proven-scalable product!]  And shame on us, because his contract clearly says “Statement of Work for Experimental Emission Control Systems”.  Furthermore, even if Neumann had a proven technology, I’ve been told he didn’t have sufficient funding available to build or install without CSU.  We’ve given Neumann a free-pass.  And if his stuff doesn’t work, we’re the schlemiel.

Legitimate questions are:

  • Did the CEO and his team understand the deal?
    • Did they read the contract?
    • Can they justify the speculative risk to the ratepayers and the outrageous profit to the vendor?
    • Did the empanelled board members at the time understand the deal?
      • Did they read the contract?
      • Can they justify the speculative risk to the ratepayers and the outrageous profit to the vendor?
      • Why was a contract of this magnitude signed by a procurement manager and not the CEO?
        • Are there other, similar decisions made by these same folks that need to be re-evaluated?
        • Are there other, similar contracts that need to be re-evaluated?
  • Interesting Rhetorical Questions:
    • If a leader believes Neumann-style contracts are good for the consumer, is he miscast in his role?
      • Should his overall skill-set be questioned?
      • Should his business-decision-making ability be questioned?
  • What other decisions have been made by CSU leadership, which are sheltered by the shadows of an errant bureaucratic process and that are deleterious to the citizens, need to be revisited?
    • How do we shed light on those decisions and contracts?
  • Who should be held to account?
    • Is it time to consider changes in leadership?

The Neumann spend at Drake ($121,000,000) will cause about a 10% electric-cost rate-increase to the average consumer by 2015.  And CSU is facing at a similar spend at Nixon’s coal plant by 2016 (another 10% rate increase); and a similar spend for Mercury Emission Monitors across the system by 2017 (another 10% rate increase).   [10% + 10% + 10% = 30% electric cost rate increase by 2017.] It’s time to look for alternative solutions!  .  .  .  and there are alternatives!

  • BTW – For commercial property owners, think of these rate increases this way:
    • This is taxation without representation – EPA mandates have no explicit authority in law.
    • For every dollar increase in operating costs, your building loses about $10 in value.
      • And for the tax collectors amongst us – realize that in the aggregate, every $10 decrease in property value reduces tax collection substantially.
  • This is how we’re all connected.

I remember questioning the leadership and board at Memorial Hospital.  (You may recall; I called for the CEO’s firing.)  Of course, I was quickly thrown off that bus by many of my contemporaries for making that request.  That was a brutal time when I learned you need thick-skin to play this game.   Eventually, the MHS bus ran into a cathartic ditch emerging as the new CSU/MHS healthy-heath system.   I’m at the same point with CSU with a special indictment of the Carver Model and the lack of oversight driven therefrom.

The CSU bus has left the road.  .  .  That it has, is manifest by dissatisfied employee groups, a divided board and a community crying for greater accountability.  It’s time for serious change at CSU and this Neumann situation proves the point.

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • City Council • City employees • Politics • Utilities • • • • • • | 18 Comments »

Councilman’s emails leaked to The Gazette

September 12th, 2012, 7:15 am by

Bernie Herpin

The Gazette has obtained one of two email exchanges between City Councilman Bernie Herpin and El Paso County Treasurer Bob Balink that Herpin doesn’t want to provide under an open-records act.

The email exchange pertains to a $25,000 water tour that Herpin, along with 73 other elected officials and community leaders, attended at the expense of Colorado Springs Utilities ratepayers.

Here’s Balink’s initial email, sent Sept. 7:

Bernie, there you (they) go again!

Just when I thought I’d get a reprieve from disagreeing with you for a while- there goes another $25 BIG ONES….

…a bus tour and overnight stay at a luxury hotel in Salida to look at the same reservoirs (Turquoise, etc) that were there the last time you went on the water tour?  Really?

I would have used my own gasoline to drive out there and take a few photos to show you the water levels are down a bit. What else can you learn while spending these hard earned taxpayer dollars?

I am discouraged that 74 dignitaries are  doing this and wondering how many, like you, have taken this trip before. Could you let me know?

Meanwhile, be sure to take your camera- the Aspens are turning earlier this year.

Robert C. Balink

Here’s Herpin’s response to Balink:

This is the first tour that I have been on that includes the Southern Delivery System. As a CSU Board member, I believe it was important for me to be on this tour for a couple of reasons:

(1) we make decisions that impact our ratepayers. A recent Gazette article implied that we were not qualified to serve because we don’t know anything about running utilities. So, I go on this tour to learn more and I did. We had a talk on water law while driving by one one the best water attorneys in the state, for example.

(2) We had many elected officials and community and civic leaders who were interested in learning about where our water comes from and how it gets to our city. I was able to meet and interact with these folks.

BTW, I don’t think the Hampton Inn is exactly a “luxury” hotel!

Also, Dougan often states she doesn’t have enough info to make a decision, but she won’t attend things like this and other CSU training sessions.

Sincerely,

Bernie Herpin

Here’s how Balink responded to Herpin’s response:

Thanks for writing Bernie.

You make some decent points- BUT I’d suggest the same could be accomplished with a presentation at a council or utilities meeting before the public. Then we’d all be enlightened.

I’d also suggest if these community “leaders” we’re really interested they should pay their own way.

Glad you got my attempt at humor about the lodging- but isn’t the Hampton Inn at the high end in Salida?

I’ve also spoken about the unnecessary trips to D.C. that too many E.O.s take.

Have a safe trip.

Bob

Posted in: City Council • Colorado Open Records Act • People • Politics • Transparency • Utilities • • • | 2 Comments »

List of 2012 water tour participants

September 11th, 2012, 10:54 am by
Last Name First Name Organization
Baker Greg Aurora Water
Baum Barry City Committee of Colorado Springs
Bennett Merv City of Colorado Springs
Berwick Douglas Berwick Electric Co.
Branham Troy CSFD
Bray Allen CSU Policy Advisory Committee
Brown Sharon City of Fountain
Caldwell Dennis High Line Canal
Carley Patrick US Air Force – Air Force Academy
Cederberg Jan Cherokee Metropolitan District
Croft Bob Pikes Peak Regional Building Department
Dallager JD Pikes Peak United Way
Dunn Prince Colorado Springs Utilities Advisory
Easton Travis Town of Monument
Eilert Scott Pueblo West Metro District
Eklund James State of Colorado – Office of the Governor
Eppley Sam Sparrow Hawk Gourmet Cookware
Fowler Dolores Pikes Peak Library District
Gaertner Bill State of Colorado – State Land Board
George Bill Donala Water & Sanitation District
Gibson Thomas US Air Force – Air Force Academy
Gill Lynden Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District
Goodwin Tom Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
Green Catherine Town of Monument
Griffith Rick City of Colorado Springs – Attorney’s Office
Gustafson Michael City of Colorado Springs – Attorney’s Office
Harvey Scott CSU Policy Advisory Committee
Heald Roy Security Water & Sanitation District/ FVA
Henley Brad State of Colorado – Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Herpin Bernie City of Colorado Springs
Hilaire Jackie Horticultural Art Society of Colorado Springs
Hisey Dennis El Paso County  – Board of Commissioners
Hoppe Diane State of Colorado – Water Conservation Board
Houben Cindy Pitkin County
Hunsicker Mark US Army – Fort Carson
Ivahnenko Tamara US Geological Survey
Jensen Darlene Catamount Institute
John Jeffrey US Senator Michael Bennet
Johnson Greg Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
Joshi Janak Colorado House of Representatives
Judd Ken Donala Water & Sanitation District
Kautza Pete GE Johnson
Krieger Doug State of Colorado – Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Lambert Kent Colorado State Senate
Landin Birgit Water Education Consultant
Liston Larry Colorado House of Representatives
Marr Jerri US Forest Service – Pike San Isabel National Forest & Comanche National Grassland
Mauch Leroy Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District
McClow John State of Colorado – Water Conservation Board
McHugh Mike Aurora Water
McNally Mary Ellen Artemis
Miller Paula Pikes Peak Library District
Nimerichter Cynthia District Attorney, Denver – Retired
Palus Karen City of Colorado Springs – Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Headquarters
Patrick Suzanne Agilent Technologies
Patterson Larry City of Fountain
Pruett Leonard Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
Reynolds Philip State of Colorado – Division of Water Resources
Robbins David Hill & Robbins
Rowland Jacqueline City of Colorado Springs – Auditor’s Office
Scanga, Jr. Ralph (Terry) Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District
Schnabel Jerald Transit Mix Concrete
Skinner Jay State of Colorado – Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Stulp John State of Colorado – Interbasin Compact Committee
Talbot Brandon US Air Force – Cheyenne Mountain AFS
Taylor Tom CSU Policy Advisory Committee
Trainor Scott City of Fountain
Turley David City of Woodland Park
Tyner Bill State of Colorado – Division of Water Resources
Wheeler Derrik CSFD
White Dian Security Water and Sanitation
Wiley Kip City of Woodland Park
Winner Jay Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District
Worcester Ted Natural Resources Attorney – Retired

Posted in: People • Utilities • • | 8 Comments »

Colorado Springs Utilities spent $1.3M on emissions control technology days after board vote

August 10th, 2012, 1:54 pm by

Colorado Springs Utilities didn’t waste any time when it got the go-ahead to continue to install an emissions control technology at the Martin Drake Power Plant downtown.

The city-owned utility spent nearly $1.3 million on the NeuStream sulfur dioxide scrubber system at Drake days after the Utilities Board decided to move forward with installing the technology despite calls from Mayor Steve Bach for a timeout.

During Thursday’s State of the City luncheon, Bach signaled he’s not giving up.

“I think we should have a community conversation on ownership and on governance and yes, on Martin Drake,” Bach told a crowd of about 750 gathered at the Antlers Hilton downtown.

“I think it should involve all of us, not just City Council,” he said, drawing applause.

In an interview afterward, Bach said the council, which doubles as the Utilities Board, might be hearing from Colorado Springs residents.

“They may find a groundswell of community interest to affect a hiatus,” Bach said. “We’ll see how it works out.”

It’s unclear if the purchases exceed $1.3 million.

On July 31, The Gazette asked the communications office of the billion-dollar-plus enterprise for purchases related to the scrubbers following the board’s July 18 vote.

“Since the vote to move ahead with the Drake scrubbers, we have spent or committed approximately $1.3 million on additional equipment purchases and progress payments on previously ordered equipment,” spokeswoman Natilia Sibert said in an email.

“Including the $1.3 million, to date, we’ve spent about $74 million on Neumann at Drake, to include testing the technology since 2008. Overall we expect the cost to be one third less than conventional scrubber technology,” she said.

The Gazette requested a list of the purchases, and Sibert said Aug. 1 that it would take about a week to gather the information from Neumann Systems Group, which invented the technology and is testing it out at Drake.

Sibert didn’t provide the list until Friday.

When asked whether there had been other related expenses since she provided the information last month, Sibert responded: “What I sent you is what I have at this time. There may be more to share later.”

Posted in: Boards and Commissions • Budget • City Administration • City Council • City employees • Politics • Utilities • • • • • • | 10 Comments »

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