This episode features Eric Frankowski, Director of Western Clean Energy Campaign, and Bryan Hannegan, President and CEO of Holy Cross Energy, in conversation with 350 Colorado’s Heidi Leathwood on the transition to clean energy in utilities.

Watch this podcast in video on 350 Colorado’s YouTube channel!

Fracked gas ends up being used for home and business energy - either burned in power plants that make electric energy, or piped into homes, businesses, and other buildings for heat and cooking. To meet the greenhouse gas emissions reductions required by Colorado law – 100% emissions reduction by 2050 – the use of “natural gas” (translation, fracked methane) gas for energy in homes and businesses must eventually come to an end.

Utilities are an important piece of that puzzle. Investor-owned utilities have an obligation to make money for their shareholders. The priorities of co-op utilities are member-driven, and if they make money, they give it back to their members. Hear more from our guests about these types of utilities, the differences and similarities between Xcel and Holy Cross Energy, and some keys to success. How are they both doing in keeping rates low and achieving climate pollution reduction? Hint: Xcel’s plans say they will provide 80% clean energy by 2030, as required by law, and has just announced $1 billion in profits in Colorado — the most ever, and is requesting more rate increases. Holy Cross has already achieved 85% clean energy for its customers (members), with a goal of 100% by 2030, while keeping rates low and making it easy for customers to use clean energy at home.

Visit Holy Cross’s website to find more information about their groundbreaking progress and how they got there: https://www.holycross.com/

Listen to the talk Bryan Hannegan gave for Empower Our Future:

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