PowerGab

Can renewable energy resources experience full grid blackouts? Spain relies heavily on renewable energy and just experienced a countrywide black out. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke interview Kenny Stein of the Institute of Energy Research and Mitch Rolling of Always On Energy Research to find out what happened and if there is a way to prevent it.Show Notes:https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kenny-Stein-Bio-24.pdfhttps://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/the-grid/what-caused-spain-and-portugals-massive-power-outage/https://jkempenergy.com/2025/04/28/iberian-peninsula-hit-by-mass-blackout-and-attempts-black-start/

New executive orders challenge Colorado's renewable goals. How will these orders affect the state, does Colorado need to comply, and are the renewable goals that Colorado has even capable of handling the power needs? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.Show Notes:https://coloradosun.com/2025/04/14/colorado-oil-and-gas-lawsuit-trump-order/https://coloradosun.com/2025/04/15/coal-fired-power-craig-tri-state-xcel-trump-orders/https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-04/regulatory-relief-for-certain-stationary-annex-1.pdf

A new legislative bill in Colorado aims to incentivize data centers with money from the taxpayers. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this bill, its progress, and what it would mean for Coloradans. Show Notes:https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025A/bills/2025a_280_01.pdf

Colorado Media slanders providers that don't align with their viewpoints, and PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke call them out. They talk about their "pet peeves" in the power industry along with legislative measures that are suffocating Colorado's economy. Show Notes:A pet peeve: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/therightaoc_home-liberty-energy-activity-7314317686220431363-gnSC?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGSjcgBPL5m2zttfZr18-SF8P9Di3bhWi8I can’t do business in Denverhttps://denvergazette.com/news/denver-developers-commercial-real-estate-regulations/article_ea6d4d62-5400-455b-84cd-014241056fb8.html#google_vignette Executive Orders:https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/reinvigorating-americas-beautiful-clean-coal-industry-and-amending-executive-order-14241/https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/protecting-american-energy-from-state-overreach/https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/strengthening-the-reliability-and-security-of-the-united-states-electric-grid/The legislative “fix” to Building Regshttps://tsscolorado.com/bill-to-aid-building-owners-needing-to-decarbonize-doesnt-help-enough-sector-leaders-say/

A new energy legislation bill in Colorado threatens to move up the current mandates for renewables in the state. What's in the bill, will it actually pass, and is it even realistic? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.Show Notes:https://liberalandlovingit.substack.com/p/the-puc-feels-very-pro-forma-to-mehttps://www.aoenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2025/03/CEP-Draft-3-25-25-STAKEHOLDERS84.pdfhttps://www.aoenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2025/03/Letter-re-2040-Late-Bill-Status-3.28.25-Final.pdf

Two of the largest utility companies in Colorado are publicly sounding the alarm of cost and reliability risks with renewables. PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke interview Travas Deal, the CEO of Colorado Springs Utilities to find out more.Show Notes:https://i2i.org/colorado-utilities-signal-pain-ahead-for-energy-transition/https://www.csu.org/blog/ourenergytransitionhttps://gazette.com/news/colorado-springs-utilities-slowing-green-energy-project-goals/article_317f44ec-eee8-11ef-b113-238f450e3acf.htmlhttps://coloradosun.com/2024/01/04/platte-river-power-authority-greenhouse-gas-reductions/

There are no shortages of goals for the future of energy. But what is realistic? Are the projections of renewable energy even attainable? PowerGab Host Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this topic and updates from the Colorado Legislature.Show Notes:-https://www.cpr.org/2025/03/17/lawmakers-approve-bill-to-classify-nuclear-power-clean-energy/-https://coloradosun.com/2025/03/13/platte-river-power-authority-natural-gas-climate-change/-https://www.aei.org/articles/welcome-to-the-era-of-energy-realism/

It's halfway through the 2025 legislative session in Colorado. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke have been keeping tabs on the good, the bad, and the ugly energy legislation and they discuss the bills and their likeliness of becoming laws.Show Notes:-HB25-1040: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1040-HB25-1126: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1126-HB25-1177: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1177-HB25-1277: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1277-HB25-1234: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1234-HB25-1260: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1260

A new Independence Institute analysis shows that coal is no longer the king of Colorado's energy. What is the current breakdown of Colorado's energy sources and what is that costing? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.Show Notes:https://i2i.org/fast-facts-about-colorados-electricity-sector-in-2024/https://i2i.org/fast-facts-about-electricity-in-colorado-in-2023/

The new Trump administration takes aim at downsizing government agencies like the EPA. How will this have an affect on Colorado's energy policy? PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke have a conversation with President Trump's former EPA transition team leader Myron Ebell.Show Notes:https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/climate/trump-epa-layoffs.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/02/26/epa-endangerment-finding-trump-climate/https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/is-the-epa-endangerment-finding-endangered

Colorado gets one step closer to nuclear energy with a bill passing the committee house. However, some of the objections to the bill make it clear that there is a clear need for education about nuclear energy. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.Show Notes:https://i2i.org/is-2025-the-year-that-colorado-goes-nuclear-hopefully/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1040

Colorado's Public Utilities Commission is meant to be a bipartisan entity representing all Coloradans. But is it? A new legislative bill is proposed to help give more equal representation. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.Show Notes:https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1126https://www.dsireinsight.com/blog/2024/11/21/utility-commissioners-how-theyre-selected-what-they-do-and-how-they-impact-daily-lifehttps://i2i.org/wp-content/uploads/CoRP_Case_Study_v2_a.pdf

As Colorado considers nuclear energy as an option, what happens with the nuclear waste? Where would it go and how much would there be? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.Show Notes:Nuclear storage plans in Northwestern Coloradohttps://coloradosun.com/2025/01/18/nuclear-waste-storage-colorado-rio-blanco-county-rangely/https://coloradosun.com/2025/01/29/nuclear-waste-storage-hayden-routt-county/ Chris Wright Lays Out DOE Prioritieshttps://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-energy-baseload-generation-nuclear-transmission-wright/739412/

Are the energy problems facing Colorado a partisan issue? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke have a conversation with Dave Thielen from Liberal and Loving It to see if there is a political consensus on the problems facing Colorado's energy grid and what some possible solutions are.Show Notes:https://liberalandlovingit.substack.comhttps://liberalandlovingit.substack.com/p/will-toor-executive-director-coloradohttps://liberalandlovingit.substack.com/p/is-wind-energy-cheaper-than-gas

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission Chair has just given a very grim forecast for where costs are going for utility bills. And, how do the new Trump Administration's executive orders affect what's ahead for Colorado? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss these topics.

For the 3rd year in a row, Colorado lawmakers have introduced new pro-nuclear legislation with bipartisan support. Will the 3rd time be the charm? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the bill and how that would affect Colorado.Show Notes:Link to the bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1040I2I’s testimony and coverage the last few times it was introduced-https://i2i.org/energy-environmental-policy-centers-testimony-on-bill-to-classify-nuclear-as-clean-energy/-https://i2i.org/colorado-lawmakers-to-consider-pro-nuclear-bill/-https://gazette.com/opinion/guest-column-pure-partisanship-kills-nuclear-energy-bill/article_b53422c6-b132-11ed-b0ea-2f95fb9340ea.html

A new year is under way and a new legislature is in session. What lessons will Colorado learn from its policies in 2024 and is it possible to save in 2025? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.

Xcel Energy customers are going to be paying more for heat pumps, whether or not they actually buy them. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the legislature's "Fenberg Rider" and why utility prices are going up.Show Notes:https://coloradosun.com/2024/12/18/electric-grid-xcel-energy-ev-heat-pump-solar-wind-natural-gas/https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2024/05/06/cooke-xcel-energy-cash-cow-steve-fenberg-rider/https://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/ra/Reliability%20Assessments%20DL/NERC_LTRA_Infographic_2024.pdf

Colorado's decarbonization goals, along with regulations on gas and oil producers have cost the state some money. You may be surprised to find out how much. PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke have a discussion with Liberty Energy's Ryan Zorn to analyze the costs.Show Notes:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanzorn/https://libertyenergy.comhttps://rockymountainvoice.com/2024/06/zorn-colorados-passenger-rail-romance-vs-reality/

Colorado celebrates electric vehicle sales as first in the nation, but what does that mean, and are EVs having an effect on the climate? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke dive into the report and find out what is actually going on.Show Notes:https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/leading-nation-electric-vehicles-governor-polis-announces-colorado-has-become-1-nation-markethttps://i2i.org/unpacking-colorados-electric-vehicle-triumphalism/

Is nuclear power an option in Colorado? What are the benefits and what are the risks? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke talk with Mark Hinaman of Fire to Fission and the Colorado Nuclear Alliance to get all the details.Show Noteshttps://fire2fission.comhttps://www.coloradonuclearalliance.org

Colorado's Governor announces a 10 year goal for the transportation in the state. What does it look like? Who will it benefit? And, how much will it actually cost? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.Show Notes:https://gazette.com/colorado_politics/colorado-transportation-vision/article_e7405daf-cedf-5607-849d-f57c86a3db31.htmlhttps://www.9news.com/article/money/consumer/xcel-ev-rebate-program/73-b72bf9c0-6d7d-492d-ad02-a7d3aecae507

President-Elect Trump taps a Coloradan to lead the Department of Energy. Who is Chris Wright and what does his nomination mean for Colorado energy policy? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.Show Notes:https://libertyenergy.com/esg/bettering-human-lives/?mc_cid=ea430099a5&mc_eid=0dae6775a6https://libertyenergy.com

Colorado's leading climate lawmaker resigns his senate seat in a less than forthright way, spurring doubt on the future of energy policy in the state. Plus, PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss President Elect Trump's EPA pick and recent Black Hills Energy news.Show Notes:https://coloradosun.com/2024/11/13/chris-hansen-colorado-legislature-resignation/https://www.utilitydive.com/news/gas-generation-grid-reliability-spp-black-hills-naruc-pjm/732760/https://www.spp.org/news-list/spp-board-approves-new-planning-reserve-margins-to-protect-against-high-winter-summer-use/

A letter reveals the Colorado Governor's Office is beginning to worry about the price tag that comes along with wind, solar, and battery power for the state. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this along with an update on local election results.

With the 2024 Presidential Election decided, PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the results and what the future holds for energy policy under the Trump Administration.

Many renewable energy technologies rely on limited minerals and resources to manufacture. And with increasing legislation along with increasing demand, are net zero goals even possible? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke interview Sarah Montalbano, a policy fellow at the Center of the American Experiment to find out.Show Notes:https://www.americanexperiment.org/mining-report-lack-of-minerals-put-net-zero-goals-out-of-reach/https://i2i.org/mama-make-america-mine/

Blue Cities and States across the country begin to sue oil and gas companies for climate change. Who is responsible and should the courts be the ones to decide? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this with attorney and former Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.Show Notes:-https://www.law360.com/environmental/articles/1883052/supreme-court-must-halt-for-profit-climate-tort-proliferation-https://libertyenergy.com/esg/bettering-human-lives/

Gas bills are spiking but it's just the beginning, and planned data centers are going to put an enormous energy strain on an otherwise overused power grid. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss these topics and more.

PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke review a utility price increase and figure out who is the reason behind it.

What are cumulative impact rulings and why are they about to start a war over Colorado's oil and gas drilling? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke explain what these are and how they affect the state of Colorado.Show Notes:https://tsscolorado.com/state-regulators-on-verge-of-passing-new-cumulative-impact-requirements-on-oil-and-gas-projects/https://coloradosun.com/2024/08/28/oil-and-gas-cumulative-impact-rules-coloraddo/https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2023/04/17/life-after-climate-change/

What is a Demand Side Management Program and why does it mean that XCel's customers need to subsidize energy for pot growers in Colorado? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss how this system works and what the implications are.Show Notes:https://coloradosun.com/2024/09/11/xcel-energy-efficiency-budget-marijuana/

Energy blackouts in Colorado are happening more frequently, but why? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the deeper reasons why Colorado's energy reliability isn't just a question of power.Show Notes:DP story on Xcel’s power outage https://www.denverpost.com/2024/09/11/xcel-energy-power-outages-colorado-puc-investigation/https://poweroutage.usCalifornia has problems too!https://www.wsj.com/opinion/californias-lights-are-out-and-gavin-newsom-isnt-home-energy-power-f51913f5?st=njgcgku5oql73y6&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

After candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump squared off in the recent presidential debate, PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the debate and what each administration would look like in terms of energy policies.

Where will the new power come from with our increasing energy needs? Consumer Regulated Electricity has some great possibilities and PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss it further with the founder of Advocates for Consumer Regulated Electricity Glen Lyons.Show notes: https://www.advocates4cre.orghttps://travisfisher.substack.com/p/what-would-consumer-regulated-electricityhttps://www.datacenterknowledge.com/energy-power-supply/consumer-regulated-electricity-the-path-to-faster-reliable-power-solutions-

Time of Use Rates, Co-Ops, Home Generators... Energy reliability is becoming more of a problem. PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss what is causing these problems and possible solutions that people are turning to.Show Notes:https://robertbryce.substack.com/p/whats-good-for-generac-is-bad-forhttps://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/08/26/co-ops-in-wyoming-and-beyond-look-to-united-power-as-template-to-leave-tri-state/https://www.9news.com/article/money/consumer/xcel-expand-time-charge-electricity/73-c65f107c-b296-4296-be56-8205a9b74dfbhttp://poweroutage.us

Why are power outages becoming more common? Is this a random occurrence or is there a larger reason behind all of it? PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the most recent power outages in Colorado, why they are happening, and what the future holds.Show Notes:https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/colorado/news/colorado-neighborhoods-experiencing-frequent-outages-xcel-energy-officials-taking-action/https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2024/07/17/caldara-how-many-coloradans-will-green-energy-kill/

What are the energy policies of the presidential candidates? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the track record of Tim Walz as Governor of Minnesota with Co-Founder of the Energy Bad Boys Mitch Rolling.Show Notes:Fundraiser with Dem elites: https://coloradosun.com/2024/08/13/tim-walz-denver-fundraiser/ Energy Policy: https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/green-new-walz https://www.npr.org/2024/08/08/nx-s1-5065725/harris-walz-climate“I am all in for Walz,” said Gina McCarthy, former Biden White House national climate advisor. She now co-chairs a climate coalition called America Is All In. “He can't be bought by the fossil fuel industry. Walz is a climate champion moving Minnesota toward 100% clean energy.” But the green party isn’t cheering: https://www.gp.org/green_party_walz_is_no_leader_on_climate_change“A coalition of 16 environmental groups recently criticized Walz‘s lax enforcement of environmental regulations, reliance on voluntary compliance by farmers on nitrate pollution limits instead of legal enforcement, failure to adequately police air quality violations from a foundry in a low-income environmental justice neighborhood, and a flawed permitting process for a crude oil pipeline built through wetlands.” This sounds like the Khmer Rouge: “The Green Party’s Ecosocialist Green New Deal calls for public ownership and control of the energy system and much of the economy. It supports Making Polluters Pay for the damage they have caused, starting with a robust carbon fee and dividend, as well as decarbonizing and re-localizing the food system, including regenerative agriculture and a more plant-based diet.”

The US Supreme Court's decision to repeal the Chevron Doctrine leaves many industries feeling the consequences. How does it affect Colorado's energy policies? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss with Senior Fellow of Constitutional Jurisprudence Robert Natelson.Show Notes:https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2024/07/04/natelson-supreme-court-just-helped-out-the-real-colorado/https://www.cato.org/blog/why-chevron-victory-wont-end-administrative-abuse-coming-environmental-protection-agency

Renewables don't last forever. The added costs to remove renewable resources like solar panels and wind turbines may shock you. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss how it happens and who has to pay for it.Show Notes:Lewis Roca Study - https://20416171.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20416171/LR_Renewable%20Energy%20End-Stage%20Planning%20Report_FIN.pdf Colorado Sun article: https://coloradosun.com/2022/10/23/logan-county-wind-energy-regulation/ SB24-212: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-212 Colorado’s Orphan Well System: https://ecmc.state.co.us/owe.html#/owe

Colorado's XCel Energy doesn't think the original cost and timeline for their clean energy plan will cover it. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the full details and how that will affect their customers.Show Notes:https://coloradosun.com/2024/07/18/xcel-clean-energy-goals-price-colorado-puc/PUC Weekly Meeting (7/17/24)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U35TI2Hq7CYAmy’s column predicting the Fenberg rider issues:https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2024/05/06/cooke-xcel-energy-cash-cow-steve-fenberg-rider/

Colorado's shift to renewable energy has sacrificed reliable power with speculative promises. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss with former Colorado Springs' Councilman and Board member Sean Paige.Show Notes:https://www.csu.org/pages/martindrakepowerplant.aspxFYI about CSU’s forced transition: https://gazette.com/news/local/colorado-springs-utilities-electric-generation-electric-grid-energy-requirements/article_dd895d0c-2f4b-11ef-a7fc-9b2cd064e17d.amp.html“Meeting state requirements for clean energy is costly and ratepayers will continue seeing the impacts on their monthly bills, Utilities Chief Executive Officer Travas Deal said.”It isn’t the first time he has made somewhat critical comments of the Polis Plan publicly: https://gazette.com/news/local/cos-ceo-on-gov-carbon-plan/article_64ebca24-db45-11ee-9039-632a9d748fa7.htmlAlso: https://gazette.com/news/local/colorado-springs-utilities-electric-generation-electric-grid-energy-requirements/article_dd895d0c-2f4b-11ef-a7fc-9b2cd064e17d.htmlhttps://www.csu.org/Pages/Blog/GreenhouseGasReductionRoadmap.aspx

Is hydrogen the answer to Colorado's energy needs? PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke review how hydrogen is planned to be used and if it is an effective solution or a costly problem.

PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss environmental permitting reform with James Broughel and how those show what direction Colorado is headed.

PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss Colorado's Clean Heat Plan, the push of swapping gas for electric, and who is going to end up paying.

The state of Colorado releases its cost estimate on renewables implementation and its staggering costs. Hosts Jake and Amy examine and explain.Show Notes:CEO report: https://www.ascendanalytics.com/blog/colorado-decarbonization-by-2040-ascend-provides-roadmap-for-eliminating-power-plant-emissions Jared Polis roadmap to wind/solar: https://www.colorado.gov/governor/sites/default/files/inline-files/ROADMAPTO100%25RENEWABLE.pdf?usp=sharing

PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke dive into the fastest reason why electric costs go up, and more importantly, who ends up paying.

PowerGab Hosts Amy Cooke and Jake Fogleman discuss how Colorado compares with neighboring states' energy policies. Is Colorado better or worse off than its neighbors?

PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the costs of gas in the summer and why they change. How have Colorado's politics influenced the cost of fuel? How is the ozone involved and affected?

Hosts Amy Cooke and Jake Fogleman talk with former Colorado Senator Kevin Lundberg about his transition to living off the grid.