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Solar Success: How the IRA Will Help Community Solar Gardens Power Affordable Housing

Enterprise Community Blog | Vesna Jaksic Lowe In California, solar panels have sprouted from the terracotta rooftops of senior apartments. In the District of Columbia, a reservoir-based community solar project will provide free energy to more than 500 households. And in Minnesota, a community solar garden atop a high school will supply clean power to the building and its neighbors, …

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CO Targets Apartment, Commercial, Industrial Building Climate Pollution

Public News Service | Eric Galatas Colorado wants to reduce climate pollution from apartments and commercial buildings 50,000 square feet and larger, but there is growing concern retrofitting buildings could exacerbate the state’s affordable housing crisis if costs are passed along to tenants. Jennifer Gremmert, president and CEO of Energy Outreach Colorado, said as climate …

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Utility Costs Are Rising: How To Pay Your Bills As Heat Wave Surges and Relief Agencies Struggle To Meet Demand

AOL.com | Dawn Allcot Electric bills could surge by 12% this summer, according to estimates from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). By the end of August bills could reach a monthly average of $578, up from $517 last year. In the West and South Central U.S., including Texas, bills could be up to $706 from …

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A winter of brutal energy bills has left Xcel Energy customers deep in debt

Colorado Public Radio | Sam Brasch  For most Coloradans, springtime has brought much-needed relief from high energy bills.  That’s after households watched their gas and power costs spike over the winter due to frigid temperatures and high natural gas prices. In some cases, monthly bills doubled or tripled compared to a year earlier. Warmer weather and lower …

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Ratepayers, Activists Decry Xcel Energy Bill Surges at CO Capitol, Lawmakers Promise to Take Action

Colorado Times Recorder | Sean Price  Environmental groups and Colorado residents gathered outside the state Capitol Wednesday to decry the burden of skyrocketing energy bills and ask state lawmakers to take action. At the rally, two lawmakers promised to introduce a bill aiming to address the rally attendees’ concerns. In December, energy bills spiked in Colorado due to record-cold …

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Generating Equity

Spotlight: Denver Business Leaders | Forbes & Fortune EOC shines a light on the home energy needs of vulnerable households across Colorado During the harsh winter months of 2022-2023, approximately 16,000 Coloradans were calling a state helpline every week for assistance in paying their heating bills. “Energy costs were shocking,” says Jennifer Gremmert, executive director …

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Help Available for Higher-than-Usual Utility Bills

Public News Service | Eric Galatas As Coloradans continue to experience sticker shock each time they open their utility bill, the volume of calls to Energy Outreach Colorado’s helpline has been off the charts, topping 1,600 calls per week. Michel Infante, energy assistance project manager for Energy Outreach Colorado, said they are processing more than …

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EOC deputy director Luke Ilderton

Electrification of affordable housing is a win-win

Colorado Real Estate Journal | Luke Ilderton Electrification is the replacement of equipment powered by fossil fuels to cook, create heat and produce hot water with equipment that uses electricity. It’s also known as beneficial electrification or building decarbonization, where high-efficiency electric heating and hot water equipment is the priority over less-efficient and expensive-to-operate all-electric …

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What does Denver’s new building code mean for building residents, owners?

Denver Gazette | Alex Edwards Despite a major push by foes of fossil-fired energy, Denver’s city council ultimately decided against requiring residents to electrify their homes under the newly adopted 2022 building, fire and green code. Instead, the code changes — the first of three planned updates staggered through 2027 — will apply to commercial and multifamily buildings larger …

What does Denver’s new building code mean for building residents, owners? Read More »

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Rising Utility Bills Unsustainable for Many Colorado Households

Public News Service | Eric Galatas Experts are warning Colorado households utility bills currently making their way to mailboxes are likely to be even higher than the supersized bills people received for November’s energy use. Denise Stepto, chief communications officer for Energy Outreach Colorado, said as energy prices have remained stubbornly high, December brought an …

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Connecting CO Health Outcomes to Climate Solutions, Lower Utility Bills

Public News Service | Eric Galatas A successful program that helps low-income households weatherize homes and lower energy bills is setting its sights on improving the health outcomes of children and older Coloradans at risk of indoor and outdoor air pollution. Ashley Feiertag, director of residential programs for Energy Outreach Colorado, spearheaded its Healthy Homes …

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EOC executive director Jennifer Gremmert

What Makes A Nonprofit Stand Out? Its Leader Sets The Right Tone

Investor’s Business Daily | Morey Stettner Jennifer Gremmert sought to convince a roomful of utility executives to approve subsidies for low-income consumers in 1996. It didn’t go well. They rejected her argument. “How dare you ask me for this money,” one of them said. “People should pay their energy bill themselves.” “It was shocking to me,” …

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Staying warm: What does an unheated room do to your body?

Mention deadly cold and I think of polar explorers with icicles dangling from their beards and mountaineers tackling the heights of Everest; of fingers turning black with frostbite and the chilling clutch of hypothermia.

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New solar gardens going up around Denver

Not the kind of garden you might be thinking of, but the kind of garden where you can harvest energy and donate it to low-income families.

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Inflation Reduction Act Good First Step for Low-income Energy Needs

President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act has been billed as the most significant legislation in U.S. history to tackle the climate crisis, strengthen American energy security, and lower utility bills, and some American households stand to benefit more than others.

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December natural gas bills will jump 54% as Xcel passes a stack of price hikes on to Colorado customers

The Colorado Sun | Article Written by Mark Jaffe   The rate increase “is more than concerning, it is frightening,” state consumer advocate says   Come this Christmas, Xcel Energy gas customers will get an unwelcome present from the utility — an approximately 54% increase in their monthly bills compared to Christmas past. The hike …

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Study provides deeper insights on the health impacts of utility shutoffs

Energy News Network | Written by Lisa Prevost Connecticut residents who struggle to pay their energy bills often suffer from physical and mental health issues as a result.  That is one of many findings in a new study of energy insecurity based on interviews with 22 residents of varying ages and races from around the state. The …

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New contracts will help low-income families in Denver make their homes more energy efficient

The Denver Gazette | Written by Lindsey Toomer A Denver committee on Wednesday approved two contracts that would help low-income families make their homes more energy efficient through the Healthy Electric Efficient Homes program. Both of the contracts are for three years. The funding for the contracts comes from the city’s Climate Protection Fund. The …

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Inflation is making it difficult for families to cool homes during summer heat waves

ABC Affiliate, WTXL Tallahassee | Story by Jessie Cohen The hot summer months have been hard on many American families. “I’m worried to hear that one of our families passed away because of it,” said Mayra Avina, the family support services manager for Focus Points Family Resource Center. To survive extreme heat, people in many …

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electric meters in an alley off Larimer Street in Denver’s RiNo district

Your Xcel bill has tons of small charges. Here’s what they’re for.

CPR News | Written by Miguel Otárola Cutting down on home energy costs is no longer as easy as just switching off the light when you leave a room or insulating the attic, said Denise Stepto, chief communications officer for Energy Outreach Colorado, a nonprofit that provides bill assistance to qualifying residents.  Natural gas prices …

Your Xcel bill has tons of small charges. Here’s what they’re for. Read More »

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