Northern Colorado Alliance for a Livable Future

In October of 2024, a federal judge in South Carolina found that the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) failed to assess the environmental impact of their plutonium pit production plan at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico and Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina.

A plutonium pit is the softball-sized bomb core that begins the chain reaction in every modern US thermonuclear weapon. Currently, there is no demonstrated need for new plutonium pits to ensure the safety or reliability of the existing US nuclear weapons stockpile. In fact, these new pits will be for entirely new nuclear weapons. This kind of production involving extremely dangerous radioactive materials puts workers and nearby communities at risk. The NNSA is seeking to expand production to at least 30 plutonium pits per year at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico and at least 50 pits per year at SRS by 2030, which has never previously produced pits, for new nuclear weapons. NNSA pushed forward with the project without the required public review of the multi-site project or an assessment of alternatives, in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

This ruling results in the mandatory review of pit production at DOE sites across the country, including management of radioactive waste. Under NEPA, this provides a critical opportunity for public scrutiny of and formal comment on these assessments. The Draft PEIS was released April 10 and the 90-day comment period is now open.

Take action by submitting a written comment to PitPEIS@nnsa.doe.gov by July 16! Communities across the country will be affected, not just ones that live close to DOE sites, as nuclear materials will be transported on highways. With the current administration’s dismantling of the NEPA process, which has resulted in the DOE now scrapping draft environmental impact statements and public comments, this could be the last time the public gets to adequately scrutinize a nuclear weapons project. 

We have a standalone website that has more information and will be updated with comment trainings and additional resources. Visit pitpeis.com for more information!

On April 7^th, President Donald Trump stated that he was prepared to end Iranian civilization after starting an illegal war last month that has taken an increasing toll on Iranian civilians. While that threat was fortunately not carried out, it is a frightening example of Trump’s increasingly unhinged behavior. Many mental health professionals believe that Trump is suffering from Frontotemporal dementia, which NCALF explored during the salon held on April 10^th.

Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) recently called on Vice President J.D. Vance to invoke Section 4 of the 25^th Amendment to formally declare President Trump “as unfit to discharge the powers and duties mandated by the Constitution.”  While there’s little light or air between J.D. Vance’s outlook on the world and Donald Trump’s, Vance has the advantage of apparently not suffering from dementia and is therefore less likely to perpetrate extreme harm on the people of Iran or the rest of humanity.

Please write to Vice President Vance using the form available at this link and amplify Representative Jasmine Crockett’s demand.  Please put the request in your own words, or simply use the following language:

Dear Vice President Vance:

Representative Jasmine Crockett is right.  Donald Trump is a danger to humanity.  It is high time that you, along with the President’s Cabinet and the Congress, invoke Section Four of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution by formally declaring this President as unfit to discharge the powers and duties mandated by the Constitution.

Sincerely,

Your Name

On March 13^th, the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) released a revised draft permit for the PRPA’s proposed Rawhide gas plant. The permit documents are available here. The Fort Collins Sustainability Group and others have since reviewed the permit, and have concluded that while it represents an improvement over the first draft permit, it could do much more to protect public health and the environment. We are therefore asking people to send comments to the APCD again asking that they make additional improvements. This should be done prior to deadline of April 12^th.

The new draft permit does establish annual limits for how long the new fleet of five gas turbines (collectively, the gas plant) may run, and how much “hazardous air pollutants” (HAPs) that fleet may release. It requires that Rawhide Unit #1 (the coal plant) shut down within 180 days of the date when all five gas turbines become operational, and no later than December 31^st, 2029. However,

1. The new permit allows the gas plant to operate at equivalent full output for 45% of the entire year. That’s a lot of hours – 3,942, to be precise.
2. The new permit allows the gas plant to emit up to 25 tons of HAPs per year. That’s a lot of air toxins that wouldn’t be released by wind turbines, solar panels, or batteries.
3. Perhaps most surprisingly, the new permit allows the gas plant to emit more HAPs in the summer – ozone season on the front range – than during other seasons. More specifically, it allows:
   1. 30% of total annual pollutants to be released in December – February
   2. 15% of total annual pollutants to be released in March – May
   3. 40% of total annual pollutants to be released in June – August (aka ozone season)
   4. 15% of total annual pollutants to be released in September – November.

Please write to the APCD at cdphe_apcd_airpermitcomments@state.co.us and state in the subject line that you are commenting on Draft Construction Permit 24LR0705. Tell them that the final permit should:

1. Include more stringent limitations on hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) during June – August. Letting the gas plant release 40% of annual total HAPS during ozone season is unconscionable.
2. Reduce the total amount of HAPs permitted from 25 tons to the lowest number possible. HAPs – including carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds – lead to poor health and kill people and animals.
3. If 25 tons of HAPs is really the absolute minimum that APCD can accept, reduce the number of turbines permitted from five to three. Three turbines can produce more than enough electricity than the draft permit assumes is needed. Building fewer turbines will help reduce the spiraling cost of PRPA’s new gas plant, which will be paid for by the residents of Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, and Estes Park over the coming decades through their electricity bills.

Please use your own words if you can, and explain why at least limiting the size of the gas plant is important to you. But sending something is better than nothing! Be sure to e-mail your letter to the APCD before the deadline, April 12^th.

Senator Michael Bennet has expressed opposition to reintroducing wolves to Colorado.  That needs to change! Please reach out to Senator Bennet to tell him that you want to see wolf reintroduction continue.  Calling is best, but e-mailing is better than nothing! Here is a sample phone script, and his contact information:

Phone script:

Hello, my name is [Name] and I live in [Town]. I’m calling to ask Senator Bennet to withdraw his support for suspending Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program. A pause now would delay recovery and undermine the voter mandate. Please ask the Senator to publicly support continuing the program. Thank you.

Contact information

1. Washington, D.C.: 202-224-5852
2. Fort Collins: 970-224-2200
3. E-mail: Visit this link.

War has broken out, and is now quickly spiraling into a regional conflict.

The predictable death toll is climbing, including over 150 children at a girls’ school in Iran bombed on day one.

American casualties have also now been confirmed, with Trump indifferently saying there will likely be more.

Yet Congress has yet to actually debate, much less vote on the record, on opposition or support of Trump and Netanyahu’s folly.

That could, and should, end this week. We expect votes on War Powers Resolutions (WPR) in the House soon, and the Senate is scheduled to vote on Tuesday, 3/3. That means it’s time to step up. It’s time to be loud. It’s time to demand, in no uncertain terms, that we want this war to stop NOW!

It is time to call your representative and both senators to demand support for War Powers Resolutions. Your members of Congress are deciding how to respond this minute, and that means they need to hear the demands of their constituents — and the overwhelming pro-peace majority — to vote YES on the WPR.

MAKE URGENT CALLS TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TODAY:

1) Call the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121
2) Ask to be connected to your rep’s office, and repeat for each of your two senators. Make 3 calls!!!
3) Once connected, give them this message (in as many of your own words as possible):

Hello, my name is ____________ and I’m a voting constituent from (your city). The Trump administration has launched unauthorized strikes on targets across Iran. Congress must act immediately to use every ounce of its influence and constitutional authority to prevent further violence and all-out war — one which a majority of Americans reject.

As your constituent, I insist that you support the bipartisan War Powers Resolution to stop President Trump from continuing to wage unauthorized war against Iran. It is expected that a vote could be as soon as this week. It is past time for Congress to fulfill its Constitutional authority and vote to require authorization of any military action against Iran. I demand that the representative/senator support the bipartisan War Powers Resolution. Thank you.

Alternatively, e-mail your Representative and Senators with the same message using the links below:

Joe Neguse

John Hickenlooper

Michael Bennet

The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) has not yet made a ruling on the PRPA application for an air quality permit for the proposed 5 new gas turbines at the Rawhide Energy Station. We are reaching out to highlight a critical permitting issue that most commenters haven’t yet heard about— this major-scale project is being treated as a minor one—blocking our right to a public hearing with the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC). The AQCC needs to hear from us!

PRPA’s proposal involves five new 40 MW fracked gas turbines totaling 200 MW at an already major industrial facility. Under state and federal air quality law, projects of this scale are evaluated to determine whether they constitute a major source of air pollution, based on their aggregate potential emissions.

In this case, the APCD erroneously processed the Rawhide project as a minor source permit, which limits the scope of review and avoids a formal public hearing before the Air Quality Control Commission.

How you can help:

The AQCC is holding a public meeting on Wednesday, February 18 at 4:30 pm, which includes a general public comment session at the beginning of the meeting on any air pollution issue.

• Submit a written comment to the AQCC before Feb. 18 explaining why a major-source determination and public hearing are warranted. Submit your comment via email to: cdphe.aqcc@state.co.us and michael.ogletree@state.co.us. See sample letters below.
• Sign up to speak at the Feb. 18 meeting. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DYWQff0TR1SExSbU0MT6GQ#/registration  

You do not need to write or say anything super technical. A clear and simple statement that you believe this project warrants major-source treatment and a public hearing is sufficient. Here are some sample paragraphs which you can personalize:

Sample Paragraph 1 – Clear and Direct

I urge the Air Quality Control Commission to treat PRPA’s Rawhide gas turbine proposal as a major source under the Clean Air Act and require a public hearing. The proposed permit appears to rely on unverified assumptions and arbitrary accounting—not enforceable limits—to create the false appearance of staying under the thresholds that trigger major review. A project of this size, with five new gas turbines and potentially high levels of NOₓ and other pollutants, deserves full scrutiny. The public has a right to weigh in before construction begins, not after the fact.

Sample Paragraph 2 – Emphasizing Health and Fairness 

I am deeply concerned that PRPA’s proposal for five new fracked gas turbines is being processed as a “minor” source, when the scale and cumulative pollution suggest it should be classified as major. Northern Colorado communities already face serious air quality challenges, especially with ozone. If this project goes forward without enforceable limits and without a proper public hearing, it would undermine both health protections and public trust. The Commission should intervene and ensure a full, fair review process.

Sample Paragraph 3 – Legal Focus with Layperson Clarity

The Clean Air Act requires a different permitting process for “major” sources of pollution, including stronger limits, deeper review, and a public hearing. The 200 MW Rawhide turbine project crosses those lines—or comes close enough that it must be reviewed under major source rules. Right now, it looks like the permit relies on modeling assumptions instead of enforceable safeguards. That’s not legally sufficient. I respectfully request that the Commission evaluate the permit’s classification and ensure public hearing rights are upheld.

While the Commission will not take immediate action during this meeting, it can:

• receive concerns about the misclassification of PRPA’s project as minor,
• be formally put on notice of the public’s objections to permitting the gas plant,
• and begin to consider whether a public hearing should be required.

This is the right moment to loudly and clearly state:

This PRPA project should be treated as a major source of potential air pollution, and the public is entitled by both state and federal law to a public hearing.

• For more information read the Substack article by  Ethan Augreen (MA Environmental Leadership; Longmont, CO)  “A Major Loophole: How Misclassifying PRPA’s 200 MW Permit Application for New Fracked Gas Turbines as “Minor” Can Undermine the Clean Air Act and Silence Public Oversight” to learn more about this issue (at https://ethanaugreen.substack.com/)

Thank you again for your engagement and for helping ensure that air quality decisions in Northern Colorado receive the level of public scrutiny the law intends.

Watch this space for the next one!

On Tuesday, December 2^nd, the Fort Collins City Council will consider approval of a Building Performance Standards (BPS) ordinance that would require existing commercial buildings having areas less than 50,000 square feet to meet specific energy use targets. The ordinance proposed by city staff is very weak and will do little to help our community achieve its 2030 climate pollution reduction goal. Let council know that you want them to approve a strengthened version of the ordinance on Tuesday. Background information and talking points follow:

Background:

1. Council and staff have been discussing adoption of a BPS ordinance for the last two years. Much of the focus of the discussion has been on the costs of meeting the energy targets. Very little attention has been given to the financial benefits of meeting the targets.
2. BPS is an important lever for achieving our community’s climate pollution reduction goal of 80% below 2005 levels by 2030. According to city staff, BPS can reduce those pollution levels by three percentage points.
3. The State of Colorado adopted BPS legislation in 2021, and requires compliance by 2030. This legislation applies to buildings having areas of more than 50,000 square feet throughout Colorado, including in Fort Collins.
4. The City of Denver adopted a BPS ordinance in 2021 and requires compliance by 2030.
5. The City of Boulder adopted a BPS ordinance in 2015 and requires compliance by 2027.
6. The proposed Fort Collins BPS ordinance pushes the compliance deadline to 2035, exempts buildings between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, and exempts apartment buildings from the need to comply.
7. The proposed Fort Collins BPS ordinance also proposes spending $$6.25 million from the voter-approved sales tax to support climate programs (21% of the total) by 2032 to incentivize businesses to comply “early” with the BPS targets.
8. The Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce has sent a letter to City Council opposing the proposed BPS ordinance, which is available here. The Chamber is happy to accept the incentive payments, though. It is important to note that the Chamber has opposed most, if not all, important initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, including the adoption of the City’s ambitious climate goals in 2015 and adoption of the 100% renewable electricity goal in 2018.
9. More information on the proposed BPS ordinance is available on the FCSG website here. To view the BPS agenda item for the City Council meeting on 12/2/2025, see page 1099 of 1163 in the agenda packet for that meeting.

Talking Points:

1. Fort Collins City staff has consistently failed to emphasize the financial benefits of a BPS ordinance since its first formal presentation to council in April of 2024. This has allowed opponents of BPS to push back based solely on the costs of compliance.
2. City staff has also failed to emphasize or even mention the availability of state-sanctioned financing mechanisms to “bring the savings forward” and allow businesses to comply with BPS requirements without so much as a down payment. Those financing mechanisms include the “Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy” (C-PACE) program and energy performance contracting.
3. The compliance deadline should be moved up from 2035 to 2030. The City of Boulder requires compliance with its BPS ordinance by 2027. The City of Denver and the State of Colorado require compliance with their BPS laws by 2030. Fort Collins cannot claim any “leadership” in the climate policy arena and would in fact be a climate policy laggard if it postpones the BPS compliance deadline to 2035.
4. Fort Collins will almost certainly fail to meet its 2030 climate pollution reduction goal if it postpones the BPS compliance deadline to 2035.
5. Apartment buildings should not be exempted from the City’s BPS ordinance. Doing so would make rents less affordable rather than more affordable, as apartment building owners pass along higher-than-necessary energy costs to tenants without taking advantage of C-PACE or energy performance contracting.
6. No incentive payments should be made to businesses from the climate sales tax to help them comply with BPS requirements after 2030. The climate sales tax was approved for the purpose of helping Fort Collins meet its climate pollution reduction goals. Those funds should not be used unless they actually move us toward achieving the 2030 goal.
7. The City of Fort Collins declared a climate emergency in 2019. If this declaration is to be taken seriously, we need to move quickly toward meeting our climate goals, not to delaying or giving up on them entirely.

Please plan to come to the City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2^nd to support passage of a strong BPS ordinance. You will need to register here in order to speak to council.

If you can’t make it to the council meeting, please send comments to councilmembers based on the above talking points via CityCouncil@fcgov.com. You can use the following message as a starting point:

Dear Members of Council –

Please approve a strong Building Performance Standards ordinance at your meeting on December 2^nd.  Please do not extend the compliance deadline past 2030. Doing so would make it very unlikely that we will meet our 2030 climate pollution reduction goal.

Also, please do not exempt apartment buildings from the BPS ordinance. We need to start looking at energy efficiency as a way to improve affordability and stop focusing only on upfront costs. Those upfront costs can be eliminated, in any case, via C-PACE and energy performance contracting.

Thank you!