Steve Pomerance

“This is a mandatory program” and “Your response is required” is what Xcel Energy states in the two fliers that it sent to 5,000 “smart meter” Boulder homeowners whom it selected to participate in the current phase of its SmartGridCity “pricing pilot.” But the Colorado Public Utilities Commission doesn`t seem to agree. The PUC was straightforward on this matter in its April 27, 2010 decision. In paragraphs 79-82, the PUC stated, “The Commission appreciates the perspectives of the settling parties and Staff regarding whether randomly selected program participants should be allowed to ‘opt out.` On one hand, we want to minimize the potential of self-selection bias and thereby enhance the expected usefulness of the pilot results. On the other hand, we do not want to antagonize randomly selected customers who do not want to be bothered with making an affirmative selection of pilot rates out of concern that such actions could compromise the overall effectiveness of the pricing pilot or ...

In spite of how much I like mountain biking, I do not want to see mountain bikes allowed in the area west of Broadway/93, south of Baseline/Chautauqua and north of Eldorado Springs Drive. For those mountain bikers who will immediately question my credentials, I`ve ridden mountain bikes for decades, including the Hall and Heil Ranch rides, the Doudy Draw area, Walker Ranch, Monarch Pass, Fruita, Moab, including Slick Rock, Porcupine Rim and Poison Spider, Aspen-Crested Butte and back, and so on. The relatively pristine area of prairie and foothills between the south edge of town and South Boulder Creek offers a unique experience of peace and serenity. It`s a trip back into the past. Just walk west on the Lower Big Bluestem Trail from the trailhead south of town on Colorado 93 just north of the trailer park. Within minutes you are out in the prairie, looking west at the mountains, with only tall grass around you. The vista is huge, and even if you see another hiker, they are dwarfed ...