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The Boulder renewable energy plan is somewhat ironic, considering that Xcel pioneered the development of wind power in Colorado back in the 1990′s and is now a leading force in the national clean energy landscape. However, apparently Xcel is not moving fast enough for Boulder, particularly considering that local governments have the potential to compete against each other to attract new businesses using clean energy as an incentive.

One way or another, Boulder wants more clean power…… Boulder and the Google solution

Boulder’s eagerness to ditch fossil fuels is a public sector reflection of a problem identified by Google. In a blog post last week, Google’s Director of Global Infrastructure, Gary Demasi, argued that utility customers like Google are eager to use more renewable energy, but conventional rate structures present a huge obstacle.

Traditionally, utility rates or tariffs are based on classes of customers, such as residential, commercial or industrial. As described by Demasi, Google’s solution is for utilities to develop a new tariff based on energy preferences, namely for renewable energy.

Google anticipates that there is enough demand in the business community for a renewable energy tariff to make sense. Under Google’s plan, companies would pay a premium for the special tariff, but they would realize an overall bottom line benefit by enhancing their marketing and sustainability profile.

Between Google and Boulder, what this all boils down to is the emergence of new opportunities for green-minded businesses to vote with their feet, and take the availability of clean energy into consideration when making plans to relocate.http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/04/boulder-renewable-energy-plan-moves-forward/