ASSOCIATED GOVERNMENTS OF NORTHWEST COLORADO (AGNC) ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF FIRST ENERGY-RELATED SURVEY
June 28, 2024
The Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC) is proud to release the Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative Survey Report 1 at the JOLT (Joint Organizations Leading Transition) Conference on Energy, June 27, 2024, in Montrose, Colorado.
“The focus of NCEI has been to facilitate fact-based discussions around the energy transition,” stated NCEI Project Manager Matt Solomon. “This is not possible without the support of the communities, local media, and elected officials.”
This study was conducted by the Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative (NCEI), operating under the purview of the AGNC. This effort is funded by the Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets grant effort, which is funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) through the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) and the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) in collaboration with the newly established Partnership Intermediary (PI) known as ENERGYWERX to support Northwest Colorado energy impacted communities.
This report took a survey on energy perceptions and preferences and illustrated the communities' knowledge and opinions on the topic.
Northwest Colorado’s impression of the efficiency of each source of electricity rated nuclear the highest, followed by gas and coal. The Northwest Colorado scores were significantly lower than the nation for solar, wind, and hydrogen.
60.82% of Northwest Colorado respondents strongly favor the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity for the nation, while 58.78% strongly favor this for Northwest Colorado. When adding strongly favor and somewhat favor together, Northwest Colorado had 88.58% that favored nuclear energy in the U.S., with 76.8% of national respondents in favor. The combined strongly favor and somewhat favor for Northwest Colorado is 84.49%.
As Northwest Colorado considers options for replacing coal-fired electricity-generating power plants, this survey was launched to hear the views of stakeholders on one of the options, nuclear energy, as it compares to the other options being considered. The focus on nuclear in this survey came because of questions and comments from 2023 outreach efforts.
NCEI Initiative partnered with Bisconti Research, Inc. and the Unconventional Energy Center at Colorado Mesa University for the development and analysis of the surveys. The survey was written by Ann Bisconti, Ph.D., president of Bisconti Research, Inc., an expert in public opinion and communications research, and Matt Solomon of AGNC. Solomon administered the survey and wrote the introductory remarks about the report. The report data was compiled, illustrated, and narrated by Nathan Perry, Ph.D., Professor of Economics at Colorado Mesa University with the help of Dillon Chapman, economic research assistant at Colorado Mesa University.
NCEI was established with a critical mission: to guide the region through a pivotal energy transition, identifying suitable alternatives to coal and preparing for the upcoming feasibility study. NCEI is deeply committed to maintaining affordable energy costs, retaining a skilled regional workforce, and ensuring the availability of quality jobs with competitive wages. This commitment aligns with the broader goals outlined in Colorado HB23-1247.
Those involved in the project are grateful to the Craig Chamber, Colorado Mountain College, Colorado Northwest Community College, Colorado State University Extension, Craig Press, Steamboat Pilot, Steamboat Radio, Jackson Star, and the Grand Junction Sentinel for assisting us in circulating this survey.
NCEI is also appreciative of the regional state and federally elected officials that have supported us in this effort: Senator Hickenlooper, Senator Bennett, Congresswoman Boebert, Senator Roberts, Senator Will, Representative Lukins, and all of the local elected officials.
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About AGNC (www.agnc.org) Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado is a council of governments and designated Economic Development District, representing the counties of Garfield, Mesa, Moffat, and Rio Blanco and all the municipalities therein. Their mission is to advocate, inform, and reflect the needs of its members by promoting the values, industries, and economies of Northwest Colorado.
About NCEI (www.agnc.org/ncei) The Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative operates under the purview of AGNC and Executive Director, Tiffany Dickenson. The advisory board members are former state House Majority Leader and former CMU President Tim Foster, former state Sen. Bob Rankin, Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis, Garfield County Commissioner Mike Samson, Rio Blanco County Commissioner Doug Overton, and former Moffatt County Commissioner Ray Beck. Former Eagle Town Council member Matt Solomon is the project manager