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Voters in Boulder, Colo., approve ballot measures that could lead to a new public power u... Page 2 of 2 <br />No bonds will be issued "until full information on costs is available and a careful analysis of these <br />decisions occurs," the city said. Boulder officials said they believe it will take three to five years to <br />complete this process. <br />In the meantime, Xcel Energy will continue to provide electricity to Boulder customers. <br />The city manager encouraged community members on all sides of this issue to remain engaged in the <br />ongoing conversation. <br />"I wish to thank both supporters and opponents of the measures," Brautigam said. "Together, they <br />raised the level of public discussion and understanding about the city's options with regard to our <br />shared energy goals. This kind of public participation is part of what makes Boulder special -and is <br />one of our greatest strengths as we continue our research." <br />Among the supporters of the ballot measures was Earth Day Founder Denis Hayes, who said, "The <br />most innovative utilities in the nation are municipal utilities: Austin, Eugene, Seattle, Sacramento. I'd <br />expect Boulder will follow (or lead) the munis, and it will give Colorado an independent standard <br />against which to measure Xcel." <br />In an Oct. 29 article, the New York Times said proponents of ballot issues 2C and 2B "say that the <br />utility industry desperately fears a public awakening, and that a John Brown-like raid on a monopoly <br />in one place could galvanize electricity consumers all across the nation to push for change." <br />Boulder said it will spend the next several weeks laying the groundwork for additional engineering <br />work, starting negotiations with Xcel Energy and determining what steps can be taken in the <br />meantime to help the community achieve its goals. A roundtable discussion with the newly elected <br />City Council is scheduled for Dec. 6. More information about the city's effort to form a municipal <br />utility is posted on the city's website. -JEANNINE ANDERSON <br />Copyri&ht O 2011, Amencen Public Power Associafion <br />http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/print-V2.asp?aid=158485 11/7/2011 <br />