97-acre fire cause several evacuations in Teller County
Seven hundred homes remain threatened by a fire that started yesterday in Teller County.
The Highland Lake Fire remains zero percent contained, and has burned between 90-97 acres as of this morning. One structure has been lost.
At 7 p.m. last night, areas under evacuation orders include Alpine View, Beaver Lake, and Wayward Wind. There are also a number of areas under pre-evacuation warnings. You can find the full list of evacuation sites at tellercounty.gov.
Fire danger is expected to be high today, with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour.
The fire started as a structure fire off Beaver Lake Circle in the Divide area.
Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said he is “nervous” about the fire’s aggressive behavior, according to KTTV.
Teller County website (evacuation sites)
Flavored tobacco products ban reappears
Three Denver City Council members are leading the latest charge to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the city.
The proposal by newer council members covers the sales of vapes, hookah shisha, and nicotine pouches – they’re hoping to blunt the appeal of those products to young people.
The effort comes three years after former Mayor Michael Hancock vetoed a similar ban, following intense lobbying on both sides. That proposal was drafted by different council members than this current proposal.
If passed, the legislation would also update the city code to clarify the definition of tobacco products and hold tobacco sale license holders responsible for violations, rather than individual store clerks.
The proposal, brought to city council last night, has a long way to go. However, the next step – a hearing before the city’s Safety, Housing, Education, and Homelessness committee – could come as soon as next week. That’s all according to The Denver Post.
Tri-State wins $2.5 billion to close coal plants
Tri-State Generation – a wholesale power supplier based in Westminster – has won $2.5 billion in federal loans and grants to close coal plants. KGNU’s Grace Maruska has more.
Officials say the funds will be used to retire existing coal plants and purchase over 1,200 megawatts of renewable energy from solar, wind, and wind storage hybrid projects across four Western states.
According to The Colorado Sun, Tri-State says the financing will reduce electricity rates 10% by 2034 and create $430 million in benefits for rural customers in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona. The group also expects the funding will cut 5.8 million tons of climate pollution annually, while creating over 2,000 new jobs.
The money comes from the Depart of Agriculture’s $9.7 billion Empowering Rural America program that can only be tapped into by electric cooperatives transitioning to green energy.
The Sun reports that Tri-State currently provides electricity to a million customers.
Colorado Springs Airport receives grand funding for upgrades
The Colorado Springs Airport has received an $8 million grant to modernize its facility, including updating its flooring, charging stations, and adding new food and retail options.
According to the project’s website, no taxpayer money is being used for the upgrades, thought most of the funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration which – as The Colorado Sun points out – is primarily funded by aviation excise taxes. The latest grant is part of a $36 million interior upgrade already underway.
Project leaders estimate the upgrades will be complete by fall 2026.
E-bike rebates are here for the end of 2024
The final round of Denver e-bike rebates for this year begins today.
To apply, head to denvergov.org/ebike and register before 11 a.m. today. Denverite says to be ready to claim your voucher on that website right at 11, since all vouchers from the last round in August were claimed in just one minute.
Vouchers include $300 off an e-bike, $500 off an e-cargo bike, and for income-qualified residents, a discount of $1,400.
The city has spent $8.6 million to help buy over 9,000 e-bikes for residents since the rebate program launched in 2022.
There are a total of 28 participating bike shops between Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, Wheatridge, Centennial and Littleton where you can use your rebate. For those who don’t qualify or get their hands on a rebate, the state offers a $450 tax credit that you can access through participating bike stores all year round.
