Power play: NC Energy Initiative near launch

FORT COLLINS — Northern Colorado could become Energy Efficiency, USA, if Wade Troxell and colleagues have their way.

The Colorado State University professor and associates in the public and private sectors hope to kick off the Northern Colorado Energy Efficiency Initiative this summer. The pilot program would have several purposes: to save energy, save money and promote local energy-technology companies.

Specifically, the initiative looks at ways to address times of peak energy demand.

When demand for electricity exceeds the planned supply, providers such as the Platte River Power Authority are forced to buy more electricity on the spot market.

“Electricity is the most-volatile commodity,”…