How should Boulder best reduce GHG's?

Xcel

At the same time Boulder is attempting to meet its GHG goals, the state is mandating energy companies to offer millions of dollars in renewable energy rebates, and add renewable energy such as wind power to their energy generation resource plan. Boulder’s energy provider, Xcel, is now the largest supplier of wind energy in the United States with 1,048 [need to spell out MW first time it’s used] MW (one MW will provide the power needed by 1000 homes). Xcel is offering 196 million dollars over an eight year period for demand side management programs (such as compact fluorescent lighting incentives) to its Colorado customers, including Boulder.. The city appears to be jumping in (or piling on) with what may be duplicative programs and efforts, perhaps wasting tax payers’ money on efforts which would inevitably be provided more efficiently by private sector companies. Xcel Energy already has lower GHG energy production than any other power producing utility in the state. As an aside on another Boulder initiative; it is interesting to note that if Boulder were to municipalize the electric power system (take over Xcel), and then purchase power from a source other than Xcel, Boulder’s GHG emissions would become higher because it would be purchasing power from a producer that generates higher per unit GHG emissions. In addition, Boulder would become ineligible for the millions of dollars of Xcel’s demand side management programs. The task force did not take these facts into consideration in designing their emissions reduction program.