Catch Up with the Partnership Advisory Panel

The City of Boulder Xcel Energy Partnership Advisory Panel meets several times for year. This page provides summaries and recordings of each of the panel's meetings since 2022.

Participants:

  • Advisory Panel: Justin Brant, George Craft, Pat Hillmeyer, Stephanie Hsiung, Brian Lindoerfer, Amanda Meader, Wayne Seltzer, Jonathan Singer, Julie Zahniser, Arlo Corwin, Atreyee Bhattacharya, Claire Wayner, Brock Walstad, Rob Price

Absent: Peter Lilienthal, Ghita Carrol

  • Xcel Energy: Nick Cole, Neil Cowan, Kristin Gaspar, Kristen Leiker, Jeff Knighten
  • City of Boulder: Carolyn Elam, Matt Lehrman, Lex Telischak, Deryn Wagner
  • Institute for the Built Environment: Josie Plaut, Liam Myers
  • At least one member of the public was present for some or all of the meeting.

Panel discussed:

  • VPP Grant – aggregator decision ​

  • Sun article & commitment to coal retirements & renewables ​

  • Communications & Transparency​

  • 2026-2027 Work plan next steps ​

  • Emissions Forcasting

Participants:

Advisory Panel: Justin Brant, George Craft, Pat Hillmeyer, Stephanie Hsiung, Brian Lindoerfer, Wayne Seltzer, Julie Zahniser, Dennis Arfmann

Absent: Bryn Grunwald, Peter Lilienthal, Amanda Meader, Jonathan Singer

  • Xcel Energy: Nick Cole
  • City of Boulder: Carolyn Elam, Deryn Wagner, Lex Telischak
  • Institute for the Built Environment: Josie Plaut
  • Members of the public: 5 members of the public observed the meeting for at least a portion of the meeting.

Panel discussed:

  • Reporting
  • Dashboard Update
  • Zero Emissions Communities
  • Grid 2040 Workshops

Participants:

  • Advisory Panel Members: Wayne Seltzer, Pat Hillmeyer, Brian Lindoerfer, George Craft, Peter Lilienthal, Justin Brant, Bryn Grunwald, Julie Zahniser and Jonathan Singer; Regrets: Amanda Meader, Stephanie Hsiung
  • Xcel Energy: Nicholas Cole
  • City of Boulder: Carolyn Elam, Emily Sandoval and Lex Telischak
  • Institute for the Built Environment: Josie Plaut, Facilitator; Emma Castiblanco, Recorder
  • Members of the public: Up to six members of the public were present for at least a portion of the meeting.

Meeting Summary

Carolyn began the meeting with an update on panel recruitment (in progress). Josie provided a review of the new Advisory Panel meeting structure (shorter, more frequent, focused on a single topic, and focused on panel input instead of updates). Carolyn provided an overview of the March 13th Council study session structure and process.

Feb. 5, 2024 Xcel Community Advisory Panel Meeting

Attendance

Community Advisory Panel Members : Wayne Seltzer, Stephanie Hsiung, Pat Hillmeyer, Julie Zahniser, Bryn Grunwald, Brian Lindoerfer, Justin Brant, Andy Slayer, Jack Vultaggio, Emily Swallow, George Craft, Jonathan Singer, Peter Lilienthal Regrets: Dennis Arfmann, Eli Feldman

City of Boulder: Jonathan Koehn, Emily Sandoval, Caroline Elam, Matt Lehrman, and Lex Telishak

Xcel Energy: Iffie Jennings, Cherise Marczyk, Neil Cowan

Institute for the Built Environment: Josie Plaut, Facilitator; Eleanor Sitter, Recorder

Meeting Summary

The Panel discussed:

  • Electric vehicle incentives
  • Reliability and resiliency
  • Panel involvement

11.6.23 Xcel Community Advisory Panel Quarterly Meeting

Attendance

Community Advisory Panel Members: Wayne Seltzer, Stephanie Hsiung, Pat Hillmeyer, Julie Zahniser, Bryn Grunwald, Brian Lindoerfer, Justin Brant, Andy Slayer, Jack Vultaggio, Emily Swallow, George Craft, Peter Lilienthal Regrets: Dennis Arfmann, Eli Feldman

City of Boulder: Jonathan Koehn, Emily Sandoval, Caroline Elam, Matt Lehrman, Jonathan Singer, and Lex Telishak

Xcel Energy: Iffie Jennings, Cherise Marczyk, Neil Cowan

Institute for the Built Environment: Josie Plaut, Facilitator; Eleanor Sitter, Recorder

Meeting Summary

The Panel discussed:

  • Reflections on Executive and Panel Meeting
  • Overall Partnership recap and Reflections
  • Workplan Progress Updates
  • Open Ended Questions
  • Meeting Duration and Frequency
  • 2024 Meeting Calendar/Closeout

05.15.2023 AP Meeting recording

Attendance

Community Advisory Panel Members Attendees: Andy Sayler; Brian Lindoerfer; George Craft; Jack Vultaggio; Julie Zahniser; Justin Brant; Pat Hillmeyer; Peter Lilienthal; Stephanie Hsiung; Wayne Seltzer; Dennis Arfmann

City of Boulder: Carolyn Elam; Emily Sandoval; Matt Lehrman, Lex Telischak Xcel Energy: Iffie Jennings

Institute for the Built Environment: Josie Plaut, Facilitator; Eleanor Sitter, Recorder

Meeting Summary

The Panel discussed:

  • Boulder building code updates
  • Xcel Emissions Factor filing
  • Xcel Electric Resource Plan
  • Workplan development and implementation
  • Public outreach plan

March 20, 2023 Xcel Partnership Community Advisory Panel Quarterly Meeting

Attendance

Community Advisory Panel Members Attendees: Andy Sayler; Brian Lindoerfer; Emily Swallow; George Craft; Jack Vultaggio; Julie Zahniser; Pat Hillmeyer; Peter Lillenthal; Ramesh Bhatt; Stephanie Hsiung; Wayne Seltzer; Eli Feldman; Justin Brant

City of Boulder: Carolyn Elam; Emily Sandoval; Lex Telischak Xcel Energy: Iffie Jennings; Neil Cowan; Cheriese Marczyk; Shelby Sommer, Imogen Ainsworth and Terry Hatfield (Brendle Group)

Institute for the Built Environment: Josie Plaut, Facilitator; Monica O’Reilly, Recorder

Meeting Summary

The Panel discussed:

  • Advisory panel evaluation feedback
  • Day-ahead emissions forecast
  • Advisory Panel charter
  • Partnership overview and workplan
  • Public engagement plan

Nov. 14, 2022 Xcel Energy Partnership Community Advisory Panel Quarterly Meeting

Attendance

Community Advisory Panel Members Attendees: Andy Sayler; Brian Lindoefer; Dennis Arfmann; Emily Swallow; George Craft; Jack Vultaggio; Julie Zahniser; Pat Hillmeyer; Peter Lillenthal; Ramesh Bhatt; Bryn Grunwald Regrets: Stephanie Hsiung; Wayne Seltzer; Eli Feldman; Justin Brant

City of Boulder: Carolyn Elam; Leah Kelleher; Lex Telischak Xcel Energy: Iffie Jennings; Kelly Flenniken; Tami Gunderzik; Neil Cowan; Cheriese Marczyk; Shelby Sommer, Imogen Ainsworth and Terry Hatfield (Brendle Group)

Institute for the Built Environment: Josie Plaut, Facilitator; Monica O’Reilly, Recorder

Meeting Summary

The Panel discussed:

  • Advisory panel evaluation: What's working and areas for improvement
  • Work plan update
    • Zero Emissions Community
    • Building Electrification

Aug. 8, 2022 Xcel Energy Partnership Community Advisory Panel Quarterly Meeting

Attendance

Community Advisory Panel Members: Andy Sayler; Brian Lindoefer; Bryn Grunwald; Dennis Arfmann; Emily Swallow; George Craft; Jack Vultaggio; Julie Zahniser; Justin Brant; Pat Hillmeyer; Peter Lilienthal; Ramesh Bhatt; Stephanie Hsiung; Wayne Seltzer

Boulder Xcel Team: Carolyn Elam; Emily Sandoval; Iffie Jennings; Angie Bedolla; Cheriese Marczyk

Institute for the Built Environment: Josie Plaut, Facilitator; Monica O’Reilly, Recorde

Meeting Summary

The Panel discussed:

  • Partnership workplan
  • Chatauqua project
  • Progress towards working group recommendations
  • City of Boulder Climate Tax

May 9, 2022 Xcel Energy Partnership Advisory Panel Quarterly Meeting

Attendance

Present: Andy Sayler, Stephanie Hsiung, Jack Vultaggio, Dennis Arfmann, Wayne Seltzer, Brian Lindoerfer, Julie Zahniser, Ramesh Bhatt, George Craft, Pat Hillmeyer, Emily Swallow, Justin Brant, Peter Lilienthal (left at 6:25pm)

Regrets: Bryn Grunwald, Eli Feldman, Erik Abrahamson, Kenny Gillis

Boulder Xcel Team Carolyn Elam, City of Boulder; Emily Sandoval, City of Boulder; Iffie Jennings, Xcel Energy; Matt Lehrman, City of Boulder; Hollie Velasquez Horvath, Xcel Energy; Jonathan Koehn, City of Boulder

Institute for the Built Environment Josie Plaut, Facilitator; Tom Hootman, Consultant; Monica O’Reilly, Recorder

Meeting Summary

The Panel discussed:

  • How the panel's recommendations are addressed by the partnership
  • A review of the 100% Renewable Energy Working Group's findings
  • A review of the Building Electrification Working Group's findings

Feb. 16, 2022 Xcel Energy Partnership Advisory Panel Meeting

Attendance

Leah Kelleher, Carolyn Elam, Josie Plaut, Tom Hootman, Matt Lehrman, Iffie Jennings, Cheriese Marczyk, Bryn Grunwald, Dennis Arfmann, Eli Feldman, Stephanie Hsiung, Jack Vultaggio, Julie Zahniser, Pat Hillmeyer, Ramesh Bhatt, George Craft, David Kang, Wayne Seltzer, Peter Lilienthal, Emily Swallow

Meeting Summary

The Panel discussed:

  • The purpose of the energy partnership agreement
  • Governing structure of the partnership
  • Working Groups for the partnership, including data, distribution system planning, renewable electricity, transportation electrification and streetlights

Dec.1, 2021 Advisory Panel Meeting

Attendance

Executive Team Members - Boulder

  • Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde, City Manager
  • Chris Meschuk, Deputy City Manager
  • Sarah Huntley, Director of Communications and Engagement
  • Carl Castillo, Chief Policy Advisor
  • Jonathan Koehn, Interim Director of Climate Initiatives

Executive Team Members – Xcel

  • Alice Jackson, President, Xcel Energy-Colorado
  • Hollie Velasquez-Horvath, Regional Vice President, State Affairs and Community Relations
  • Rachael Nance, Senior Director of Customer Relations and Strategic Accounts
  • Kelly Flenniken, Director of Community Relations

Project Oversight Team – Boulder

  • Carolyn Elam, Senior Manager, Climate Initiatives
  • Matthew Lehrman, Policy Advisor, Climate Initiatives
  • Lex Telischak, Electrical Engineer, Climate Initiatives

Project Oversight Team – Xcel

  • Iffie Jennings, Area Manager, Community Relations-Boulder Region & Mountain Communities
  • Susan Davis, Account Manager
  • Cheriese Marczyk, Builder Developer Representative

Advisory Panel Members

  • Erik Abrahamson
  • Dennis Arfmann
  • Ramesh Bhatt
  • Justin Brant
  • George Craft
  • Eli Feldman
  • Kenny Gillis Bryn Grunwald
  • Patrick Hillmeyer
  • Stephanie Hsiung
  • David Kang
  • Peter Lilienthal
  • Andy Sayler
  • Wayne Seltzer
  • Emily Swallow
  • Jack Vultaggio
  • Julie Zahniser

Institute for the Built Environment

  • Josie Plaut, Facilitator • Susan Hsin, Recorder

City of Boulder Staff

  • Emily Sandoval, Senior Communication Program Manager, Climate Initiatives

Meeting Summary

The Panel and the Executive Oversight Committee spent the meeting learning about the panel member's backgrounds and interests in the partnership.

November 2021 Meeting Recording

Attendance

Staff Panel Members Attending: Carolyn Elam (Boulder), Emily Sandoval (Boulder), Iffie Jennings (Xcel), Susan Davis (Xcel), Josie Plaut (facilitator), Susan Hsin (recorder)

Panel Members attending: Dennis Arfmann, George Craft, Bryn Grunwald, Iffie Jennings, Pat Hillmeyer, Julie Zahniser, Ramesh Bhatt, Peter Lilienthal, David Kang, Emily Swallow, Jack Vultaggio, Justin Brant, Wayne A Seltzer, Andy Sayler, Stephanie Hsiung

Meeting Summary

The Panel discussed:

  • Boulder's approach to engagement
  • Scope of the Advisory Panel
  • Information Flows
  • Structure and Work Plan
  • Selection of initial working groups
    • Renewable electricity
    • Building electrification