BACES: DRAFT Mission Statement / DRAFT Basic Initial Plan, INCLUDING DRAFT PETITION LANGUAGE (page)


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WELCOME to BACEIS! 

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Please spread the word! 



Birth Week of BACES: Oct. 25 to Nov. 1, 2025


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BACES' EIN: 41-2656054 

- Issued by the IRS on Nov. 18, 2025

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BACES' Certificate of Registration Number: 2025-3036637 

>>> Officially registered as a charitable not-for-profit "unincorporated community association." 

- Issued by the Colorado Secretary of State (Charities Program) on Nov. 25, 2025 -- Status: Good, and current.

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BACES' bank account number: XXX

- Opened at the Elevations Credit Union in early Dec. 2025

NOTE: Due to financial security concerns, please email Moji Agha ( moji.agha@gmail.com ) to receive BACES' bank account number & info about how to support our mission financially.

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Contact: Moji Agha >>> moji.agha@gmail.com



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Draft Mission Statement (Suggested by Moji Agha; Approved by Aaron Stone) 

Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty (BACES), for achieving energy independence -- from XCel's monopoly -- is a not-for-profit community advocacy volunteer association, with the "phase one" (initial) mission of municipalizing the electric utility of the Boulder area, which is currently privatized to the for-profit Xcel Energy corporation (with structural conflicts of interest) that has created a utilities monopoly in our region. 
We plan to pursue this public power mission collaboratively, by placing on the City of Boulder's November 2026 elections ballot a measure provisionally called: Say YES to ENERGY INDEPENDENCE--Municipalize Xcel. After this ballot measure is approved by "We The People" in Boulder, in November 2027 (and/or Nov. 2028) similar measures will be placed on the elections ballots of other municipalities in the Boulder area that similarly suffer from the Xcel's for-profit corporate monopoly.    
 
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TO BE MODIFIED AS WE PROCEED

RAW FIRST DRAFT OF THE INTRODUCTION SECTION (ONLY) OF OUR INTENDED PETITION LANGUAGE THE NOV. 2026 CITY OF BOULDER'S ELECTIONS BALLOT 
(Suggested by Moji Agha, updated Jan. 9, 2026)


We, the undersigned to this public petition, are vote-eligible residents of Boulder, Colorado. By placing this "Yes to Energy Independence: Municipalize Xcel" measure on the November 2026 elections ballot of the City of Boulder, we propose to de-privatize our community's electric public utility, as our initial mission, so we can assert our We, The People of Boulder's energy sovereignty. 

Noting that the City of Boulder provides water, wastewater, and stormwater and flood management services to our community, we are embarking to municipalize our community's electricity, with concomitant revisions and amendments that would eventually need to be made in the Charter of the City of Boulder and its revised Municipal Code--and other related documents. Why? 

Because the private corporate profit motive creates an inherent conflict of interest in the provision of public utilities--and of other public interest services. And in the case of the for-private-profit Xcel Energy corporation, this deep built-in conflict of interest has also been accompanied, especially in the past many years, by numerous forms of contractual violations and abuses of public trust. The resulting corporate monopoly has jeopardized the provision of clean, safe, and sustainable power in our community (and region), in addition to raising dramatically, and clearly unreasonably, the cost of electricity to Boulder residents. 

The name of the de-privatized not-for-profit municipal utilities provider that we propose is Boulder Area People's Utilities (BAPU), which in its initial phase will provide electricity (and later on gas) to the residents of Boulder: 

a) BAPU will operate either directly as a component of the City of Boulder's government--like our water (and related) services, or 
b) indirectly as a contracted nonprofit under the auspices of our elected City Council.

And BAPU's completely transparent operations will be overseen by an independently-functioning Public Ethics Oversight Board (PEOB) as the advisory watchdog body to BAPU.   

NOTE: 
Please see below, including our "Some Considerations" segment, especially its sections 3 and 4. 

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TO BE MODIFIED AS WE PROCEED

Basic Initial Plan (draft)
(Suggested by Moji Agha, updated Jan. 9, 2026)

INTRODUCTION

Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty (BACES) is a State of Colorado registered  non-profit community association advocacy coalition that seeks to turn into reality the dream of having not-for-profit public utilities in the Boulder area, starting with electricity--and in time, gas. 

Boulder Area: Geographic Boundaries

Boulder Area (as defined by BACEIS) means the municipalities, census-designated places, and other unincorporated communities that are within Boulder County, Colorado, plus the areas of such cities, towns, places, and communities that are also a part of an adjacent county; for example the town of Erie, which includes a part of Weld County. 
SOURCE: See the Boulder County "Communities" section of this Wikipedia page: 

BACES' volunteer partners and allies (whether individuals or already formed groups or organizations--in the Boulder area and also beyond) have already pursued, or intend to pursue this movement-building systemic mission through active collaboration, in mutual co-empowerment. 

Such a system of working together genuinely will foster an environment in which we can ethically add to one another's public interest strengths, especially systemically and also geographically, hence we would learn from one another's diverse approaches, successes (and failures too), and from the municipalization and energy independence public power experiences and challenges of other communities--that by definition are unique to each area of the country (and of our small world), but share significant public interest common grounds. 

Given this collaboration (and not competition) spirit and practice, as much as possible consensus-building will guide the decisions that BACES would need to make. However, when the votes of our partners and allies are needed to reach a decision, those who reside in the Boulder area can vote formally, whereas the votes of our "at large" allies (whose residence is outside the Boulder area, by definition) will be advisory.    

In pursuit of the BACES' objectives and goals, and especially in the energy independence spirit of "local control" (freeing our community from the corrupting chains of systemic conflicts-of-interests, from the many-faced motives of private corporate profit at the expense of public interests) we will work collaboratively toward having, initially, not-for-profit CLEAN and SAFE public utilities for the Boulder area, starting with electricity.

Thus, We The People utilities provider that we propose would contract, as needed, with private utility providers (including but not limited to XCel Energy), paying fair compensation also for the provision of services and specialized equipments, tools, infrastructures (such as buildings and plants) that may be necessary.

To reach such goals, BACES will organize regular monthly public meetings (in person--where possible--and on Zoom); while also organizing, as needed, other smaller meetings as well as one-to-one contacts.  


INITIAL PLAN: BACES' November 2026 "Energy Independence" Ballot Measure! 


We plan, based on the mission summarized above, to do the HARD work of putting our care-fully crafted "We The People" of Boulder area "Say YES to ENERGY INDEPENDENCE--Municipalize Xcel" ballot measure on the City of Boulder's Elections Ballot of November 3, 2026.

After this ballot measure is approved by the voters in Boulder, in November 2027 (and/or 2028) similar measures will be placed on the elections ballots of other municipalities in the Boulder area that suffer from the Xcel's corporate monopoly.    

NOTE: Please see below, including our "Some Considerations" segment (below), especially its sections 3 and 4. 


Objectives of our Ballot Proposal -- After Approval by Voters


1- The orderly termination (gradual, as necessary) of the current contractual agreements between the Xcel Energy corporation (and its subsidiaries) with the Boulder area's County and various municipal governments--especially the City of Boulder, AFTER forming a not-for-profit de-privatized municipal utilities provider for our area, for which we propose this name: Boulder Area People's Utilities (BAPU), which in its initial phase will provide electricity (and later on gas--and in time water) to the residents of Boulder;

2- BAPU will operate either directly as a component of the City of Boulder's government (like our water services), or indirectly as a nonprofit organization, with a fair contract with the City,  under the auspices of our elected City Council; 

3- As soon as appropriate and feasible, BAPU will purchase, in reasonable terms and prices--and as needed--Xcel Energy's (and its private contractual partners') relevant assets and needed services, including the equipments, tools, infrastructures -- such as buildings, plants, utility poles, transmission lines, etc., followed by an orderly and ethical process, in the public interest, of transferring (as appropriate) such needed assets, tools and services to the possession and control of BAPU;  

4- And/or, the above-mentioned relevant assets and needed services will be leased to BAPU through fairly compensated reasonably termed and dated contracts or sub-contracts;

5- If the City of Boulder does not decide to provide the above-mentioned public utilities (initially electricity) directly--like water--the Boulder Area People's Utilities (BAPU) will be the nonprofit indirect provider of such utilities;

6- We propose that this BAPU nonprofit operate via a fair contract with the City of Boulder (under the auspices of our elected Boulder City Council), and be administered by an initially-appointed (and later on publicly elected) nine member Board of Directors--with no conflicts of interests--for a maximum of 2 three-year terms; 

7- To ensure its proper functioning, completely transparent and in the diverse interests of the public, BAPU will have an independently-operating advisory Public Ethics Oversight Board (PEOB), which will be composed of 15 voluntarily-serving diverse residents of the Boulder area (each member serving no more than 2 three-year terms); and such PEOB board members will be  initially appointed--and publicly elected as soon as possible--by the Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty (BACES) in consultation and coordination with the above-mentioned Boulder area governments, starting with the City of Boulder.     
 

Some Considerations (draft)

We need to research, evaluate, and recommend needed ways forward (in appropriate Focus Committees or FCs -- see below) the positives and the negatives of the below-outlined considerations--in consultation, as needed, with proper public interest policy organizations (in Colorado and around the country) for example: The Institute for Local Self-Reliance: https://ilsr.org/energy/monopoly-utilities/.

These considerations are as follows:


1) HOW would the municipalities, initially the City of Boulder, that municipalize Xcel Energy (and its subsidiaries) practically run the resulting not-for-profit Boulder Area People's Utilities (BAPU) -- per above -- either: 
a) directly, as a City department, or 
b) indirectly, by delegating such municipalized responsibilities of the City to the Board of Directors of BAPU--via fair and appropriate contracts?    


2) The ways in which Xcel Energy (and its subsidiaries) could be welcome to continue functioning alongside the municipalized utility, so that:

a) The Boulder area municipalities that choose to continue getting for-profit electricity (especially from Xcel) can do so, in collaboration (as opposed to in adversarial competition) with the City or with BAPU;
and
b) The collaborative ways the Xcel Energy (and its subsidiaries) can continue to be contractor(s) or sub-contrator(s) to the City or BAPU, of course with reasonable and fair contracts, for the provision of the needed assets, equipments, services, etc. -- per above.   


3) We need to also consider and carefully integrate (also into the language of our intended municipalization ballot measure) the many, and diverse, methods and processes of achieving collaborative energy independence, such as the following: 

Resilience hubs, grid resilience/local microgrids, new undergrounding methods, self-generated power from rooftop or apartment balcony solar panels, agrivoltaics, photovoltaic batteries, various forms of heat pumps, direct-current supergrid, and other innovative methods that can help transition our region to a sustainable ecology, especially by using renewable sources of energy, such as sun, wind, geothermal, water, steam, soil, etc.  

 
4) Thus, given the vast array of technical, governmental, legal, and socio-cultural dimensions that encompass the process of reaching our intended (ecologically sound) energy independence, perhaps we need to also consider how the formation of a special "Energy Sovereignty Commission (ESC)" in our area could be integrated into our municipalization mission. 


5) BOULDER ENERGY SUPPLY CHANGE OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION 

A Summary Presentation Offered by Doug Rippey via Zoom to the BACES (hybrid) meeting of Jan. 13, 2026

Prepared by: Doug Rippey Research and Consulting -- Commerce City, Colorado -- January 13. 2026

CONTENTS: 1- Three Direct Democracy Modes; 2- Portfolio of Four Potential Models for Electric Service in the Boulder Area; 3- Text Outlines

Section One:

The City of Boulder provides three modes of direct democracy for voters relevant to our discussion: 
1. Charter Amendments -- These slim down, enlarge, or modify the basic structure of the municipality; 
2. Resolutions -- These state municipal policies and commitments to action, and may (or may not) have deadlines, and a set of teeth; 
3. Ordinances -- These enact, amend or repeal laws applicable to municipal operations, grant franchises, define offenses and consequences. 

NOTE: Referendum also exists in the City of Boulder, but it can only repeal (or confirm if it loses) an enactment of the City Council, not replace it with something better.

The Direct Democracy rules and requirements are set forth in the City Charter Title 13, ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE, Section 12-1-4. The Direct Democracy Online rules and requirements (NOT applicable to Charter amendments, just Ordinances and Resolutions) are here.

Section Two:

Four possible models for a new electric power distribution system for the Boulder Area:

1. Create an additional utility department within the City of Boulder, adding it to Title 11 (UTILITIES AND AIRPORT) of the City Charter. This would be similar to Longmont’s service. The City of Boulder currently operates the following: a) Water Utility, Wastewater Utility, and Stormwater and Flood Management Utility; and b) Airport.
2. Create a non-profit entity that the City would franchise to provide electric service. This would be similar to Fort Collins’ service.
3. Negotiate to join an existing electric cooperative somewhere nearby. This might potentially be United Power, which serves Dacono, Frederick, and Firestone (among other places), or Mountain Parks Electric up in Gilpin, Grand and Jackson counties.
4. Create a new "Rural" Electric Cooperative, covering the City of Boulder, and as many cities and unincorporated areas as can be convinced to
join in.

FOR ALL DIRECT DEMOCRACY MODES, PREFACE WITH A SET OF "Whereas clauses..."  i.e., Insert some agreed upon recitation of Xcel’s poor performance, the voters’ desire to exit the profit-driven model, receive more reliable and environmentally responsible service, and achieve energy independence/sovereignty. 

Section Three:

POTENTIAL LANGUAGE

a) FOR A CHARTER AMENDMENT

1. Notice to Xcel of termination of franchise effective [insert date]; 2. Create a new municipal utility; 3. That will provide residential and commercial electric power, and any other electrically-based analog or digital service deemed advisable by the City; 4. That is required to seek electric power from multiple sources, prioritizing local balcony and rooftop solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, wind and other renewable sources; 5. In considering offers and bids, it is authorized to consider future environmental and social costs in addition to current cash cost.

POTENTIAL LANGUAGE 

b) FOR A RESOLUTION

1. Notice to Xcel of termination of franchise effective [insert date]; 2. The city is empowered to generate, transmit, store, lease, purchase, incentivize, subsidize, electric power inside the city limits, and provide any other electrically-based analog or digital service deemed advisable by the City; 3. The city is authorized to enter into an agreement with any county, municipality, co-operative, or not-for-profit corporation to implement the generation, transmission, storage, and distribution of electric power beyond the city limits into the Boulder Area; 4. The city is required to seek electric power from multiple sources, prioritizing local balcony and rooftop solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, micro-grids, wind, and other renewable sources; 5. In considering offers and bids, it is authorized to consider future environmental and social costs in addition to current cash cost.

POTENTIAL LANGUAGE 

c) FOR AN ORDINANCE

Something like the 2025 proposed “Out of Xcel Franchise” ordinance, with due consideration for whatever content, timing, and process problems which opposed that effort >>> See: https://petitions.bouldercolorado.gov/petition/12. 
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City of Boulder's Procedures for a Ballot Measure for MUNICIPAL (NON-CHARTER) INITIATIVES

The document in the following link describes the steps that need to be taken to create a proper ballot measure petition, receive approval for its public circulation, and submit the petition for certification by the city clerk, so that the needed signatures can begin to be collected--all in consultation with at least one caring and competent attorney: 

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THUS, We The People of the Boulder area SAY:


- Yes to Energy Independence and Sovereignty

- Yes to De-privatization of Public Utilities

- Yes to Clean and Safe Energy

- Yes to Minicipalizing Xcel

- Yes to Freedom From XCel's Corporate Monopoly

- Yes to Freedom From XCel's Conflicts of Interest, Profiteering, and Corruption

- Yes to the Energy of "We The People"

- Yes to Honest and Affordable Electricity

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Implementation Steps (draft)


Focus Committees (FCs) that are necessary to be formed by BACES:

NOTE: 

Each FC needs an initial point person and at least one member.


Phase One (Nov. 2025 to...) 

1- Communication, Publicity and Outreach FC 

- Continually look for, find, and absorb coalition partners and allies (both individuals and groups/organizations) for BACES itself and for our Nov. 2026 ballot measure; 
- Publicize what we are doing to the community--and to the media--especially online. 

2- Research and Planning FC

- Conduct research and plan for the theoretical and movement-building development of BACES--and for the initial phases implementation of our plan, focused on developing our Nov. 2026 ballot initiative--also considering various levels (i.e., options) of municipalization; 

- Do the needed research (especially technical, legislative, governmental, and legal) and plan for the initial implementation of the required steps to prepare the Nov. 2026 ballot measure for signature collection in Boulder--all in consultation with at least one caring and competent attorney.  
 
3- De-Privatization, Municipalization, and Energy Sovereignty Education FC

- Educate individuals and small groups (friends and family); 
- Organize online and in-person educational gatherings.

4- Documented List of Xcel's History of Violations and Abuses FC  

- Begin to Compile an accurate and concise list of Xcel's past and present violations of its contractual obligations and its abuses of (individual and collective) public interests and ethical trust.

5- Mediation, Dispute Resolution, and Team Building FC (for BACES and the Ballot measure purposes) 

- Continually team build, with an awareness of dispute prevention; 
- And when disputes and conflicts arise (and they will), informally mediate and resolve them as early as possible.
    

Phase Two (approximately March to June 2026) 

 
1- Energy Sovereignty Ballot Measure Education FC

- Continue to educate individuals and small groups (friends and family) as the petition signature collection process is unfolding; 
- Organize on-line and in-person educational gatherings.

2- Petition Publicity and Signatures Collection FC

- Publicise the petition and collect at least 20% more valid legally required signatures--i.e., at least 4,000 (preferably 5,000) signatures. 

3- Identification and Analysis of Existing Municipal & Co-op Utilities FC

- Look for and analyze the strong and weak points of existing utilities that operate outside the investor-owned model, especially in Colorado--but also nationally and internationally. 

- Look into how other cities (in Colorado--and beyond) have been successful (or not) in municipalizing their utilities; examples: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and Longmont in Colorado.  

- Identify some municipalizing cities around the country that can be compared to Boulder, as models to look at; example: Cambridge, MA. 


Phase Three  (approximately June to Dec. 2026) 


1- Post-Signatures Planning and Implementation Phase FC 

- Plan for the needed steps after the submission of the approved ballot measure petition (with the collected signatures) to the appropriate City of Boulder elections, etc. offices, all the way until after the Boulder's Nov. 2026 Elections results are officially announced. 

2- Post Elections Planning FC

- Plan for the steps that would need to be taken, especially after our ballot measure has been voted favorably in the City of Boulder--and also if is not. 

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RESOURCE INFO -- Highly recommended read: 


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Nov. 7, 2025

Posted By Moji Agha -- A look back at 2015

In Boulder, Colorado, a Move to Municipalize the Electric Company

July 20, 2015

By: Leslie Glustrom


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Contact: Moji Agha >>> moji.agha@gmail.com

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