Made with FlowPaper - Flipbook Maker
(Photo from Shutterstock.com) April 11, 2025 | NORTHERN COLORADO’S WEEKLY LOCAL INDEPENDENT | Vol. 32, N. 52 NORTHERN COLORADO’S LARGEST BATTERY STORAGE PROJECT IS COMING SEE THE STORY: PAGES 8-9 Energy IdeasApril 11, 2025 week of The view of King's Canyon (Photo by Blaine Howerton)© 2025 North Forty News New SCENE Weekly All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, incluiding photocopying or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the editor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by the copyright law. For permission requests, write to the editor, addressed “Permissions”, at the address below. info@northfortynews.com NorthFortyNews.com The views expresses in this publication are those of the respective contributor and are not necessarily shared by the company or its staff.Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs when you least expect them. Last week, I was headed out the door for a typical day at Bomgaars when a message from my stepmom stopped me in my tracks. She was sick and heading to the emergency room. Without a second thought, I dropped everything and drove to Aurora. My dad, who requires full-time care, needed to be with her—and that responsibility fell to me. She was admitted with double pneumonia. And in the middle of that crisis, I still had to get the next edition of North Forty News out. After a sleepless night caring for my dad on the couch, I packed him into the car and brought him back home to Fort Collins. Between caretaking, phone calls, and medications, I hit send on the weekly paper and kept the website updated. I’ve been burning my vacation time at Bomgaars ever since, stepping into the role of full-time caregiver. My stepmom is improving, thankfully. But for now, my priority is making sure my dad is safe and supported. He took care of me when I was young—now it’s my turn to return the favor. These past few days, I’ve learned more about respite care and the community resources available to families like mine. Over the years, North Forty News has covered many of the nonprofits that serve caregivers and seniors. Now, I find myself personally relying on the same types of support we often spotlight in our paper. It’s been a humbling reminder of how fragile life is, and how quickly things can change. Through it all, I’m reminded just how important this newspaper is—not just to me, but to the thousands of readers who count on us every week. I go to extreme lengths to make sure the paper goes out and the website keeps turning over fresh, local stories. It’s my duty. Just like caring for my father is my duty. And it’s one I take on with pride, even during life’s toughest turns. THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS Here are a few of the top stories from this edition: • Platte River Power Authority Invests in Battery Storage A major step toward renewable energy and reliability. • Greeley Bans Retail Pet Sales with “Sammy’s Law” A victory for animal welfare advocates. • Family Reunited Through Larimer County Juvenile Diversion How behavioral health funds helped a local family heal. We publish new stories every day at northfortynews.com, and our weekly e-edition is always available at northfortynews.com/this-week. If you’d like to receive daily news emails, become a donor and sign up at northfortynews.com/subscribe. Our weekly e-edition email goes out to all subscribers and includes a link on the front page of the edition itself. Thank you for reading and supporting North Forty News. I’ll keep doing my best to bring you the news—rain or shine, hospital run or headline. Warmly, Blaine Howerton Publisher, North Forty News PUBLISHER’S LETTER BY BLAINE HOWERTON Your support helps us provide coverage of Northern Colorado communities. Support North Forty News in the following ways: • Advertise - ads@northfortynews.com • Donate - northfortynews.com/donate-now • READ - northfortynews.com/this-week A Week of Duty and DedicationPhoto by Matthias Zomer (Pexels.com)Content Fort Collins Fort Collins, at the foothills of the Rockies, is Northern Colorado’s vibrant heart. Known for its historic Old Town, craft beer scene, and outdoor recreation, it blends urban energy with small-town charm. Home to Colorado State University, it’s a hub for innovation, culture, and community. PLATTE RIVER AND NEXTERA LAUNCH NORTHERN COLORADO’S LARGEST BATTERY STORAGE PROJECT 8-9 SPRING INTO PLANTING: VEGGIES TO GROW NOW! 10-11 HEALING AT HOME: HOW LARIMER COUNTY’S JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM REUNITED ONE FAMILY 14 FORT COLLINS LAUNCHES CIVIC ASSEMBLY TO SHAPE FUTURE OF HUGHES SITE 15 THE STILL WHISKEY STEAKS: WHERE FORT COLLINS DINES BOLDLY 16-17 FORT COLLINS' OWN NO FAUNA TO HEADLINE AGGIE THEATRE MAY 9 18-19 MAN ARRESTED AFTER ARMED ROOFTOP STANDOFF IN FORT COLLINS 25 FATAL MOTORCYCLE CRASH UNDER INVESTIGATION IN SOUTH FORT COLLINS 28 FORT COLLINS MAN ARRESTED FOR TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITING MINORS 29 We Love your Photos! Send yours to photos@northfortynews.com. We will share them.Loveland Loveland blends creativity with small-town charm. It’s the Northern Colorado hub for Larimer County’s events. STORYTELLING IN BRANDING: HOW TO CREATE DEEPER CUSTOMER CONNECTIONS 12-13 LONGMONT TEEN MISSING SINCE 2014: WHERE IS NICOLE SILVERS? 23 COLORADANS BRACE FOR ECONOMIC STRAIN, CPI SURVEY FINDS 27 Content Northern Colorado’s Weekend Forecast: Warm Days Ahead with a Chance of Sunday Showers As I write this, the foothills are glowing in golden evening light—proof that spring has finally taken hold in Northern Colorado. But if you’re hoping to get your garden in the ground this week or planning a hike near Horsetooth, here’s what to expect from the weather over the next three days. Friday and Saturday will be perfect for outdoor plans in Northern Colorado. Expect sunny skies and highs near 75°F Friday, cooling slightly to the upper 60s Saturday. Winds will stay light, making both days ideal for gardening or hiking. By Sunday , clouds increase with a 30% chance of afternoon showers, mainly west of Fort Collins. Highs stay in the mid- 60s with evening lows dipping into the 30s. (Sources: NOAA, CSU) It's not just news. It's your neighborhood. Be Informed. NorthFortyNews.com/subscribe Greeley Greeley, a dynamic city in Northern Colorado, is rich in agricultural heritage and cultural diversity. MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR 2022 MURDER OF HERMINIA MARQUEZ 22 CUTS TO MEDICAID WOULD AFFECT ONE IN FIVE COLORADANS 24NorthFortyNews.com Page: 8April 11, 2025 Platte River and NextEra Launch Northern Colorado’s Largest Battery Storage Project CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE. In a powerful move toward a noncarbon future, Platte River Power Authority has announced a major partnership with NextEra Energy Resources to bring Northern Colorado’s first large-scale battery energy storage system online by late 2026. The project, called Weld Energy Storage, will store up to 100 megawatts of power for four hours—enough to supply thousands of homes during peak demand or cloudy, windless days. It’s being built adjacent to Platte River’s largest solar facility in Severance, and will plug directly into the utility’s new transmission infrastructure. “This is one part of our solution to maintain reliability as we transition to 100% noncarbon energy,” said Jason Frisbie, general manager and CEO of Platte River. “NextEra has been a trusted partner since 2020 with the Roundhouse Wind Energy Center, and we’re proud to expand our work together.” NextEra will own and operate the facility, while Platte EDITORIAL | BLAINE HOWERTON (Photo by Acharaporn Kamornboonyarush, Pexels.com)NorthFortyNews.comPage: 9April 11, 2025 River will purchase its energy output through a long-term storage agreement. The initiative is one of three key strategies Platte River is deploying to ensure grid stability and financial sustainability across its four owner communities—Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland. Other efforts include: • 5 megawatts of smaller-scale energy storage in each owner community • A virtual power plant aggregating distributed energy resources • Aeroderivative turbines for flexible backup generation “We thank Platte River for entrusting us with this innovative project,” said Anthony Pedroni, VP of Development at NextEra Energy Resources. “It will deliver vital reliability benefits to customers and the state of Colorado.” Currently in the permitting phase, the Weld Energy Storage project is slated for construction in early 2026. It will join two other battery storage projects NextEra operates in the state, with another—Jackson Fuller Energy Storage—set to come online this month. WHY IT MATTERS TO NORTHERN COLORADO As communities like Fort Collins and Loveland continue to grow, battery storage is quickly becoming a cornerstone of resilient, renewable energy. This new system helps stabilize supply during unpredictable weather or peak usage times—keeping lights on and rates in check. Learn more about Platte River’s clean energy goals at prpa.org. Explore NextEra’s nationwide energy innovations at nexteraenergyresources.com.Next >