Voters in Boulder passed two measures on Tuesday that would allow the city to lay plans to start a municipal utility and cut ties with Xcel Energy, its current, corporate power provider. Proponents say the move will give the city greater leeway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ballot measures, which pave the way for the homegrown utility and include a nearly $2 million tax increase to pay for legal and logistical fees, each passed narrowly by 51.78 percent and 50.27 percent, respectively, according to unofficial election results from Boulder County. Xcel Energy contended that it was better positioned to provide the city with energy at a far cheaper rate.