Colorado families could save more than $1,400 a year in electricity costs under the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. (Pixabay)

DENVER – Colorado families could save more than $1,400 a year in electricity costs under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, according to a new report by the Georgia Institute of Technology.



Marilyn Brown, the report's lead author, says without any changes in the way electricity is produced and used, Colorado households could see increases of more than 21 percent in on their electric bills over the next 15 years.



But she says the plan's call for greater efficiency and clean energy investments should bring costs down.



"A lot of analysts say that the Clean Power Plan is going to bankrupt the nation,” she states. “But what we're showing is in fact, if done wisely, we can save consumers money and also prevent fossil fuels from heating up the planet."



The study found that even if Colorado chooses to adopt the EPA's plan at the lowest cost to the state, consumers still would save $3.1 billion, and savings nationwide would top $248 billion.



Kim Stevens, state director of the advocacy group Environment Colorado, says the study is good news for the state's low-income households that can't afford utility hikes.



She says too many Coloradans' wages have remained stagnant for decades, and some people already have to choose between buying food or paying utility bills.



Stevens says the Clean Power Plan would be a win-win for families.



"Not only is it good for Colorado's health and avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, but it's going to help our pocketbooks as well,” she stresses. “And especially for low-income families to see decreases on their energy bills, that's going to make a huge impact for Coloradans."



According to EPA estimates, the plan will help avoid up to 150,000 asthma attacks in children and 6,600 premature deaths by 2030.



The agency says reducing carbon pollution would also prevent thousands of heart attacks and hospital admissions every year.





