Clean Energy Economy News | Online edition

Nov. 10, 2008 | Vol. 1, No. 12

In this issue

• Soren Hermansen: Developing an energy democracy
• Election roundup: Valley voters approve BRT sales tax; Silt turns down RFTA membership; Boulder County passes energy finance district
• Xcel Energy cuts solar credit by $1 a watt
• GreenSprouts Foundation working to green schools from Marble to Rifle
• SEI’s photovoltaic manual now published in Spanish
• Collection sites open in New Castle, Glenwood Springs and Carbondale for old phone books
• Bus-only lanes open on Highway 82

Events

• Free beyond-code workshop offered in Carbondale
• Energy Film Fest plays Basalt, Carbondale and New Castle

Clean Energy Bits ‘n Bobs

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Greetings,

Setting the election aside, the highlight of recent weeks was meeting Søren Hermansen of Samsø, Denmark, and hearing his inspiring story of how an island of farmers shifted from being energy importers to clean energy exporters. If you missed these presentation, there’s a summary below. You can also order from CLEER a 38-minute documentary video about the Samsø story.

This issue also includes an election roundup with great news from Boulder County about clean energy financing, news about Xcel’s $1 a watt cut to its renewable energy credit payments, a feature on a new group focused on greening schools, SEI’s PV manual now published in Spanish, phone book recycling options and the new bus-only lanes on Highway 82.

Scroll down for upcoming events —a free beyond-code workshop and the Energy Film Fest — and don't miss Clean Energy Bits 'n Bobs.

A quick update on The New Energy Communities Initiative grant: The nine local government partners met Oct. 23 and Nov. 5 to discuss how to form a governance council that will guide the effort. They will meet again Nov. 19 to approve:

• A proposed memorandum of understanding, which will then be circulated for approval by each partner government.
• A start-up work plan and budget based on deliverables in the grant proposal.

The goal is to start programs and services in early 2009.

As always, feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues. Archives of full-length stories for this and all past editions are on the CLEER website.

Heather McGregor, Editor
Clean Energy Economy News

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Søren Hermansen: Developing an energy democracy

Crowds pack halls in Aspen, Glenwood, Durango, Telluride, Boulder and Lakewood

In 1997, residents of the island of Samsø, Denmark, agreed to make a total shift to clean energy. It was a means of survival, independence and a new economic strategy.

The results surprised even the most visionary of the island’s leaders: challenging jobs for island workers, clean energy investment dividends, 140 percent carbon neutrality, a clean energy tourist trap, and a better local economy.

Søren Hermansen, director of the Samsø Energy Academy and leader of the 10-year effort to achieve carbon neutrality, visited Western Colorado the week of Oct. 27-31, giving presentations to audiences in Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Durango and Telluride, followed by presentations in Boulder and Lakewood Nov. 3 and 4.

He shared Samsø’s clean energy success story, and explained the efforts that led to the success. It began with lots of meetings over coffee and pastries.

“We wanted to develop an energy democracy. We wanted people to participate, and have a say in decision-making,” said Hermansen.

Islanders gained a strong sense of ownership by financing much of the clean energy installations on the island over the 10-year project. Of the $75 million spent to build wind turbines and heating district systems, island residents paid for $65 million, tapping European Union and Danish government grants for the remaining $10 million.

“When a wind turbine is on your neighbor’s land, it’s ugly. When you own a piece of that turbine, it becomes a beautiful thing,” Hermansen said. “People feel very important as a co-investor.”

Hermansen and the clean energy leaders offered the first financing opportunities to Samsø’s two banks. “We met with them and said, ‘We want you to finance this for anyone, no matter how bad the person’s economy (ability to repay).’ We didn’t want anyone left out.”

Samsingers were able to buy a single share in a turbine or district heating plant for $20.
The public and private investments are paying dividends, as well as making the island 140 percent carbon neutral.

Eleven onshore wind turbines, four district heating plants fueled by straw and wood, and hundreds of energy efficiency upgrades in homes and businesses have given the island energy independence in all respects except for transportation fuels.

“We still drive cars,” Hermansen said. “We still don’t have a good solution for transportation.”

So islanders invested $30 million to erect another 10 wind turbines offshore. The turbines produce enough electricity, exported to the Danish mainland, to offset Samsø’s tailpipe emissions.

Meanwhile, Samsø is looking to U.S. carmakers to build a mass-produced electric car. The island is only purchasing existing off-the-shelf technology. “We are not asking the people of Samsø to be guinea pigs,” Hermansen said.

Instead, Samsingers have become the world model for using local ingenuity and investment to achieve energy sustaibility. “We have become a role model of renewable energy,” Hermansen said.

Samsø’s energy features have boosted the island’s already-strong tourism. Thousands of people visit the Energy Academy every year, including 5,000 “trade tourists” — government, business and utility officials from around the world — who come specifically to learn about the Samsø project.

“We now play a role as a promoter of Danish technology,” Hermansen added.

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Election roundup

Valley voters approve BRT sales tax; Silt turns down RFTA membership; Boulder County passes energy finance district

The Nov. 4 election brought mostly positive results for clean energy efforts. Voters in the Roaring Fork Valley and New Castle approved a 0.4 percent sales tax to fund the Bus Rapid Transit plan, dubbed "VelociRFTA," and Boulder County voters approved $40 million in clean energy financing bonds. Silt voters, however, rejected a proposal to join the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority.

Voter approval of the BRT proposal, which will make dramatic improvements in the speed and frequency of bus service between Rifle and Aspen, is expected to bolster a companion request for federal funding. The BRT measure passed 10,485 in favor and 8,720 against, for a margin of 55 to 45 percent, winning in all jurisdictions except New Castle.

The Silt question to join RFTA failed with 591 no votes over 409 yes votes.

Boulder County clean energy bonds

Boulder County voters overwhelmingly supported Issue 1A, which passed with 64 percent approval. It gives the county authority to issue $40 million in bonds for an opt-in clean energy financing district.

The bonding capacity will allow the county to issue 250 to 300 loans per month, assuming an average loan amount of  $10,000, said Ann Livingston, Boulder County sustainability coordinator.

“If the number of phone calls and e-mails we are getting is any indication, the demand for this financing will be overwhelming,” Livingston said on Friday.

The measure allows homeowners and businesses in Boulder County and its eight municipalities to borrow money from the bond fund to make energy efficiency upgrades and install renewable energy systems on their property.

The loans will be repaid on the property tax bill over 20 years, so the energy cost savings would cover the repayment costs. The tax liability stays with the property when it’s sold, so property owners won’t have to worry about not getting the full return on their investment when they sell. The opt-in program means the added property tax only applies to those borrowing money for improvements.

The clean energy financing district mechanism was made possible by House Bill 08-1350, carried by state Rep. Alice Madden, D-Boulder.

In other election news,  Missouri voters approved an initiative requiring investor-owned utilities serving their state to produce 15 percent of their electricity from clean energy by 2021.

In the news
Aspen Times, Nov. 6, 2008
Roaring Fork transit wins big
By Scott Condon

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Xcel Energy cuts solar credit by $1 a watt

Xcel Energy announced on Oct. 24 that it will cut the renewable energy credit paid to customers who install solar photovoltaic systems to $1.50 a watt. The credit previously was $2.50 a watt.

For the past two years, Xcel has offered a $2/watt rebate and a $2.50/watt renewable energy credit (REC) for solar PV installations in its service territory, which includes Carbondale, New Castle, Silt, Rifle and Parachute. When coupled with a federal tax credit, the payments were intended to cover about half the cost of installing a solar PV system, which generally runs about $8 to $9 a watt.

Xcel says the recent renewal of the federal tax credit yields a higher credit, so lowering the utility’s REC is “a wash.” The renewed federal tax credit remains at the 30 percent level, but the new legislation lifted the $2,000 credit cap, so the tax credit can be fully applied to larger systems. Gov. Bill Ritter disagreed with the “wash” characterization (see news coverage below), and said he planned to talk with Xcel officials about the REC cut.

Xcel said lowering the REC allows the utility to provide credit and rebate payments to more customers or for other renewable energy projects. The rebate and the REC are both voluntary offerings, begun by Xcel in 2006 as a means of encouraging renewable energy development throughout its service area. The utility will continue to offer the $2 a watt rebate, and a $1.50 a watt REC for renewable energy installations.

In the news
Rocky Mountain News, Oct. 29, 2008
Ritter, Xcel at odds over solar subsidy
By Gargi Chakrabarty

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GreenSprouts Foundation working to
green schools from Marble to Rifle

Four Roaring Fork Valley parents have formed GreenSprouts Foundation, a new non-profit group, to help schools and businesses “green” their facilities and practices.

“We want to help educators and businesses find the best methods to incorporate green practices through assignments, projects and field work,” said Elizabeth Murphy, GreenSprouts co-founder. “We aim to provide resources to schools, businesses and communities that are implementing sustainability, high performance and energy efficiency practices, and to help them set attainable and measurable goals in reducing their carbon footprint, consumption, and overall impact on the environment.”

From left, Courtney Kleager, Cailen Hollenback, Elizabeth Murphy and Jennifer Tuggle.

The four co-founders of GreenSprouts Foundation are Murphy and Cailen Hollenback of Carbondale, and Courtney Kleager and Jennifer Tuggle of Glenwood Springs. They apply their passions for education by boosting sustainability in the valley. The four have expertise in fundraising, marketing, business and construction.

GreenSprouts’ immediate focus is on school districts serving communities from Rifle to Aspen and Marble, and on programs for recycling, composting, xeriscape landscaping, renewable energy, energy efficiency, water efficiency and green construction.

“We are talking with school district officials to encourage eco-sensitive practices, such as recycling and renewable energy. We are proposing that these methods be placed into a measurable plan that will make the school’s infrastructure more energy efficient and self-sustaining, using standards already implemented by the U.S. Green Building Council, EnergyStar and other rating programs,” Murphy said.

Tuggle said the group also plans to design and fund educational programs to support the “green” changes, giving students from kindergarten to college the opportunity to learn about and maintain the green programs and systems in their school and incorporate eco-sensitive living into their daily lives.

Greensprouts Foundation is collaborating with a team of professionals to analyze existing conditions and new strategies for schools considering green changes, and then presenting an action plan to reach measurable goals within a realistic budget and timeframe.  By building a professional network, including architects, engineers, manufacturers and distributors, GreenSprouts wishes to assist in funding or supplying products to implement green programs, making them more accessible to schools.

GreenSprouts Foundation has applied for grants from CORE for composting programs for schools in the Roaring Fork and Gunnison Watershed school districts, and is participating in a grant to launch a CROCS shoe recycling program. The foundation is also negotiating to serve as the local representative for a company that manufactures recycled playground equipment.

Contact the foundation at info@greensproutsfoundation.org or read about green schools at www.buildgreenschools.org.

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SEI’s photovoltaic manual now published in Spanish

Solar Energy International’s textbook standard, Photovoltaics: Design & Installation Manual, is now available in Spanish.

This updated and revised textbook on how to design, install and maintain a PV system offers an overview of photovoltaic electricity, and a detailed description of PV system components, including PV modules, batteries, controllers and inverters. Electrical loads are also addressed, including lighting systems, refrigeration, water pumping, tools and appliances.

The manual includes chapters on sizing photovoltaic systems, analyzing sites and installing PV systems. The manual also includes detailed appendices on PV system maintenance, troubleshooting, and insolation data for over 300 sites around the world. The manual serves the textbook for SEI's PV Design and Installation Workshop.

The Spanish version, Fotovoltaica: Manual de Diseño e Instalación, is available from SEI with discounts for educational institutions and nonprofits.

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Collection sites open in New Castle, Glenwood Springs and Carbondale for old phone books

The volunteer New Castle Environmental Advisory Committee is teaming with the New Castle Post Office and Dex phone books to offer in-town recycling collection for outdated phone books. Collection bins are located inside the New Castle Post Office lobby through Nov. 20. Volunteers will take the old phone books to Cacaloco Compost in South Canyon for composting.

The Glenwood Springs recycling center accepts phone books for composting. It’s open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Carbondale residents can drop off telephone books and other paper products for recycling into compost. The Town of Carbondale Public Works Department is accepting newspapers, magazines, telephone books and flattened cardboard at its facility at 756 Highway 133, behind Grand Junction Pipe. Open hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information at 963-1307.

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Bus-only lanes open on Highway 82

The Colorado Department of Transportation opened the Maroon Creek Bridge and accompanying bus-only lanes on Monday, Oct. 20. To celebrate, a RFTA bus broke through a banner spanning the new lanes that urged travelers to “Find Your Line — Carve Some Time.”

The bus-only lanes will speed up the travel time for transit riders in the section between Buttermilk and the Maroon Creek Roundabout.

Now that motorists have had a few weeks to adjust to the new configuration, some questions have emerged. Aspen spokeswoman Sally Spaulding provided the following FAQs:

Who can use the bus-only lanes?
Only RFTA buses and emergency vehicles, 24/7. Motorists using the bus lane may face a three-point violation and a $100 fine.

What if I need to make a right turn?
Use the striping on the roadway as a guide. Do not cross the double white lines.

What should I do if emergency vehicles are approaching?
If an emergency vehicle is approaching, stay in your lane. The emergency vehicle will pass using the bus lane.

How does the Airport Business Center traffic signal work?
From 6 to 9 a.m., the signal at the ABC intersection gives buses and carpools in the carpool lane a head start. Follow the signal for your lane, moving forward only when your signal turns green. 

More information on the bus lanes and their use can be found on the Transportation Department page at www.aspenpitkin.com. For RFTA route and schedule info, visit www.rfta.com or call 970-925-8484.

In the news
Aspen Times, Oct. 21, 2008
Aspen bus lanes, new bridge open
By Janet Urquhart

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EVENTS & TRAINING

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Free beyond-code workshop offered in Carbondale

Date & Time:
Monday, Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 8 a.m. to noon
Place: Fire Training Center, 300 Meadowood Drive, Carbondale
Register online

The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, town of Carbondale, Governor’s Energy Office and CORE are hosting a free one-and-a-half-day workshop on advanced building energy codes and green building programs in Colorado’s mountain communities.

The workshop is designed for local government officials and organizations interested in efficient building codes, green building programs and energy mitigation policies for Colorado’s mountain communities.

Workshop participants will have an opportunity to:

• Learn about successful green building policies and programs implemented in Carbondale and other mountain communities.
• Share lessons learned and review best practices.
• Identify opportunities to work together to advance their beyond code programs and green building initiatives in their jurisdiction.

Information
Steve Dunn, SWEEP, sdunn@swenergy.org, 303-447-0078 x 2
Josh Smith, CORE / Town of Carbondale, josh@aspencore.org, 970-963-1090

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Energy Film Fest
plays Basalt, Carbondale and New Castle

Date: Thursday, Nov. 20
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Riverside Grill, 181 Basalt Center, Basalt

Date: Friday, Nov. 21
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Dos Gringos Burritos, 588 Highway 133, Carbondale

Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Main Street Coffee House, 219 Main St., New Castle

The second annual Energy Film Fest, set for Nov. 20-22, features films on growth, global warming and coal-fired power, with an in-person appearance by filmmaker Dave Gardner. He’ll present a rough cut of his new film, Hooked on Growth. Other film titles include The End of Suburbia, Oil on Ice, Fighting Goliath, Everything’s Cool and On the Brink.

Different films will be shown each evening. Snacks, meals and beverages will be available at each venue.

The Energy Film Fest is hosted by the Roaring Fork Group of the Sierra Club and the Cool Communities Committee. More information at 970-947-9613.

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Clean Energy Bits ‘n Bobs

Save the date:
Date: Monday, Dec. 8
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Place: Carbondale, TBA
(More info in the Dec. 1 issue of Clean Energy Economy News)

Renewable Energy from Renewable Funds: Learn about Denver's revolving loan fund set up to provide no-interest loans for solar electricity projects. The featured speaker is Leanna Harris, executive director of Partnership for Sustainability. Information: Alice Laird, CLEER, ahlaird@cleanenergyeconomy.net

The City of Aspen has been named a Silver Partner in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Environmental Leadership Program. The city’s work on air quality, internal chemical management and the Canary Initiative caught the state agency’s attention, noted Jannette Whitcomb, senior environmental health specialist with the city. 

Alpine Bank and the Aspen Recreation Center are the newest certified ZGreen businesses in Aspen. ZGreen helps businesses and events reduce their energy and water use, trash and overall impact on the environment, said Ashley Cantrell, environmental health specialist. Other ZGreen businesses are Aspen Alps Condominium Association, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Aspen Meadows Resort, Aspen Skiing Co., Bluegreen, Charles Cunniffe Architects, Colorado Mountain College, Community Banks of Colorado and the St. Regis Resort.

Scott Ely, owner of Sunsense, attended a “solar summit” hosted by the Solar Energy Industries Association. The summit, held last month in Phoenix, brought together industry professionals to craft a national solar energy action plan for the new president and congress.

Lauren McDonell of New Castle is the new global warming project coordinator for the City of Aspen Canary Initiative. She is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she served as project coordinator for the Wood to Energy Outreach Program, helping communities across the South determine if woody biomass is a viable option for energy production.

Laura Bartels of Carbondale is teaching a class this week in natural plasters and finishes at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Bartels is a builder, consultant and educator, and the owner of GreenWeaver Inc. She’ll offer the class again on October 2009.

The Governor’s Energy Office is seeking nominations for the second annual Excellence in Renewable Energy awards for individuals, business and nonprofits. Nominations are due Friday, Nov. 21. For information and to submit a nomination online, visit www.colorado.gov/energy. 

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