Clean Energy Economy News May 5, 2008

Clean Energy Economy News | Online edition

May 5, 2008 | Vol. 1, No. 2

This e-Update comes to you from the Formation Project Team of the Regional Partnership for a Clean Energy Economy.

To download the latest version of the project Overview (4 pgs, 132 KB), click here. To date, we've collected 50 endorsements.

This Update offers a quick roundup of news from our region and the state related to the seven focus areas.

A key advantage to this regional effort is communication between the people who share the goals of moving to a clean energy economy. Feel free to share your news items - ideas, events, successes - with us for the next issue.

Heather McGregor, Update Editor

Formation Project Team
Alice Laird, director, NCTF
Jacque Whitsitt, board president, NCTF
Bill Stirling, board president, CORE
Patti Clapper, board member, CORE
Gary Goodson, executive director, CORE
Calla Rose Ostrander, project manager, Canary Initiative
Tripp Adams, Basalt Green Team
Dan Richardson, energy consultant, Schmueser Gordon Meyer
Valerie Borthwick, Executive Service Corps consultant to team
Neal Batson, Executive Service Corps consultant to team

In this issue

Shoshone hydropower plant back on line May 1
Aspen rebuilds Castle Creek hydroelectric plant
New Castle adopts 2006 IECC building code
Roaring Fork Partnership to offer HERS training
Same model, different code: New Castle compares energy use
Governor advances climate agenda
Safe Routes' "Walk and Roll Wednesdays" getting kids out of cars
Recycling block captains hit the streets
Xcel expands CFL recycling options
Tonight! Governor's climate advisor speaking in Carbondale

Shoshone hydropower plant back on line May 1

2007 penstock blow-out cost $12 million to repair

The historic Shoshone hydropower plant in Glenwood Canyon started generating electricity on May 1 following a 10-month, $12 million repair project.

One of the two penstocks that feed pressurized water to the 98-year-old plant ruptured on June 20, 2007, flooding the plant and switching yard with water and debris up to eight feet deep. No one was injured, but the damages were extensive. Corrosion on the pipe caused the rupture.

Crews rebuilt both penstocks with steel pipe inserts that were grouted into place. Specialists rewound generators for the two units, and all the breakers, control cabinets, wiring and related components were replaced.

Controls for the plant were also updated and replaced, and the control system was redesigned for better remote control of the facility. The building itself, heavily damaged by the flood, got a new roof and refurbished office space.

"The Shoshone Station produces 14 megawatts of clean, renewable power," said Lou Matis, vice president of operations for Xcel. "We're pleased to return this key part of our fleet to full operation within our budget and on time."

Shoshone is one of seven hydroelectric power plants owned and operated by Xcel Energy in Colorado.

To read the full press release from Xcel, click here.

Aspen rebuilds Castle Creek hydroelectric plant

$5.5 million project will supply 8 percent of city's power needs

The Aspen Public Utilities Department is preparing to build a new powerhouse and pipeline along Castle Creek this year to house a new, 1-megawatt hydroelectric turbine and generator.

The new Castle Creek Hydroelectric Plant is expected to produce 5.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, displacing more than 5,000 tons of CO2 emissions and generating enough power for 655 typical Aspen homes.

The plant is expected to be in service by October 2009, reviving the tradition of generating power from Castle Creek flows. The old Castle Creek plant was shut down in 1958 and dismantled in 1961 in favor of cheaper, coal-fired electricity.

Now, small hydropower plants offer the advantage of round-the-clock clean energy.
"Aspen is at 75 percent green power now. This plant will raise it to 83 percent," said John Hines, Aspen utilities engineer. "Our goal is 100 percent."

Last November, Aspen voters approved a bond issue to finance the project. In January, the city placed a $1.3 million order with Canyon Industries of Deming, Wash., for a turbine and generator. It will take a full year for the company to manufacture the equipment.

The new powerhouse will be built next to the historic Castle Creek powerhouse and in a similar style. It will also house an energy education center with displays on hydroelectric, solar, wind, fuel cell and other renewable energy technologies.

New Castle adopts 2006 IECC building code

Starting June 1, building projects in New Castle must follow the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code, the widely recognized and up-to-date guideline for efficient construction.

The new code adopted by the town council will apply to new construction and relevant remodeling projects for residential and commercial structures.

Members of the volunteer New Castle Environmental Advisory Committee and the New Castle Climate Action Advisory Commission both advocated for the town council to adopt the efficiency code.

David Hunsicker, building official for the town of New Castle, pointed to two important differences in the new code. It requires all new boilers and furnaces to be at least 90 percent efficient, and it requires crawl spaces to be sealed and insulated.

"Improved energy efficiency in residential and commercial construction is important," Hunsicker said. "The benefits in energy dollar savings, reduced carbon emissions and fossil fuel conservation are driving this revolution. The public, realtors, and marketers are recognizing these benefits, and the demand can be expected to rise dramatically."

Hunsicker said builders may need additional training in design, insulation, HVAC and other techniques. New Castle is working with neighboring communities in the Roaring Fork Partnership to provide training opportunities.

Roaring Fork Partnership to offer HERS training

The Roaring Fork Partnership, a coalition of local government building departments from Aspen to Rifle, is planning a Home Energy Rating System training seminar for builders, building department officials and clean energy entrepreneurs.

The week-long training will likely be offered in June or July. Partnership leaders are considering how much to subsidize the cost of the workshop to make it affordable, according to Lauren Martindale, the partnership's project manager.

Energy Logic, an energy audit and rating training service based in Berthoud, will lead the seminar.

In other news, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the partnership a $15,000 grant for Energy Star promotional advertising in local media. Partnership members are choosing EPA-produced ad templates, and will add their logos.

Members of the Roaring Fork Partnership are Pitkin County, the cities of Aspen, Glenwood Springs and Rifle, and the towns of Basalt, Carbondale and New Castle.

For information on the partnership, contact Martindale at (970) 319-3939 or laurenmartindale@gmail.com.

Same model, different code:
New Castle compares energy use

The New Castle Climate Action Advisory Commission is seeking proposals from energy audit firms to compare the actual energy use in new homes built before and after the town adopted the 2006 IECC. (See story above.)

"We changed our energy codes effective June 1, and we want to see if that makes a difference in energy use in the same models of homes. We're excited to see what this shows," said Dave Schroeder, president pro-tem of the Climate Commission.

The commission is working with Village Homes, a New Castle builder and 2008 winner of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association's Green Business Award.

"We should be able to complete the audits on the pre-IECC 2006 homes this year," Schroeder said. Audits of same-model homes built under the newly adopted code will come in 2009 and 2010.

Schroeder noted that the comparison may instead focus on Energy Star requirements rather than the 2006 code.

"Village Homes is aiming to get Energy Star ratings for their new homes and that may cover up any shift to new energy code," he said. Energy Star ratings call for higher levels of efficiency than the ICEE 2006.

Funding for the project, needed to cover the costs of professional energy audits, comes from the Environment Foundation of the Aspen Skiing Co. and from the Town of New Castle.

New Castle Building Official David Hunsiker and New Castle Energy Advisory Committee leader Suzie Romig worked with the Climate Commission to develop the project concept and seek grant funding.

Governor advances climate agenda,
sets GHG reduction goals for 2020

To mark Earth Day 2008, Gov. Bill Ritter issued three climate change executive orders, announced a new Insulate Colorado residential rebate program and signed legislation to promote energy efficiency.

"Today, on Earth Day, we are taking several additional steps to bring the New Energy Economy closer to home and to begin enacting the goals laid out in the Colorado Climate Action Plan," Ritter said in an April 22 press conference.

The governor's executive orders:

Establish goals for reducing Colorado's greenhouse gas emissions (20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, both from 2005 levels); calls for new regulations mandating the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions; and calls on utilities to show how they could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
Establish an agricultural sequestration offset program.
Create the Colorado Climate Advisory Panel.

Gov. Ritter also announced a program to help homeowners insulate their homes and reduce energy consumption. Insulate Colorado will provide up to $300 in rebates per project.

"I encourage all Coloradans to insulate their homes," Ritter said. "It's one of the best ways to reduce energy consumption and your carbon footprint and to have a more comfortable home."

Two days later, the governor signed House Bill 1270, which extends the types of energy efficiency items allowed by homeowners associations. Solar panels were already permitted under state law. This bill also requires HOAs to allow wind generators, awnings, shutters, attic fans, swamp coolers and retractable clothes lines.

"HB 1270 balances the needs of HOAs to protect property values and encourages homeowners to improve energy efficiency," said Gov. Ritter.

Safe Routes' "Walk and Roll Wednesdays"
getting kids out of cars

Hundreds of elementary and middle school students from Glenwood Springs to Aspen are walking, riding bikes, taking the bus or getting in carpools in response to the "Walk and Roll Wednesdays" project.

"The bike racks are overflowing. We are running out of prizes a week ahead of time," said project organizer Cathy Tuttle. "The front desks of the schools are getting flooded every Wednesday with kids asking for raffle tickets."

Bicycles at Sopris Elementary School "Walk and Roll" gives kids a big incentive to use something other than the family car to get to school. Every school has a Specialized mountain bike to give away in a raffle. Kids get a raffle ticket every Wednesday that they walk, bike, bus or carpool, from April 16 through June 4.

The project is aimed at cutting vehicle congestion around schools, decreasing the miles that parents drive and promoting exercise.

"Walk and Roll" is sponsored by CDOT, New Century Transportation Foundation, Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, the Aspen and Roaring Fork School Districts and Ajax Bike & Sports.

For more information, contact Cathy Tuttle, Regional Safe Routes to School, at (970) 274-1875 or ctuttle@rof.net.

Recycling block captains hit the streets

NEW CASTLE - Members of the New Castle Energy Advisory Committee are launching a recycling block captain program this month.

Volunteers will be knocking on their neighbors' doors to chat about household recycling and answer questions, according to EAC member Suzie Romig.

EAC members want town residents to know that recycling is easy and free. The town government's franchise with Waste Management Inc. includes free curbside recycling pickup.

The block captain idea is modeled on the Eco-Leader concept introduced by Eco-Cycle of Boulder, where 750 volunteers help their neighbors with recycling questions and activities.

Xcel expands CFL recycling options

Hardware stores will also accept old thermostats

Residents can now drop off worn out compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and old thermostats at five Ace Hardware stores in the region.

Xcel Energy and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are sponsoring the recycling program.

The new drop sites make it easier for residents to safely dispose of old CFLs and manually-operated thermostats, which contain small amounts of mercury.

Drop sites for old CFLs are also located at all Alpine Banks, which collect the bulbs in a partnership with Holy Cross Energy.

"We've encouraged our customers to use energy-efficient lighting for years and they've responded," said Tim Taylor, president and CEO of Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company. "Today we're taking the next step and making the recycling of the bulbs hassle-free."

Participating stores:

Alpine Ace Hardware, Aspen
Valley Lumber Co., Basalt
Ace Hardware of Carbondale
Big John's Building and Home Center, Glenwood Springs
Valley Lumber Co., Rifle

Tonight! Governor's climate advisor speaking in Carbondale

Heidi Van Genderen, Gov. Bill Ritter's staff advisor on climate change and energy policy, is speaking at 7 p.m. tonight at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale.

The lecture is the last of the Tomorrow's Voices' Spring lecture series.

Van Genderen's topic is the governor's Climate Action Plan, issued in November, and new state climate initiatives that have emerged in 2008.

It's all part of Gov. Ritter's roadmap to a clean energy economy for Colorado.

Tomorrow's Voices works with students, educators and the public to inspire young people to believe in the power of their civic voice.

CLEER | P.O. Box 428 | Carbondale, Colorado 81623 | (970) 704-9200