“We are issuing a collective RFP from eight local governments with the goal of hiring a single energy services company to handle all the work,” said Jeff Dickinson, the built environment team leader for Garfield NECI. “By having local governments with a large number of buildings in the mix, such as Garfield County, our smaller local governments, such as Silt and Parachute, will be able to get top-notch services at a competitive price. On their own, many of these smaller governments would not even be able to attract the interest of an energy services company,” Dickinson said. The RFP is aimed at 13 energy services companies that have already gone through a preliminary approval process with the Governor’s Energy Office. The state agency is also providing technical assistance to the local government partners for the performance contracting process. Under performance contracting, the selected energy service company will first perform technical energy audits of existing buildings owned by the participating partners. The audit reports will include cost estimates and financing options for making the recommended energy efficiency improvements. At that point, local governments can chose from two options:
“Local governments have lots of flexibility in this process, and they stay in control from start to finish,” Dickinson said. Proposals are due Oct. 21, and a working group of representatives from the local government partners will pare down the proposals to a short list, interview the finalists and make a recommendation for a single preferred company to the Garfield NECI Advisory Board. The calendar calls for the Advisory Board to consider the recommendation at its Nov. 11 meeting, and for the Garfield County Commissioners to endorse the selection on Nov. 16. Although the RFP is being issued collectively, each participating local government will have its own contract with the selected energy services company. Other entities in Garfield County that may be considering performance contracting for energy efficiency upgrades will also benefit from this process. Once the Garfield NECI partners select a preferred company, other entities, such as school districts, hospitals, retailers and other large energy users can take advantage of the company’s presence in Garfield County. More information about performance contracting from the Governor's Energy Office. Xcel Energy offers double rebate on home insulation
“These rebate specials make energy efficiency improvements more affordable. They’ll save customers money on their utility bills and make homes more comfortable, winter and summer,” said Heather McGregor, outreach director for Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative.
Xcel Energy natural gas customers in western Garfield County, including residents of Battlement Mesa, can get a double rebate on home insulation, covering 20 percent of project costs up to $600, double the standard limit of $300. The rebate covers attic and wall insulation, as well as air sealing and weather stripping, for existing homes served by Xcel Energy natural gas. Homes can be rentals or owner-occupied, and the work must be done by an approved contractor. Insulation improvements must be installed between Sept. 1 and Oct. 15, and the rebate application form must be postmarked by Nov. 15. $50 rebate for moderate-efficiency AC Xcel Energy is also offering a new $50 rebate for electric customers who buy a central air conditioning system that meets minimum code standards (13 SEER). This promotion is good for purchases made through Oct. 15, and the rebate application form must be returned by Nov. 15. Higher rebates of $250 to $500 are available for higher-efficiency AC units that are purchased and installed by Dec. 31, 2009. Double rebates for insulation, furnaces, water heaters and appliances Double rebates are available for many more home energy efficiency improvements for residents of New Castle, Silt, Rifle and Parachute who are Xcel Energy electricity and natural gas customers. Double rebates cover furnace, boiler, water heater and appliance upgrades for those who participate in Xcel Energy’s Home Performance with Energy Star program, and are good for purchases made from Sept. 1 through Dec. 9, 2009. The Home Performance program starts with a discounted energy audit, followed by attic insulation upgrades and light bulb replacements. The third step in the program is optional upgrades to appliances, furnaces, boilers and water heaters. Customers can save as much as $1,240 in the Home Performance with Energy Star program. For more information, visit Xcel Energy’s new website on energy savings, www.ResponsibleByNature.com/change, and click on “Rebates and Programs,” or call Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-4999. For a complete digest of all home energy efficiency rebates offered to residents throughout Garfield County, visit www.GarfieldCleanEnergy.org. New Castle Trustees consider Climate Action PlanDiscussion slated for Sept. 15 Board of Trustees meeting
Click here to download a copy of the draft plan. (10 pages, 180 KB) The plan draws from the climate action plan adopted in 2006 by the Town of Carbondale. The plan sets out the following energy, economic and climate protection goals, noting that the goals will be refined as implementation moves forward. The town’s base year is 2007, which was the first full year of data collected on the town’s energy use.
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“Compact fluorescent bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, and last 10 times as long. Using CF bulbs, especially in the light fixtures you use the most, is an easy way to trim your monthly electric bill,” said Parachute Trustee Judi Hayward.
Xcel Energy is offering bonus rebates for home insulation, home cooling and other energy efficiency improvements to its customers in Garfield County. The rebates are for a limited time only.
Double rebate for attic and wall insulation and weather stripping
The New Castle Climate Action Advisory Commission will present a proposed Climate Action Plan for the town of New Castle to the Board of Trustees on Tuesday evening. The trustees will take public comment on the plan at the meeting and consider adopting the plan.
“The 1970s and ’80s models of solar contractors that would install a solar panel on your roof are, hopefully, giving way to the European model. In Europe you call an electrician or a plumber and they have the knowledge and skills to do everything.” -- Bill Sepmeier |
The college recently received approval from state higher education officials to offer three solar energy certificate programs at its West Garfield Campus in Rifle: basic solar photovoltaic, solar thermal installation and photovoltaic installation.
West Garfield Instructional Chair Sue Schmidt said the classes would help students pass a certification exam given by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. The board is the national certification organization for professional installers in the renewable energy field.
“These are all accelerated courses,” she added. “So someone can complete the solar thermal installation in six days and earn four credits. Or they can take solar photovoltaics over two weekends and get two credits.”
Solar photovoltaics are the solar panels on the sides and roofs of buildings that convert energy from the sun into electricity, while solar thermal systems transfer the sun’s heat to create hot water, Schmidt said. The campus in Rifle recently acquired both solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems that students can use to get firsthand experience, she added.
Several new classes begin this fall, in addition to two solar energy classes that debuted this summer at the West Garfield Campus: Solar Thermal System Install and Solar Photovoltaics Grid-tie.
Instructor Bill Sepmeier said the certificate programs will give students the knowledge to apply for jobs in the solar industry, especially when work is tight and expanded skills make individuals more employable.
“The 1970s and ’80s models of solar contractors that would install a solar panel on your roof are, hopefully, giving way to the European model,” he said. “In Europe you call an electrician or a plumber and they have the knowledge and skills to do everything.”
In addition to the credit classes that apply toward one of the three solar energy certificates, the West Garfield Campus is also offering a noncredit workshop Oct. 16 called Solar for Electricians and Inspectors.
The campus is also offering a Wednesday evening series called Living Green Workshops. The three-hour, noncredit classes can be taken individually or as a series.
Classes in green building, energy or sustainability topics are taught at numerous Colorado Mountain College campuses. For more information, go to www.coloradomtn.edu or call 1-800-621-8559.
EVENTS
Organic Gardening Workshop, Fall Season Topics
Date: Thursday, Sept. 17
Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
Place: Eagle County Administration Building, 500 Broadway, Eagle
Fee: $10
Brook LeVan, director of Sustainable Settings in Carbondale, will discuss:
- Putting the vegetable garden to bed
- Soil building for springtime
- Sourcing organic materials
- Composting
- Nutrient cycling
- Seed saving
- Storing vegetables
Sponsored by Brush Creek Park Community Gardens and Colorado State University Extension Service. Click here for workshop flyer.
Dust in the Wind and Other Winds of Change
Colorado River District Annual Water Seminar
Date: Friday, Sept. 18
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Two Rivers Convention Center, Grand Junction
Fee: $25 in advance, $35 at the door, includes lunch
Register: Online, or call Meredith Spyker at (970) 945-8522, or e-mail mspyker@crwcd.org
Newly confirmed U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Anne Castle, who oversees the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Service, will discuss how the Obama administration will address water issues in the Colorado River basin, which includes seven states and the Republic of Mexico at the Colorado River District's annual water seminar on Friday.
The seminar also includes an expert discussion panel, which will explore the dust storms that hit the Colorado snowpack this winter, affecting runoff and reservoir operations. Tom Painter of the Snow Optics Lab at the University of Utah will lead the panel. In another session, Terry Fulp of the Bureau of Reclamation will detail how the Colorado River is operated in the Lower Basin states of California, Arizona and Nevada and talk about the critical relationship between Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
State Rep. Kathleen Curry of Gunnison will address the audience on the budget shortfalls facing the Colorado General Assembly and how the severity of the crisis might provoke new thinking if the state is to continue funding water projects. Rep. Curry is chair of the House Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources, which handles water legislation. She is also speaker pro tempore of the House.
The day concludes with the latest preliminary information from a study of how much water is left to develop in the Colorado River, followed by a panel discussion of “If There Is Enough Water, Is There a Transmountain Diversion?” Panelists include Eric Hecox of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Mark Pifher, Director of Aurora Water, representing Front Range interests, and Eric Kuhn, General Manager of the Colorado River District, representing West Slope interests.
Continuing education credits are available for attorneys and real estate professionals.
Small Acreage Workshop
Date: Saturday, Sept. 19
Time: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Place: Mountain View Church at Buffalo Valley, Glenwood Springs
Fee: $10 includes lunch
Register: (970) 945-5494 x 105
The Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and Southside Soil Conservation Districts host their annual Small Acreage Workshop for landowners in Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties. Presentation topics include renewable energy, gardening, beekeeping, gardening, weed control and elk-proofing your yard.
2009 Garfield County Tour of Solar Homes
Date: Saturday Oct. 3
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: various locations in Carbondale and Glenwood Springs
The 2009 Garfield County Tour of Solar Homes is sponsored locally by the Roaring Fork Group of the Sierra Club as part of the 14th annual National Solar Tour (www.ases.org), the largest grassroots solar energy event in America.
Come tour local homes and see how easy and cost effective it can be to build or retrofit your home or business to be energy efficient and use renewable energy. Ask questions of homeowners, learn about current renewable energy rebates and receive information from solar installation companies.
View local solar homes of all types: remodels, new construction, Energy Star certified, passive solar design, solar electric and hot water systems, solar radiant heat, straw bale and structural insulated panel construction, heat recovery ventilation systems, natural finishes, and more.
To download a tour map, visit www.rmc.sierraclub.org/rfg. For more information, contact Bob Millette at 947-9613 or bob.millette@rmc.sierraclub.org.
2009 International Peak Oil Conference
Dates: Oct. 10-13
Place: Downtown Sheraton Hotel, Denver
The Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas – USA will host the 2009 International Peak Oil Conference on the theme, “System Reset: Global Energy and the New Economy.” The conference gathers oil industry experts from North America, Europe, and OPEC nations.
Register online: www.aspo-usa.com/2009denver
Colorado’s New Energy Economy: Powering the Future
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20
Time: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Place: Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver
Fee: $125 includes breakfast and lunch
Register online; registration closes Oct. 16
Sessions on next-generation renewables, transmission siting, utility baseload, and understanding consumers, with Kristina Johnson, undersecretary for energy in the U.S. Department of Energy.
Sponsored by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the Office of Consumer Counsel, the Governor’s Energy Office and Energy Outreach Colorado.
Colorado Utility Efficiency Exchange
Integrating Carbon Footprint and Demand Response with Energy Efficiency
Dates: October 21-23
Place: Aspen Meadows Resort, Aspen
Fee: Utility and government representatives, $395; all others, $695
Register online
The Colorado Utility Efficiency Exchange is a conference for energy and water utilities staff in the Western states, particularly those responsible for programs related to energy or water efficiency, renewable energy, demand response and key account customer management.
The agenda will focus on best practices from regional utilities. The conference is not about how to influence policies or motivate utilities to take action, but rather how utilities that already recognize the need and value are developing and implementing customer programs.
This three-day event begins at noon on Wednesday and ends at noon on Friday. Hosted receptions will take place Wednesday and Thursday evening.
Hosted by City of Aspen Utilities.
In the news
The Daily Sentinel, Aug. 27, 2009
First-of-its-kind solar operation going up next to Cameo plant
By Emily Anderson
Xcel Energy’s Cameo Station will have a new neighbor during its last anticipated year of operation.
Xcel and Abengoa Solar broke ground on a solar power plant Aug. 27 in a field west of the coal-fired Cameo plant. Abengoa Solar, which is based in Seville, Spain, but has a U.S. headquarters in Lakewood, will hire 25 construction workers to build a demonstration solar plant from September through the end of the year.
It will be the first solar plant in the world to combine solar and fossil fuels to produce electricity, Xcel said. The demonstration year will give Xcel and Abengoa a chance to see if it’s efficient to use the two together.
Clean Energy Bits ‘n Bobs
George Austin-Martin of Glenwood Springs designed and built an interactive lighting display for the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative. It made a debut at the Rifle Air Fair in August, and will be on display at the light bulb giveaway booths in Parachute on Sept. 18 and Glenwood Springs on Sept. 22 and 29. The display shows the comparative amounts of electricity needed to power a compact fluorescent bulb compared to an incandescent bulb.
Dan Becker of Silt has earned RESNET home energy rate certification. He is working for Frostbusters and Coolth Co. of Grand Junction, expanding the company’s services in Garfield County. dbecker@willowwisp.net or 970 255-1122.
Alpine Bank has just received word that its Carbondale branch bank has won ENERGY STAR certification from the U.S. Department of Energy, making it the first facility in Carbondale to win an ENERGY STAR certification. The bank has an ENERGY STAR rating of 86 compared to other bank facilities nationwide. Buildings must earn a rating of at least 75, on a scale of 0 to 100, to be certified. The 1,280-square-foot building was built in 1995.
Sean McKenna of Silt, Dominic Dodero of Silt and Dominic’s dad, Louis Dodo of New Castle, made insulation improvements to their homes this year and received rebates from the Governor’s Energy Office and the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative. All use propane to heat their homes, and were eligible for a special offer for Garfield County homeowners using propane or all-electric heat. Info at www.GarfieldCleanEnergy.org.
John Evans of Silt, Clare Bastable of Carbondale and Michael Kinsley of Snowmass have joined the board of directors for the nonprofit organization CLEER, Clean Energy Economy for the Region. CLEER is the lead contractor managing the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative.
Xcel Energy has created a new position of community energy efficiency manager, and promoted staffer Susannah Pedigo of Boulder to the post. She will be working with communities served by Xcel Energy statewide, helping integrate Xcel’s many energy efficiency programs for residential and business customers with local programs.
If you have news or business tidbits to share with the more than 1,200 subscribers of the Clean Energy Economy News, send them to editor Heather McGregor at mcgregor@CleanEnergyEconomy.net. Deadline for the October edition is Wednesday, Oct. 14.