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Clean Energy Economy News | Online edition
Jan. 20, 2010 | Vol. 3, No. 1
Greetings,
Thank you for reading this month’s edition of the Clean Energy Economy News. The start of a new year gives us a chance to see how far we’ve come as the newsletter enters its third year of publication.
CLEER launched the Clean Energy Economy News in April 2008 with just 192 subscribers. Today, we have topped 1,300 subscribers. Back issues remain available on the CLEER website, with annual index pages that gives you a quick review of headlines.
Growth of the Clean Energy Economy News is but one indicator of the action we are seeing in our region, state, nation and world to move to a clean energy economy. We are on the right track!
Let me call attention to the Vehicle Fleets in the Clean Energy Economy workshop that we are hosting on Friday, Feb. 5, in Glenwood Springs. If you manage or make decisions about vehicle fleets – public or private sector – this one-day workshop will be well worth your time. Details below. If you know someone who could benefit from the workshop, or any other information in this newsletter, please feel free to forward it along.
Regards,
Heather McGregor, Editor
Clean Energy Economy News
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In this issue
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New Castle celebrates grand opening of
Public Works Facility and 70 kW solar array
 About 50 people gathered in the bright sunshine Saturday morning for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the Town of New Castle Public Works Facility and Solar Array.
New Castle Public Works director John Wenzel wrangled a huge pair of scissors to cut a wide red ribbon spanning one bay door in the new operations and maintenance shop. Town leaders and key players in the project commented about the vision and hard work that led to successful completion of the $1.3 million project over the past year.
Then one of the bay doors was rolled up and everyone toured the new 6,000-square-foot shop, where Public Works Department heavy equipment and trucks were neatly parked. The shop is spacious, clean, lit with plenty of natural light, and well-insulated.
 People also gathered for a reception in the nearby administration building, a 3,000-square-foot building where public works staff will have comfortable offices. Both the shop and the administration building were built to LEED standards for energy efficiency, noted Jeff Simonson, the professional engineer from Schmueser Gordon Meyer who designed the facility.
Sharing equal billing with the spacious public works buildings was the solar array mounted on their rooftops. A total of 328 solar panels on the two buildings will be capable of producing 70.5 kilowatts of electricity, and are projected to generate 92,000 kilowatt hours per year. That will be enough power to offset 90 percent of the project electrical demand of the whole public works facility.
The new facility replaces an older maintenance facility on another site that was demolished to make room for the town’s new wastewater treatment plant.
 The New Castle solar array is the first of the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative renewable energy installations to be completed. New Castle leveraged its $87,500 share of NECI funding, which was provided by a Colorado Department of Local Affairs grant, with a power purchase agreement (PPA) to build a much larger system.
The actual cost to install the solar array was $350,000, but the town is paying nothing upfront for the project under the PPA, which is held by Hybrid Energy Group of Denver. Under the PPA, Hybrid Energy owns the array, and will be able to take advantage of the 30 percent federal investment tax credit, which the town couldn’t have claimed.
After six years, the town will have the option of purchasing the system from Hybrid. In the meantime, it will buy electricity from Hybrid at a fixed price, using its NECI funding to pay for the power.
Sunsense of Carbondale installed the solar photovoltaic system. The Public Works Facility site preparation was done by Gould Construction of Glenwood Springs, the construction of the buildings was done by Martinez Western Constructors of Rifle, and paving was done by Grand River Construction of Glenwood Springs.
More info about the Garfield NECI renewable energy installations
New Castle Grand Opening web page | New Castle power purchase agreement FAQs
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CARD energy efficiency upgrades to yield
$12,900 a year in electrical savings
Rebate funds help six Glenwood Springs businesses install efficiency upgrades
The Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative is helping six Glenwood Springs businesses install energy efficiency measures that will save an estimated total of $12,900 a year.
The Glenwood Springs Commercial Audit and Retrofit Demonstration project has allocated $54,000 in rebate funds to six participating businesses to fund 31 energy efficiency upgrade projects.
The upgrades include lighting retrofits, new refrigeration units, compressor system repair, building air sealing and cooling system upgrades. All together, the efficiency improvements are expected to save an estimated $12,900 per year in electric costs for the businesses, with an average simple payback of five years.
CARD rebate funds will cover up to 75 percent of the cost of most upgrades, while the business owners will pay the remaining 25 percent or more, bringing the total spent on efficiency upgrades to an estimated $71,500. The rebates will be paid out on a reimbursement basis once the projects are complete.
 The six participating businesses are Lavender and Thyme Bed & Breakfast, The Pit Stop, Juicy Lucy’s Steakhouse, Active Communications, Glenwood Sewing Center and Good Health Natural Grocers.
In cases where the upgrades will result in natural gas savings on winter heating costs and electric savings on summer cooling costs, such as air sealing, the CARD rebate is covering only the electrical savings portion.
CARD is a project of the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative, and is being funded by $70,000 in local match from Glenwood Springs Electric to the Garfield NECI. Of the city electric utility’s match, $16,000 was used for free in-depth energy audits for the six businesses.
The plan for rebate-funded projects results from the audits, which were conducted for the businesses in August and September. The audits also revealed a wide range of energy efficiency upgrades in addition to those that will be funded through CARD. Some of these additional upgrades are eligible for rebates from SourceGas.
The six businesses have agreed to provide before-and-after utility data for a public case study on the efficiency upgrades.
A selection committee of Glenwood Springs officials and members of the CLEER professional team, which is managing CARD, chose the six participating businesses from nine applicants. Selections were based on a high potential for energy savings and diversity of business types. The committee later reviewed the audit results and decided which efficiency upgrades would be eligible for CARD rebates.
For a complete list of the energy efficiency measures being funded under the CARD rebate program, visit www.GarfieldCleanEnergy.org > Commercial > CARD program.
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Northwest COG weatherization program
upgrades 200 homes in 6 months
 The Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Weatherization Program completed energy efficiency upgrades for 200 homes in 13 counties from July through December 2009 – a record number for the agency. The previous record was 200 homes in a full year.
Locally, the weatherization crew based in New Castle upgraded 33 homes in Garfield County, 16 in Eagle County and five in Pitkin County.
Northwest COG plans to upgrade a total of 450 homes in the 2009-10 fiscal year, which runs from July 2009 through June 2010, using a boost in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Northwest COG weatherization program is part of a statewide effort managed by the Governor’s Energy Office that has earned Colorado recognition for its production on a national level. From July through September 2009, Colorado was ranked 3rd in homes served.
The program serves low-income households within a 13-county region from Salida north to the Wyoming border and from Idaho Springs west to the Utah border. Residents of these counties can qualify for free energy saving upgrades, including insulation, energy efficient furnaces and more.
The goal of the program has always been to save energy, reduce utility bills and create comfortable homes. The Stimulus Act broadened the program’s impact by emphasizing job creation, technical training and support of local economies. NWCCOG would like to thank its partnering agencies, contractors and employees for achieving this objective.
For information on signing up for weatherization, call NWCCOG toll-free at 1-800-332-3669 or visit www.GarfieldCleanEnergy.org
Past Clean Energy Economy News coverage on the Northwest COG weatherization program:
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Nitrogen is nifty for holding tire pressure
By Suzie Romig
Clean Energy Economy News
The next time you buy new tires, the shop owner may inform you that they use nitrogen for inflation. That’s a good thing.
Nitrogen facts
Nitrogen in Earth’s atmosphere: 78%
Pure nitrogen used to inflate tires: 95 to 99%
Tire inflation changes due to temperature:
1 to 2 lbs up for every 10 degrees in warm weather; 1 to 2 lbs down for ever 10 degrees in cold weather
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Nitrogen, which makes up 78 percent of our atmosphere, is a larger molecule than oxygen, so it cannot escape as easily as oxygen through porous tire walls. So nitrogen helps keep tire pressure steady at the correct level for a longer time.
That’s an advantage for average folks who don’t check their tire pressure on a regular basis. (Some new cars have sensors that automatically alert drivers when a tire is low, but not all cars have that technological prompt.)
Consistent tire pressure yields fuel savings
Mechanics know that properly inflated tires yield better mileage and fuel savings. Bill Mitchell, the general manager of Big O Tires in Glenwood Springs, said he advises drivers to check their vehicle’s tire pressure every two weeks. Mitchell said tires can lose as much as 50 percent of their inflation pressure and still not appear visibly flat.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studies show that 27 percent of passenger cars and 32 percent of pickup trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles are driven on U.S. roadways with one or more substantially under-inflated tires.
The Department of Energy noted that of the estimated 130 billion gallons of fuel used in passenger cars and light trucks in 2005, about 1.2 billion gallons were wasted as a result of motorists driving on under-inflated tires.
The best time to check tire pressure is when the tires are cool, before lots of driving.
Nitrogen maintains tire pressure without regular top-offs
Using pure nitrogen to inflate tires is nothing new. Airplane tires, which get deeply chilled while the planes are flying at high altitude, and race car tires, which get extremely hot on the race track, have been inflated with pure nitrogen for years.
Now, ordinary car and truck drivers have the option of nitrogen-inflated tires.
 Several tire sellers in the region, including Big O Tires and Costco, offer their customers nitrogen inflation with new tires or for service on tires purchased there. Big O Tires has been offering nitrogen for about two years, said Earl Nickerson, a company trainer.
“The advantages are it keeps tires cooler in summer, with less fluctuation from summer to winter in pressure, and gives better rolling resistance and possibly better gas mileage,” Nickerson said.
Jared Engles, front end manager at Costco in Gypsum, said the store has offered nitrogen since it opened in 2006.
“We’ve had really good luck with it,” Engles said. “It has definitely helped us as far as installation goes, because we have a drier product.”
The nonprofit Get Nitrogen Institute in Denver lists other advantages on its comprehensive web site: www.getnitrogen.org.
Some tire store managers are not sold on the idea, however. They say regular air in tires is largely nitrogen anyway. The high-tech nitrogen generators used to create 95 to 99.9 percent pure nitrogen from air are costly, so some mechanics say the return is not worth the cost.
Steve Day, manager at Discount Tires in Grand Junction, said nitrogen is not a bad thing for people with busy lives, but “it’s not that big of an advantage.”
“You still need to maintain your tire pressure,” Day said.
Costco manager Engles said he found that his personal car tires filled with nitrogen lost only 1 pound of pressure in four of five months. Air-filled tires can be expected to lose from 5 to 10 pounds of pressure over the same period, as air permeates through the tires.
Nitrogen inflated tires get colorful green valve stem caps, but can still be topped off if necessary via a standard air compressor.
Big O Tires manager Mitchell said his shop will refill tires not purchased at the shop with nitrogen for $5 per tire. That’s a charge that may not be necessary for drivers who check their tire pressure regularly.
In short, if you can get nitrogen inflation at no added cost, go for it. If you rarely check your car’s tire pressure, consider investing in a refill and then track your gas mileage to measure the results.
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Garfield County launches air quality campaign
Public health officials looking for air quality champions
By Suzie Romig
Clean Energy Economy News
For the past five years, officials with the Garfield County Public Health Department have amassed information and scientific data about air quality in the county. Now they are anxious to let all residents know those results and are urging people to learn as much as possible about local air quality issues.
“We no longer live in a pristine environment; we do have localized air quality issues,” said Paul Reaser, the department’s senior environmental health specialist.
The department recently released “A Citizen’s Guide to Air Quality Management in Garfield County,” which is being distributed in hard copies to town halls and libraries.
To download a PDF version of the guide, visit the department’s updated air quality Web site: www.garfieldcountyaq.net > Education and Outreach tab.
A condensed version of the guide, “Garfield County: What is in the Air and Where it is Coming From,” is being mailed this month to 25,000 Garfield County households, Reaser said. Tips on what residents can do to improve local air quality can be found in the guide, such as keeping vehicles tuned, not burning yard waste and replacing inefficient wood stoves.
The air quality web site was updated in December to show the latest study data and to make the site more user-friendly. Reaser encouraged all interested individuals and community leaders to read the Garfield County Air Quality Assessment Report found under the site’s Special Projects tab.
“Hopefully this web site will address a lot of people’s concerns about air quality, that we take it seriously and that we are doing everything we can as far as monitoring and getting the word out in educating the public,” Reaser said.
The Garfield County Public Health Department has completed a variety of air quality projects that have led to a more comprehensive understanding of the air quality concerns and issues to watch closely.
- From 2005 to 2007, air monitoring was conducted for a limited number of pollutants but in a wide variety of locations to identify problem areas.
- From 2008 to the present, the department monitored fewer locations but in a more comprehensive manner.
- From September 2007 to October 2009, the department managed an EPA Regional Geographic Initiative grant to study the air quality impacts from oil and gas development. The EPA study included a comprehensive emissions inventory and an assessment of local air quality issues.
The studies have created a solid scientific foundation for the development of a community-based air quality management program, including mitigation strategies for particular air quality issues across the county.
“We are compiling all we know about air quality at this point and presenting the information to community leaders and residents in a manner that will inform and perhaps inspire the community to move forward toward addressing air quality issues,” explained Jim Rada, the county’s environmental health manager.
Reaser said he hopes to partner with a variety of community and nonprofit groups in each municipality to address air quality improvement efforts that are important in each town.
For example, Reaser and Rada met with the town of New Castle’s volunteer Climate Action Advisory Commission. The parties are partnering on a local pilot program for a campaign against car and truck engine idling, asking drivers to pledge to turn off their engines whenever feasible.
The department hopes to create a countywide network of air quality champions and to draft a countywide air quality management plan in the near future, Reaser said.
Currently, the county’s air quality is not violating EPA standards; however, Reaser believes it is important to get ahead of the curve so that limits will not be violated as has been the case in Denver.
“It’s easier and more prudent to start this work before exceeding standards,” Reaser explained, citing one area of concern as the increasing levels of particulate matter in the Parachute area.
For more information, contact Reaser at 625-5200 ext. 8123 or preaser@garfield-county.com.
In the news
Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Dec. 5, 2009
Garfield County air quality brochure now available
Guide offered at the county's public health department in Rifle, online by end of December
By John Colson
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New Castle launches Recycle Rewards program
Program seeks to increase recycling among residents not currently enrolled
in the town’s recycling services
The Town of New Castle and Waste Management launched a recycling rewards program this month for residents not currently enrolled in the town’s residential recycling service. The goal of the one-year program is to increase participation in the town’s recycling service – a free service provided as part of town’s residential trash services.
“For those New Castle residents who have not yet signed up for recycling, this is a great opportunity to be eligible to win $100 cash or a free upgrade recycling toter from Waste Management,” said Mary Lou Haflinger, New Castle's Environmental Advisory Committee Secretary and Recycling Subcommittee member. “This incentive program does not adversely impact the town’s budget, and there is no cost to sign-up.”
Every quarter during 2010, Waste Management will randomly select a name from among the new residential curbside recycling customers. The winning household will receive $100 or a recycling toter upgrade (excluding animal resistant containers).
To be eligible, households must first be signed up to receive the town’s trash service.
“We are very excited to launch Recycle Rewards in partnership with the Town of New Castle,” said Randy Johnson, district manager of Waste Management’s New Castle services. “It will be the first Waste Management program of its kind in Colorado. The forward-thinking, can do attitude of New Castle residents has made this possible.”
To learn more about Waste Management’s innovations in recycling, visit www.thinkgreen.com.
To sign-up for Recycle Rewards, call Waste Management at (970) 384-6223.
In the news
Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Jan. 7, 2010
New Castle News: Rewards for Recycling
By Kay Vasilakis
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Glenwood Springs firm wins hydro research grant
The Applegate Group of Glenwood Springs and Denver was awarded a $50,000 grant to research the viability of implementing low-head hydroelectric technologies in Colorado’s existing irrigation infrastructure. Applegate will pursue the research in partnership with the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University.
The grant was one of several awarded from the Advancing Colorado's Renewable Energy (ACRE) Program by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Low head hydroelectric generation has been used in Colorado for more than a century, but few projects have been developed in recent years.
New technologies have been developed to streamline the infrastructure and equipment needed to develop a low head hydro project, said Lindsay George, water resources engineer for Applegate Group.
“These new technologies raise the potential at sites previously considered unfeasible for hydro development because of a lack of significant elevation drop,” George said. “Irrigation canal drop and check structures, and existing diversion dams and outflows, may provide the drop necessary to implement these new low head hydro technologies.”
Through the study, general information will be solicited from many irrigation systems across the state, and a few will be considered in more depth. The project will result in specific recommendations for irrigation companies and an overall statewide potential for low head hydro development.
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First bill of 2010 session would raise
renewable energy portfolio standard
By Tom Easley
Rocky Mountain Climate Organization
When the Colorado General Assembly convened its 2010 session on Jan. 13, the first bill introduced was HB 10-1001, which would raise the renewable energy portfolio standard for investor-owned electric utilities to 30 percent by 2020.
That’s a 50 percent increase from the current law, which requires such utilities (Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy) to get 20 percent of the power they produce from renewable energy resources by 2020.
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Max Tyler, D-Jefferson County, would partially implement the second most effective recommendation of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization’s Climate Action Panel in reducing emissions of heat-trapping gases.
The current bill does not, however, place the same requirement for higher renewable energy portfolio standards for rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities, such as Holy Cross Energy, Glenwood Electric and Aspen Electric. Under current law, coops and municipal utilities are required to purchase or generate 10 percent of their power from renewable sources.
Passage of HB 10-1001 would make Colorado one of the most ambitious states in achieving clean electrical energy supply.
Download the bill
In the news
Denver Post, Jan. 12, 2010
House Democrats to push for more renewable energy
By Jessica Fender
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Green Jobs Pipeline for Women project
launches across Colorado
New program to support women's efforts to secure green jobs in the new energy economy
 The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado launched its Green Jobs Pipeline for Women project last week. Under contract from the Women’s Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor, the project will promote the education, training and placement of women in the energy efficiency and renewable energy jobs market statewide.
While the new energy economy offers many new, exciting employment opportunities in Colorado, women still face challenges in securing work in the growing energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. These challenges include wage disparities and historic biases against women working in the trades and energy related jobs.
The Green Jobs Pipeline for Women project mission is to increase the number of Colorado women who take advantage of green jobs.
"The project will identify where job opportunities exist and illuminate what skills and training are needed to secure employment in Colorado's New Energy Economy,” said Joanne Keys, executive director of the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado.
Project manager Kit Williams said the project is aimed at:
- Expanding the awareness of workforce pipeline resources and services that support women in their search for training and employment opportunities.
- Building a statewide network of organizations committed to promoting green job employment opportunities for women.
- Initiating an outreach program that increases the chances that a woman will identify and secure employment in the green economy.
Project plans for 2010 include:
- Assembling a statewide coalition of organizations to promote a comprehensive set of services and resources that enable women to secure a green job.
- Holding a series of orientations about green job training and employment opportunities around the state.
- Conducting a survey of nonprofit, government, private, union and education organizations that are providing workforce related services to support women in their quest to enter the new energy economy.
Together, these initiatives will help identify a set of best practices, as well as gaps in the delivery of services, geared towards supporting women entering the green jobs field. To learn more as the project progresses, please visit and bookmark the Green Jobs Pipeline for Women website at:
For more information, contact Kit Williams at (303) 697-3390 or greenjobswomen@sustainablecolorado.org
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New Energy Economy successes outlined
in GEO 2009 annual report
 The Governor's Energy Office (GEO) released its annual report for 2009 on Dec. 30. The report details Colorado's expanding New Energy Economy and the GEO's role in creating jobs through diversifying the state's energy portfolio, development of renewable energy resources, increasing energy efficiency and reducing pollution and carbon emissions.
GEO's annual report provides an overview of statewide efforts across public, private and non-profit sectors to make Colorado a leader in the country's new energy future, build supplies of dependable and affordable energy and bolster our energy security.
"We've made great progress in developing Gov. Ritter's vision of a New Energy Economy.
"This report captures our wide-ranging efforts over the last fiscal year to position Colorado well for a new energy future, while helping to create jobs even as our state and the country faced the most difficult economic times in seven decades."
Tom Plant, director
Governor's Energy Office |
It also offers a close look at the GEO's efforts to help families on the financial margins lower energy bills, construct buildings that use less energy, expand markets for new energy and create homegrown Colorado jobs that can't be exported.
The annual report reviews GEO's efforts to deploy more wind and solar power and lay groundwork for the development of micro-hydroelectric and geothermal power. It outlines progress in the use of forest biomass and advanced biofuels as well as increasing the energy efficiency of homes, schools and other buildings.
The report also updates the GEO's partnering work with utilities and other governments to further Colorado's national leadership in building a strong economy by adopting cleaner energy sources.
The report includes details about the success of Colorado's nascent solar rebate program, the use of small wind turbines for electricity production and education, the construction of record numbers of ENERGY STAR New Homes in the state, the fast-growing participation of school districts and other local governments to engage in major energy retrofits to save taxpayer dollars and numerous additional examples of progress benefiting Colorado residents and businesses.
The report also includes numerous photo illustrations documenting the growth of our New Energy Economy as reflected by new companies, research and installation projects.
The report is posted on the GEO's website.
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EIA projects rising oil, natural gas prices through 2011
The U.S. Energy Information Administration issued its monthly “Short-Term Energy Outlook” last week, which projects price, supply and demand information for energy through December 2011.
The highlights:
Crude oil, which averaged $62 a barrel in 2009, will average $80 a barrel in 2010 and $84 a barrel in 2011. This assumes a 2 percent growth in U.S. GDP in 2010.
Pump prices for gasoline will rise from the 2009 national average of $2.35 for regular gas to a year-long average of $2.84 in 2010 and an average of $2.96 in 2011. Diesel fuel will average $2.98 in 2010 and $3.14 in 2011.
Pump prices for regular gasoline will spike to more than $3 a gallon in spring and summer 2010.
Natural gas prices will rise from the 2009 average of $4.06 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) to $5.36 per Mcf in 2010 and $6.12 per Mcf in 2011.
Residential electric rates will hold steady, shifting slightly from the national average of 11.6 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) in 2009 down to 11.5 cents per kWh in 2010 and up to 11.7 cents per kWh in 2011. (Note that these national average figures are from about 3 cents per kWh higher than prices paid by utility customers in Western Colorado.)
 Carbon dioxide emissions resulting from burning fossil fuels in all sectors will increase by 1.5 percent in 2010 and by 1.7 percent in 2011 as economic recovery contributes to an increase in energy consumption. CO2 emissions in 2009 were 6 percent lower than emissions in 2008.
Complete report and access to sector-by-sector in-depth reports
For readers interested in detailed information about energy markets, EIA’s monthly reports offer a wealth of information. Readers can sign up for an e-mail alert when the report is published.
EIA newsletter sign-up
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TRAININGS
Blueprint Reading & Construction Estimating:
Understanding and Using Electronic Project and Bid Documents
Jan. 27 to March 3
Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Colorado Mountain College Aspen Campus
CMC Course # 47861
Fee: $112
Register: CMC Aspen (970) 925-7740 or www.coloradomtn.edu
Oftentimes in today’s market, subcontractors and suppliers are receiving providing electronic versions of project bid documents from architects and general contractors.
This transition from paper documents is causing headaches for companies that are used to prepared bids and proposals using full size printed plans. Without the ability to understand and navigate the electronic documents, unnecessary printing labor costs can begin to add up long before you even have the job.
Many software programs allow estimators to view plans, PDFs and CAD files and perform electronic takeoffs directly on their computer screens. They can also quickly and accurately count, measure and calculate lengths, areas, and volumes within these construction software programs.
This 12-hour training covers blueprint plan reading, quantity take-off for preparation of bid documents, viewing and using electronic plans. introduction to using online plan rooms, and an introduction to on-screen take-off software
Download course flyer
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Vehicle fleets workshop aimed at efficiency and clean fuels
 Public and private sector vehicle fleet owners, managers, lead mechanics, along with elected officials, are invited to attend a one-day workshop to learn about practical steps to increase energy efficiency and reduce costs.
“Vehicle Fleets in the Clean Energy Economy: Reducing Costs and Diversifying Fuel Sources” is hosted by the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative, and sponsored by Encana, the Governor’s Energy Office and Glenwood Springs Ford.
The focus is to help your organization save money and prepare for the future by adopting efficient fleet practices and increasing fuel diversity
Friday, Feb. 5
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Glenwood Springs Community Center
100 Wulfsohn Road, Glenwood Springs
Fee: $15
Register by Feb. 2: www.GarfieldCleanEnergy.org
Speakers and a panel discussion will highlight successful methods used by Colorado fleets to increase energy efficiency and build fuel diversity using fleet management techniques, efficient vehicles and cleaner fuels such as compressed natural gas, ethanol, biodiesel and electricity. EnCana, a local producer of natural gas, will present information on fleet use of compressed natural gas.
Speakers will share how Eagle County saved 13,000 gallons of fuel and $100,000 in capital costs, how Colorado state government is nearly half way towards its petroleum reduction goal of 25 percent, and how Aspen Police Department cut fuel consumption nearly in half with hybrid patrol vehicles.
Vendor displays at the workshop will feature renewable fuels, energy efficient tires and a dozen energy efficient vehicles, including hybrids, CNG, bi-fuel and electric vehicles, and hybrid police patrol vehicles.
A workshop fee of $15 includes morning refreshments, lunch and workshop materials. Advance registration is requested by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2. To register and for more information, visit www.GarfieldCleanEnergy.org.
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USDA offers renewable energy grant-writing training
Friday, Feb. 5, 2010
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Delta-Montrose Electric Association
11925 6300 Road
Montrose, Colorado
Register: (970) 874-5735 x 130
 The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development office in western Colorado will be offering an intensive one-day training for small business owners, farmers and ranchers interested in applying for the agency’s grant and loan programs.
The grants are awarded for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements for small businesses and the business side of farms and ranches.
Advance registration is highly recommended. Last year’s sessions filled up prior to the event date.
The training is free; bring your own lunch.
Download the workshop flyer.
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LEED Green Associate Prep Course
Feb. 19-20, 2010 or April 16-17, 2010
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Colorado Mountain College Aspen Campus
Fee: $250 includes lunches
Register: CMC Aspen (970) 925-7740 or www.coloradomtn.edu
This prep course is for design professionals, real estate professionals, developers, building owners, contractors and project managers. The instructor is architect Eric Wood.
This course will cover:
- LEED rating systems and sustainable building concepts
- Preparation for a LEED professional credentialing exam
- How to implement green building in real life
................................................................
BPI Building Analyst Training
Week-long and three-day intensive classes offered
This comprehensive training program teaches you how to apply building science technology to help customers solve heating, cooling and air leakage problems that are driving high energy costs, while also providing them with a more comfortable, safe and durable home. Building science training will benefit your business and help the community to become more energy efficient.
Full Building Analyst Course with both exams
April 5-10, 2010
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 30-minute lunch break
Colorado Mountain College, West Garfield Campus, Rifle
Fee: $1,600 includes lunches and fees for written and field exams
This BPI Building Analyst training provides core building science knowledge, concepts, and field practice to prepare candidates to pass the Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification exams.
The course is intended for individuals who have no previous building analyst training. The course covers the fundamentals of building science and analyzing building performance problems including energy efficiency, safety, health, and indoor air quality, as required for BPI Building Analyst certification exams.
Intensive Building Analyst Course with both exams
April 23-26, 2010
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 30-minute lunch break
Colorado Mountain College, West Garfield Campus, Rifle
Fee: $550 includes lunches and fees for written and field exams
This intensive BPI Building Analyst Exam Prep reviews core building science knowledge and concepts and provides field practice to prepare candidates to pass the Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification exams.
The course is intended for individuals who have already completed some building analyst training, but would like additional review and practice before taking the certification exams.
Download the course flyer.
Space is limited, and early registration is recommended. To register, call Colorado Mountain College Aspen Campus, (970) 925-7740 or visit www.coloradomtn.edu
More course information, contact Rick Johnson, CMC Aspen Instructional Chair, (970) 925-7740, ex. 2417 or wjohnson@coloradomtn.edu.
More information about BPI certification: www.bpi.org or (518) 899-2727
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EVENTS
 Aspen EcoFest
April 24-25, 2010
Aspen
Aspen Eco Fest is a new Earth Day event aimed at inspiring people to make their homes, businesses and communities more ecologically advanced and environmentally sound, while encouraging economic success, activism, creativity and commitment to a sustainable society.
The event includes an eco-marketplace and eco-swap, roundtable discussions, bicycle clunker criterium, art show, canine fashion show and green tie ball.
To follow the developments, and learn about sponsor or vendor opportunities, visit www.aspenecofest.com.
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Colorado Renewable Energy Conference
June 18-20, 2010
Montrose Pavilion
Montrose
The Colorado Renewable Energy Society will hold its annual conference on the Western Slope this, and everyone involved in the growing field of renewable energy is invited to attend.
http://www.cres-energy.org/conference.
Feb. 12 is the deadline for submission of papers to be presented at the conference. For information, please visit cres-energy.org/events/conference/callforpapers.html
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Clean Energy Bits ‘n Bobs
 Our hearts go out to our friends at Solar Energy International, who are still awaiting word of SEI instructor Walt Ratterman of Washougal, Wash., who was working in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. Walt was working in Haiti on a series of renewable energy projects with his company, SunEnergyPower International, for rural hospitals. Knightsbridge International (KBI), a humanitarian relief organization that Walt was part of, has sent a rescue and relief team to Haiti. SEI is asking people to donate to Knightsbridge.
Knightsbridge Int’l Haiti blog page
You can also support Walt via Facebook by visiting Walt Ratterman - Haiti Mission.
Darin Carei of Grand Junction has left Grace Homes Real Estate and Construction to launch a new venture, EnergyWise Companies. The company will help builders reach ENERGY STAR standards, and perform residential and commercial energy audits. Contact Darin at (970) 242-WISE (9473) or by e-mail at dcarei@energywisecompanies.com
Solar Energy International’s Paonia campus was featured in the January-February edition of Solar Today magazine. The article, Braisin’ in the the Sun: Turning Pro in Paonia, calls the SEI training program “world class.”
Send us your news about people, groups and clean energy business: mcgregor@CleanEnergyEconomy.net
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