CHEN Mission and Goals

The mission of Colorado Harvesting Energy Network (CHEN) is to facilitate the development of community-based renewable energy projects that advance Colorado's New Energy Economy.

Three basic goals will drive us to accomplish this mission:
• Promote distributed generation of electricity through a collaborative statewide partnership between state agencies, utilities, distributed generation entrepreneurs and communities.
• Support community-based renewable energy development by providing coordinated outreach, education and technical assistance to individuals, businesses and communities seeking project opportunities. .
• Assist government and industry in crafting public policies that support development of renewable energy resources, distributed generation, and community-driven economic development opportunities.

CHEN is guided by four core beliefs:
• Community-based energy development creates sustainable communities by stimulating job growth, increasing tax base, and empowering local control. Widespread implementation of community-based renewable energy development (C-BED).
• Distributed generation and storage of electricity can provide immediate system-wide benefits by taking advantage of the existing transmission infrastructure and by meeting the goals of the Climate Action Plan.
• Colorado's farms, ranches and forests-our working lands-are rich in renewable energy resources, including wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and small hydro which can be rapidly developed.
• Renewable energy resources are vital to addressing our nation's environmental, economic and national security issues

Create the systematic development process and implementation tools to advance community- based renewable energy projects.
1. Develop a process for responding to inquiries regarding renewable resource potential, project feasibility and access to financial and technical resources.
2. Develop flow charts to depict the critical path/steps to implement the various renewable energy technologies.
3. Develop criteria and procedures for identifying and assisting promising projects.
4. Establish technical/advisory teams for each selected renewable energy technology, such as wind, small hydro, solar, and biomass.
5. Develop and secure service providers such as accountants and engineers in parts of Colorado where projects are developed and provide training programs to expand opportunities.
6. Identify existing and future funding sources necessary to compensate team members.
7. Establish the capacity to facilitate a collaborative planning process in Energy Resource Zones or similar regional planning areas.

Founding Board of Directors:
Woody Beardsley, Hybrid Energy Group, LLC
Wayne Caldwell, Monte Vista Cooperative
Craig Cox, Interwest Energy Alliance
Kay Lynn Hefley, Baca Green Energy, LLC
Mark Glauth, Colorado Association of Conservation Districts
Brian Greenman , Greenman Financial Advisors
Craig Joyce, Fairfield and Woods, P.C.
Chris McCall, Compass Wind, LLC
Brent Orr, Cornerstone Transco

CHEN Advisory Committee:
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Colorado State University Extension
Governor's Energy Office
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Colorado Working Landscapes (Administration)