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Tony's Newsletter

Tracking Activities of the Colorado Renewable Energy Forum

and the Development of Wind Projects

From Colorado Working Landscapes, May 24, 2004

Volume 1, Issue 8

 

The Colorado Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) is an organization of energy, financial and legal professionals, local communities, and advocate organizations committed to the development of wind and other renewable energy resources. To be added to or taken off the distribution list for Tony's Newsletter please send an email to frank@workinglandscapes.com.

A Coalition is being formed to provide support to rural communities pursuing development of renewable energy projects. Utilities, wind developers and consultants along with rural, financial and advocacy organizations are banding together to create the Colorado Renewable Energy Forum (CREF). Its Steering Committee met on May 21st to approve a Letter of Agreement and Preliminary Action Plan. 

Tracee Bentley, National Affairs Director for the Colorado Farm Bureau was elected chairperson for the group while the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union was selected to serve as its Fiscal Agent. Tony's Newsletter will keep CREF members apprised of developments while details are to be contained on the CREF website, currently under construction. Preliminary information can be viewed at www.workinglandscapes.com/CREF.htm.
 
The purpose of the organization is to facilitate development of projects and not to engage in lobbying activities. The Action Plan is designed to coordinate and leverage resources and activities of CREF members in support of rural communities pursuing wind development.
 
The month of June will be used to refine the Action Plan with key interests groups such as rural communities, utilities, wind developers and advocacy groups. A formal presentation to CREF partners and celebration is scheduled for the afternoon of June 30, 2004.
 
CREF grew out of a vision by The US Department of Energy and Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) for a Colorado Wind Working Group. An effort is being made to provide startup dollars through OEMC.

 

Briefing on Xcel Energy's Plan to Install 500 MW of Wind Capacity by 2006

The Colorado Farm Bureau hosted a briefing to examine Xcel Energy's "Least Cost Plan" submitted to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on May 1st. Of the dozen organizations attending the briefing, a number will be participating in PUC deliberations and rulemaking.

The briefing--organized by the Rocky Mountain Farmer's Union, Colorado Renewable Energy Society and Western Resource Advocates--covered a number of issues pertaining to the Least Cost Plan, including community wind development, energy efficiency, and the coal generation unit proposed for Pueblo.

The group will return to Farm Bureau's headquarters in Centennial, Colorado on June 16th to map out a PUC strategy. In preparation for that meeting rural interests have requested a meeting with Xcel Energy to discuss community wind issues. 

For more information please contact Tony Frank at frank@workinglandscapes.com.

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Ballot Initiative moving forward following General Assembly's failure to pass a Renewable Energy Standard bill

Several organizations led by the renewable energy industry and environmental groups are pushing forward with a proposed ballot initiative measure concerning energy efficiency and renewable energy standards. The proposed initiative sets standards requiring qualifying utilities to use renewable energy resources that will make up 3% of their retail electricity sales by 2007 and rising to 10% of sales by 2015. The proposed initiative is modeled on what Xcel Energy is already doing in Minnesota and New Mexico.  It's requirements are less stringent than New Mexico, Minnesota, Nevada and California but proponents believe it will put Colorado on the renewable energy map. If the initiative qualifies, Colorado voters will vote on the initiative in November. This effort comes on the heels of the Colorado State Senate's rejection by a 16-19 vote of an amendment to SB 168 that would have adopted a renewable energy standard for investor-owned utilities.

Matt Baker, Executive Director Environment Colorado, stated "This a bipartisan effort that brings together rural interests environmental groups and the renewable energy industry. Every day we read about high gasoline prices, natural gas shortages and even a doubling in the price of coal, the Renewable Energy Initiative will allow Coloradoan's to increase our energy security, promote rural economic development, protect our environment and put the lid on energy price increases."

The proposed initiative measure (2003-2004#145) contains provisions applying to providers of electric service that serve over 40,000 customers.  Other provisions include procedures that enable a qualifying utility to opt out of the requirements and a limitation on the costs of implementation passed onto customers to not exceed 50 cents per month for the average residential customer.

To view the proposed initiative click on the following link to the Colorado General Assembly's Web Site: Ballot Initiative 2003-2004#145.

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Lamar honors those involved in bringing the fifth largest wind energy project to Colorado

The city of Lamar in southeast Colorado celebrated on May 14 the recent operation of the Colorado Green wind power project.  A standing room only crowd attended the dedication ceremony. They listened to several speakers that made the project a reality. Steve Zwolinski, CEO Wind Energy - GE Energy, stressed that the community's acceptance of wind energy and the landowners' commitment were critical factors in constructing the 108 GE wind turbines located 23 miles south of Lamar in Prowers County. 

Greg Emich, a local rancher near Lamar, whose land contains 98 of the turbines said, "When history books are written there will be a couple pages about wind energy in Lamar." 

The Colorado Green project is a 162 megawatt wind energy development jointly owned by PPM Energy and Shell WindEnergy Inc.  The project was developed, constructed, and is being operated by GE Energy. Power generated by the project will serve Xcel Energy customers throughout Colorado under a 15-year purchase agreement with Xcel Energy. According to the American Wind Energy Association the project will provide enough renewable electricity to serve approximately 52,000 average American homes each year. 

 

A standing room only crowd attended

the dedication festivities and viewed

dozens of posters drawn by elementary

school students.

 

Colorado Renewable Energy Society Conference, June 25-27

"Renewable Energy: It Makes $ense" will be the theme of the annual conference of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society.  The purpose of the conference is to bring together renewable energy and energy efficiency professionals, policy makers, and the interested public. 

Dates:  June 25-27, 2004 (Friday-Sunday)
Location:  University of Denver, in the new LEED-certified Law School
Audience:  Citizens, business owners, community leaders, and anyone else
Keynote:  Tim Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation
Program and registration:  http://cres-energy.org/conference/index.html
Friday:  workshops, plenary
Saturday:  presentations, keynote
Sunday:  plenary, meetings, tours

2004 Annual Colorado Rural Conference, "Rural Communities: The Heart of Colorado" - July 13-15

The 2004 Annual Colorado Rural Conference, "Rural Communities:  The Heart of Colorado", is right around the corner!  The conference will be held July 13-15, 2004 at the Raintree Plaza Hotel in Longmont, Colorado.  This two-day extravaganza is packed with educational seminars, workshops, networking opportunities, exhibits and entertainment. 

This year the Colorado Rural Development Council (CRDC) has partnered with the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) to host a collaborative event focused on a variety of broad rural issues.  Over 300 participants from a variety of disciplines including healthcare, economic development, telecommunications, renewable energy and more will attend this event to learn about rural Colorado. 

To sponsor the conference or purchase an exhibit booth, please call CRDC at 303-866-4918.

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Wind Farmers Workshop Scheduled for Julesburg on June 8, 2004

A workshop organized by Tom Potter with multiple sponsors will be held at the Hippodroime Theatre, 215 Cedar Street, Julesburg, Colorado beginning at 2:00 P.M. on June 8th. Experts will present a variety of timely topics including assessing your wind resource, leasing options, business & finance,  power purchase agreements, and grid interconnection. For more information email  tom.potter@rmfu.org.

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Colorado Working Landscapes (CWL) is a landowner-driven public policy forum seeking to build communication bridges between divergent interest groups while striving for win-win solutions.  Our goal is to keep Colorado's agricultural landscapes intact, both economically and ecologically, while respecting private property rights and local control.