Nederland Renewable Energy Project

http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_geothermal.html

http://www.popularmechanics.com/how_to_central/home_clinic/1274631.html?...

http://www.geo-energy.org/aboutGE/basics.asp
Solar and Geothermal banking http://www.dlsc.ca/news/Okotoks%20BKDGR_FO.pdf

The San Luis Valley is opposed to being blanketed by solar panels and transmission lines.

Just heard that the Town Trustees may be meeting with the County Commissioners tonight. It's been suggested to me by BoCo officials that Nederland should ask BoCo to change Land Use Code to support Solar Gardens like the Community Energy Farm on Kayla's land.

I met with Will Toor several months ago when he said that the BoCo LUC has issues with PV arrays in Forestry zones. There are size (7500 max square feet for ground array and 120% annual usage limit) issues. We can get around the 120% annual usage limit by aggregating subscribers to a solar garden. However, the Forestry zone and max square footage is a problem.

I can't make tonight's meeting (if I have the info correct) because I'm assisting a class.

Proof that citizen ideas are taken seriously by some legislators:

http://www.colorado.gov/governor/images/GOVR_Jun_10/SolarGardens_3.jpg

Here I am standing behind the Governor wearing my Andrew Romanoff
button. Too bad I didn't think of taking my photochromatic glasses
off or wearing a larger Romanoff sticker. I was taking pictures when
Representative Claire Levy said in front of everyone that I inspired
her to write HB1342. Glad they didn't name it Greg's Bill as they
only do that for little kids or people who get shot. :-)

Too bad my dad isn't around to see this picture...my mom loved it.

Nederland renewed Xcel's franchise (monopoly) agreement a few years ago. Still the Boulder Xcel franchise discussion is worth watching as it an example of a City struggling with Climate Change concerns. When I moved from Palo Alto to Berkeley in the SF Bay Area, I was astounded how much more electricity cost moving from a city-owned utility to an investor-owned utility.

While it's unlikely Boulder City officials will go down the path of municipalization (city-owned utility) without a lot of public pressure, the savings are significant when you consider there are a few dozen cities in Colorado that have done so...towns like Longmont & Ft. Collins are among them. Colorado law does not currently support Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) which Marin County has now.

http://www.communityinpower.com/3.html

This costs money to attend.

greg

303.835.3550
http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmching
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An article in GreenCarReports.com, states that electric vehicles won't bring down the US Power Grid.  It tries to make a comparison between EV power consumption during charging and Plasma TVs, which consume perhaps a quarter of that of a EV on charge.  This is based on a charging rate of 2KW.  It states that plasma TVs did not bring down the grid.  However, there are no details here regarding the number of plasma TVs that are in use vs how many EVs will be in use.  Additionally, a previous article posted here ind

I have been tracking the Xcel Franchise renewal in Boulder closely as I am believer in Community Choice Aggregation (as in Marin County where they currently offer standard 78% renewable source electricity).

> Please save August 3rd for an important City Council meeting.
>
> But here's something you can do TODAY!
>
> http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_15514209
>
> Please consider encouraging the Daily Camera's Virtual Editorial Board to endorse the replacement utility tax (revenue neutral when compared to the current Franchise Fee). Passage will give Boulder more time to develop effective options to meet carbon reduction goals.

The solar garden act was signed into Colorado law recently, which compels utility companies to facilitate community solar projects. This is another great way to go solar, since neighbors can get together and buy into a neighborhood solar project.  Since many people rent or don't have the right rooftop for solar PV, it rocks!  Plus, the economies of scale make it cheaper per kilowatt. Read about the very first solar garden project, which just opened in the Roaring Fork Valley:

I recently wrote this for a new Denver on-line monthly publication

http://www.milehigreen.com/2010-05-01/article/profile

If only 0.2 percent of Denver's food is grown within Colorado, you wonder how Nederland compares. In the summer, I walk to a biodynamic farm stand off Magnolia Road http://www.peacefulmeadowfarm.org/ but it would be great to grow more locally for year-round consumption. Saving on food shipping costs would result in a much smaller carbon footprint.

Watch the video of the aquaculture prototype that grows watercress, salad greens, and tilapia symbiotically within an artificial river system.

http://blog.cleantechies.com/2010/08/12/new-stickers-increase-solar-pane...

Durability unproven but interesting even for installed panels.