Join Clean Energy Action Citizen Power for the next event in its Global Warming Solutions series:

Thursday, January 14, 2010

New one-time location!
Unity Church
2855 Folsom Street, Boulder, CO 80304

Time: 6:30-7:00 Social Hour
7:00-8:30pm Presentation

This presentation is a unique and timely opportunity to learn about the process and options that cities face when negotiating with large-scale energy providers. With franchise renewal set for summer of 2010, Boulder is in the process of negotiating an energy supply commitment with Xcel Energy. Come and become informed about how cities do long-term energy planning, about the time commitment considerations for Boulder’s next franchise agreement, and about options for choice in Boulder’s energy sources. Ms. Perkins will focus on the inherent responsibility of Colorado cities to provide energy as a vital service and to respond to the moral, financial and social imperatives associated with carbon emissions.

About the speaker

Susan Perkins has spent 34 years as an energy lawyer with an exclusive focus for four years on sustainable and renewable energy. Representing distributed solar and utility-scale solar and wind clients, participating in energy policy dockets at the Public Utilities Commission, and representing cities in the negotiation of their franchise agreements, Ms. Perkins is a strong advocate for systemic thinking and long-range planning for energy policy.

ATTORNEYS PLEASE NOTE: An application will be filed at the Colorado Supreme Court for 1.0 hour of Continuing Legal Education Credit (CLE) for this program.

For more information, contact Andy Lenec or visit
www.cleanenergyaction.org
Copyright© 2009 Clean Energy Action

The city of Boulder is considering updates to its housing, rental licensing and energy efficiency codes.  You can share your views and learn more at the upcoming informational session:

Community Open House
On Monday, Nov. 16 or Wednesday, Nov. 18
at the West Boulder Senior Center
909 Arapahoe ave., Creekside Room
from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

To learn more about potential changes, visit the city of Boulder’s website.

Boulder County’s ClimateSmart Loan Program has announced that ground mounted solar photovoltaic systems  are now an eligible measure under the ClimateSmart Loan Program, provided that the system is located on the residential property.  The ClimateSmart Loan Program is a voluntary mechanism for commercial and residential property owners to obtaining financing for renewable energy and/or energy efficiency improvements to properties in Boulder County.

Interested in participating in Boulder County’s ClimateSmart Loan program to fund energy efficiency improvements to your home?  The County is gearing-up for its second round of loans, with mandatory homeowner workshops running from July 28th through September 1st throughout Boulder County.  You can learn more about the upcoming workshops or the ClimateSmart Loan program by visiting Boulder County’s ClimateSmart Loan Program here or by visiting the Center for Resource Conservation here.

Populus is a Boulder-based, full-service sustainable design consulting firm that focuses on high performance, net-zero and near-net-zero custom residential and multi-family projects.  Populus is your partner in high-performance design solutions, specializing in energy efficiency codes, green building certifications and LEED for Homes™ training.  Contact Populus at news@popboulder.com.

Interested in participating in Boulder County’s ClimateSmart Loan program to fund energy efficiency improvements to your home?  The County is gearing-up for its second round of loans, with mandatory homeowner workshops running from July 28th through September 1st throughout Boulder County.  You can learn more about the upcoming workshops or the ClimateSmart Loan program by visiting Boulder County’s ClimateSmart Loan Program here or by visiting the Center for Resource Conservation here.

On Monday evening, Jim Logan, Principal at Jim Logan Architects and David Neiger, Principal at Populus, discussed the energy efficiency opportunities and challenges presented by Boulder’s existing buildings with members of PLAN Boulder County.  The panelist of experts also included Ruth McHeyser, Director of the City of Boulder’s Department of Planning and Building Services and Yael Gichon, Staff member of the City of Boulder’s Environmental Affairs Department.  While the topic of the event focused on Residential and Commercial Energy Conservation Ordinances (“RECO” and “CECO”), the panelists addressed a variety of ideas to increase the efficiency of Boulder’s residential and commercial buildings.

Logan and Neiger Address Energy Efficiency of Existing Buildings

According to Yael Gichon and Ruth McHeyser at the City of Boulder, initial proposals to address residential energy efficiency will likely take the form of new efficiency requirements tied to rental permit applications, but will not include a broad-based Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance.  Based on the progress made by the City of Boulder so far, it is likely that the energy efficiency measures could be considered by City Council by the end of the year.  On the commercial front, the City of Boulder is still in an initial information-gathering phase.

The City of Boulder is expected to announce upcoming opportunities for public comment regarding residential energy conservation measures.  We’ll keep you updated of any developments through the Populus blog.

Populus is a Boulder-based, full-service sustainable design consulting firm that focuses on high performance, net-zero and near-net-zero custom residential and multi-family projects.  Populus is your partner in high-performance design solutions, specializing in energy efficiency codes, green building certifications and LEED for Homes™ training.  Contact Populus at news@popboulder.com.

Join PLAN Boulder County for an EVENING forum
Monday, June 29, 7:00pm – TONIGHT!
Upstairs room of Sherpa’s Adventurers Restaurant & Bar, 825 Walnut Street, Boulder
Dinner and beverages will be available. Program will being at 7:p.m.. Those who want to order dinner should arrive at 6:45.

The RECO and CECO are critical parts of the City of Boulder’s Climate Action Program. To date, work on them has been slow, but now the pace is accelerating. The panel will explain the status of the work and the prospects for passage of RECO and CECO by the City Council in the near future.

Panelists:

Yael Gichon, Staff member of the City of Boulder’s Environmental Affairs Department

Jim Logan, Chair of the Climate Action Network’s (“CAN”) CECO committee

Ruth McHeyser, Director of the City of Boulder’s Department of Planning and Building Services

Dave Neiger, Chair of the Climate Action Network’s RECO committee