Energizer Newsletter
May 5, 2008
Volume 1, Issue 7
The Live Wire EmPowered E3 (Extension’s Energy Exchange)
by Leigh Fortson
Extension Regional Communications Coordinator and REA (Renewable Energy Advocate)
Extension
Greetings to all other REAs (see above). Gary Hall is a hard act to follow as he accomplished so much during his short time acting as the Head REA. We will miss him and wish him all the best luck in his new position.
Since Gary was able to devote all of his time to energy issues and I am not, the newsletter will take on a slightly different role. For starters, Gary was about town quite a bit and elegantly summarized what he learned in the field. He worked diligently to make an opening for us at the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) and had lots of meetings with innovative engineers and entrepreneurs. He was wonderful at reporting what he learned and about the upcoming technology that we all want to know about.
I’m on the Western Slope and can’t attend the meetings on the Front Range that Gary would have. Instead, the news I get is supplied via the computer. I will, in turn, send that information directly to you. Hopefully, you’ll be able to easily access exactly what serves your purposes.
I will do my best to keep you up to date on what kind of funding is available from either the GEO or other funding pools. And I will keep one toe in the renewable reservoir on campus so we can know what our very own faculty is doing that will, no doubt, impact the world.
I welcome your thoughts on how to make this easy to read and filled with the kind of information you want. To send ideas or feedback, call me at 970-241-3346 or Email leigh.fortson@colostate.edu.
CSU Energy Website
Don’t forget to check into CSU’s energy website. You’ll find information specific to wind, solar, geothermal, carbon sequestration and biomass energy. It’s also a great place to promote any clean energy events you’re hosting or want others to know about. There are also an assortment of links that will guide you to all kinds of renewable and sustainable energy news. Check it out at www.ext.colostate.edu/energy/.
New Energy Work Team
We’re putting together a Clean Energy Work Team. The purpose of this work team will be established as we evolve into our new role as information brokers, and as opportunities arise where we’ll need good collaboration. If you’d like your name added to the list, please contact me. These are the people who have expressed interest thus far:
Leigh Fortson, Mesa County
Irene Shonle, Gilpin County
Kurt Jones, Chaffee County
Dennis Kaan, Washington County
Heather Hodgin, Jefferson County
Agent Input & News
Please send me any news of what you are doing or your communities are doing around clean and renewable energy. It’s important that we know what our fellow Extension agents and specialists are up to. Thank you!
Sometime in May, you’ll be receiving a survey from me about what kinds of questions you’re being asked from your customers. That way, we’ll get an idea of what kind of issues and in which locations need our greatest attention. There are lots of new clean energy technologies in the making, and we want to know which communities can best benefit from them when they are ready for the market.
GEO Update (www.colorado.gov/energy)
Last week, I had to shoot some photos at a peach orchard. As I was cruising around the newly flowering trees on a 4-wheeler, the farmer talked about how he’d sure like to install solar panels on his place, but that the cost is just too much. I wrote to Bob Mailander, one of our contacts at the GEO, asking if there’s anything available for ag producers to help with the cost of solar power that we may not know about. His reply may be useful to you:
“If his utility service provider is Xcel, there are good rebates available. The San Luis Valley farmers did a joint project with Xcel last year and are planning to expand this year if a few major issues can be resolved (having to do with rate classes and amount of offset credits). If the farm is served by a Rural Electric Cooperative, the rebate may be available if the REC is a partner with GEO. The total available under either offering is $4/watt up to $12,000 for GEO but unlimited for Xcel. The system needs to be grid tied to qualify for the rebate. Sizing the system is critical to getting the maximum efficiency and economic advantage. Good luck.”
* * *
The GEO announced the second round of "New Energy Economic Development" (NEED) grants to 13 awardees, totaling $656,000 in funding.
The NEED grants use Clean Energy Funds to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout the state. NEED grants will be administered by GEO to target emerging technologies and attract New Energy Economy investment into Colorado.
The first NEED round was $350,000 and this totals $1,006,600.00 in funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects throughout the state. In addition, GEO will soon announce the awardees of the $350,000 Solar Innovation Grants. For more information about the NEED Grants, visit, www.colorado.gov/energy
Upcoming Opportunities
Biofuels
Gilpin County is hosting for the first in a series of county workshops being offered by the Roundtable. They will convene a cross-section of county staff, elected officials, and technical experts to discuss issues related to utilizing local forest biomass for facility heating.
The workshop is on May 8th at Gilpin County’s Road & Bridge Building, 255 Braecher Park Rd., Golden, CO. The workshop is free. Everyone is welcome.
RSVP to Becky Johnson: beckyjohnson@fs.fed.us Please direct questions to Craig Jones: craigjo@lamar.colostate.edu or Lisa Dale: lisa.dale@du.edu
* * *
Two Under Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will discuss key policy issues of the rapidly evolving biofuels industry at the June 24-25 conference, Transition to a Bioeconomy: Risk, Infrastructure and Industry Evolution
Thomas Dorr, Under Secretary of Rural Development, will discuss issues relating to the financing of the biofuels industry. Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, will focus on research and education needs of the bioeconomy. Dorr and Buchanan will be joined on the program by leaders from the energy industry-both the oil and renewable arenas-and academics working on energy issues.
"The risks and infrastructure needs of the new bioeconomy don't always fit previous business models or management tools," says Farm Foundation Vice President Steve Halbrook. "It is important that industry, government and academic leaders understand the opportnities and challenges the industry faces as it moves forward. Farm Foundation's intend is to provide public and private leaders the information they need for informed decision making."
The June conference, to convene at the Doubletree Marina, Berkeley, Calif., is a collaboration of Farm Foundation, and USDA's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses and Economic Research Service.
Conference sessions will explore market relationships and risk management strategies. Business, legal, transportation and financial infrastructure issues will be examined, as well as potential policy questions. Conference program details are available at the Farm Foundation Web site, www.farmfoundation.org. Registration fee is $225 if paid by June 9, after which it will be $250.
For more information, contact:
Steve Halbrook, Vice President (630) 571-9393, steve@farmfoundation.org
Mary Thompson, Director of Communications, (630) 571-9393, mary@farmfoundation.org
* * *
The Department of Energy (DOE) is offering up to $4 million for university research into cost-effective, environmentally friendly ways to convert biomass into biofuel. Twelve U.S. universities will be selected for funding, and each of them will contribute a minimum of 20% of the cost share, resulting in about $4.8 million being invested in these projects.
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks projects that improve the conversion of biomass to advanced biofuels through biochemical, thermochemical, and chemical processes and is focused on lowering production costs and increasing yields and productivity. While the FOA is mainly focused on conventional biomass sources, it also includes the enhanced production of oils from algae. Applications are due on June 2. See the DOE press release and the full solicitation on Grants.gov.
Wind
The GEO, US Department of Energy, Colorado Harvesting Energy Network and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union present: Ownership Matters: Community-Based Wind Development in Colorado. Wednesday, May 7th, Community College in Lamar; Thursday, May 8th, WRAC in Wray. 9:00am to 4:00pm, lunch provided.
If your community is conducive for wind project, this is a must! Agents can play a vital role in helping landowners work together and start community-based operations. For more information, call 303-283-3524 or email Covert@workinglandscapes.com or Tony.Frank@co-ops.org.
* * *
Wind Powering America is offering the second in a series of webcasts with the purpose of reaching out to the Ag community. It will take place on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 10:00am MST. The presentation will last approximately 1 hour and will be followed by a half hour for Q&A.
The topic is “Wind Farming” and will be presented by David Kolsrud. David Kolsrud has over 13 years of experience in renewable energy and is well recognized nationwide. He has helped to develop, organize and fund over 20 renewable energy projects – primarily ethanol, biodiesel and wind projects. Call Carrie Christol, NREL Wind Technology Center, at 303-384-6962 with questions.
Audio Access Information:
Phone Number: 888-790-1765
Participant Passcode: 3358785
Leader Name: Larry Flowers
Web Access Information:
URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/
Conference Number: PG4463689
Participant Passcode: 3358785
Join the event directly at: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PG4463689&p=3358785&t=c
Leigh Fortson
Extension Regional Communications Coordinator and REA (Renewable Energy Advocate)
Colorado State University Extension
2764 Compasss Drive, Suite 232
Grand Junction, CO 81506-8746
(970) 241-3346, FAX (970) 241-3643
leigh.Fortson@ColoState.EDU
Updated Monday, August 29, 2011