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Colorado Renewable Energy Forum

October 21, 2005

At the Colorado Farm Bureau Headquarters

 

Meeting Minutes

 

Attendees:

Leland Swenson, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

Jimmie Dean, RMFU

David Klute, Colorado Division of Wildlife

Lola Spradely, Harvesting Energy Network

Landon Gates, Colorado Farm Bureau

Ron Lehr, American Wind Energy Association

Sam Anderson, Biofuel Technologies, LLC

Ron Larson, American Solar Energy Society, Colorado Renewable Energy Society

Steve Sargent, ICAST

Tiffani Lennon, Environment Colorado

Morey Wolfson, Energy Consultant

David Hiller, Senator Ken Salazar

Drew Bolin, Governor’s Office of Energy Management & Conservation

Olga Erlich, OEMC

Chris Rundell, Prairie Wind Energy

Karen Hyde, Xcel Energy

Craig Cox, IEA – WBCNET

Francois Jacobs, Denver University

Woody Beardsley, Hybrid Energy Group

Elizabeth Kudner, Brand Iron Marketing

Jackobson

John Covert, Colorado Working Landscapes

Tony Frank, Colorado Working Landscapes

 

December 7 Harvesting Energy Network Luncheon

Tony Frank distributed a postcard with information about a Dec. 7 luncheon to recognize the leadership that has built the Network and announce the March 27-28 Intermountain Harvesting Energy Network Summit/Conference.  Everyone involved with CREF was encouraged to attend the Luncheon.  The postcard included the following information: 

 

Colorado Harvesting Energy Network Luncheon

Network Partners: Colorado Farm Bureau, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Environment Colorado, Colorado Working Landscapes, Independent Bankers of Colorado

Independent Bankers of Colorado

December 7, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location:  Renaissance Denver, 3801 Quebec St., Denver, CO 80207

Cost:  $20 per individual; Organizations may purchase a table (contact 303-283-3524)

Please RSVP to:

Colorado Working Landscapes, 303-283-3524, or via email at frank@workinglandscapes.com

 

Update of Amendment 37 Rulemaking

Morey Wolfson presented an update of Amendment 37 rulemaking.  Mr. Wolfson’s Power Point presentation is available for those who request it.   Some highlights of the recent PUC deliberation include:

·        The rules will include the legislative intent of voters embodied in the language on the ballot itself (saving customers and businesses money, improving the environment, increasing generation diversity, saving water, improving rural economies, and attracting new businesses and jobs).

·        Rebates for solar will be fully retroactive to 1/1/2004

·        Accepted a compromise allowing flexibility on timing over the 9 year compliance period

·        Accepted a standard rebate offer for solar systems – a hybrid rebate of $2/W + the utility purchase of the anticipated REC value over a 20 year period (~$2.50/W).  Equal ~ $4.50/W.

·        Adopted true net metering for solar systems under 10kW.

·        Adopted interconnection standards.  Solar Systems that are “UL” rated can be interconnected to the electric grid without expensive studies.

·        Accepted the concept of the RE and solar rebate pool of money being larger than the money raised by a 1% rate hike.  Expect the savings from wind to be used as a credit to apply against the 1% rate cap. 

·        The idea of a third party administrator was rejected as too expensive

·        Specific rules of will be drafted to help encourage greater transparency.  The PUC acknowledged A37 as the voice of the public, and citizens have a right to know that the RPS is being met. 

 

Initial rule will be issued in mid-November.  Sometime in January we can expect a final PUC decision on the rules.  Sometime in February expect utility compliance filings to be submitted.  Sometime in March the Solar program might begin. 

 

Windpower and Wildlife in Colorado Symposium, January 23-25, 2006

David Klute with the Colorado Division of Wildlife provided information about an upcoming symposium in Fort Collins, Ramada Inn I-25 to cover issues related to Windpower and Wildlife.  The symposium has three principal goals:

 

 

Mr. Klute will make an agenda available in the near future for CREF members to view.  Registration information will be made available in the near future as well. 

 

The symposium is in conjunction with the Annual Winter Meeting of the Colorado Chapter of the Wildlife Society.  The TWS meeting theme is “Energy and Natural Resources: Finding the Balance.”

 

For more information contact David Klute, Colorado Division of Wildife, 303-291-7320, david.klute@state.co.us.

 

Harvesting Energy Network

Lola Spradley gave an overview of the development of the Harvesting Energy Network and future events planned.  Ms. Spradley has recently become the chair of the Intermountain Harvesting Energy Network (IHEN) Steering Committee.  Other Steering Committee members include Colorado Farm Bureau, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Environment Colorado, Colorado Working Landscapes, Independent Bankers of Colorado, CSU Dept. of Agricultural Sciences, 25x’25 Ag Energy Workgroup, US Dept. of  Energy.  The Colorado Department of Agriculture will be met with and is considering being a steering committee member. 

 

The Network is focusing efforts on Renewable energy for electricity and alternative fuels for transportation.  These issues are very important for rural communities in the state and region.

 

Ms. Spradley described the parallels she is observing with the telecommunications industry of the past with the electric industry of today.   

 

Ms. Spradley encouraged everyone to attend the December 7 Harvesting Energy Network Luncheon.  Organization can purchase a table for the event. 

 

The Network is planning a March 27-28 Summit that will bring ag-energy leaders from the seven state Intermountain region together to build the Network.  The Western Governor’s Association’s Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative will be a centerpiece of the event. 

 

Community Wind recommendations for Least Cost Planning rules

Tony Frank described a methodology for developing recommendations to support community wind projects in the recent docket to review the LCP rules.  The PUC staff will be holding a workshop among stakeholders on October 28 to discuss what steps should be taken for considering recommendations to change the LCP rules. 

 

Chuck Holum, RMFU Attorney, and Brent Orr with East Yuma County wind group planned to attend the October 28 workshop to represent the interests of community wind developers. 

 

Mr. Frank will continue to research models and research that provide relevant information about the benefits of smaller scale locally owned wind projects. 

 

Legislative Ideas and other updates

 

Chris Rundell with Prairie Wind Energy announced that an ethanol plant will be up and running soon near Walsh in Baca County. 

 

Drew Bolin, OEMC Director, stated that his office has provided a $150,000 grant of non-state money for developing more 85% ethanol pumps (E85) in the state.  His office has also been sorting VIN numbers of cars in the state to identify the number and location of flex fuel vehicles.  They have identified about 100,000 FFV in the metro area.

 

Mr. Bolin added that a hydrogen out of wind energy project is underway.   

 

David Hiller with Senator Salazar stated that they are planning an energy summit for early 2006.  They are concentrating on energy independence and putting more focus on biodiesel.

 

Craig Cox with Interwest Energy Alliance said he can share summaries about the transmission line incentives in Minnesota and Texas.  He is also serving on the WGA’s Biomass Electricity Task Force.

 

Ron Larson stated that the national American Solar Energy Society conference will be held in Denver in July 2006.  Forum ideas are being considered thru November.    In addition, ASES has formally supported the 25x’25 vision of the Ag Energy Workgroup. 

 

Landon Gates with the Colorado Farm Bureau said they are discussing ethanol issues and exploring incentives for ethanol producers. 

 

Next Meeting

Tony Frank suggested the last meeting of the year would be the December 7 luncheon and we begin 2006 with a January meeting.  

 

   

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