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Colorado Renewable Energy Forum

March 17, 2006

At the Colorado Farm Bureau Headquarters

Centennial, CO

 

Meeting Minutes

 

Attendance

Morey Wolfson, MW Energy Solutions

Scott Prestidge, Congressman Udall

Landon Gates, Colorado Farm Bureau

Jake Meffley, Environment Colorado

David Hiller, Senator Salazar

Bob Mailander, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

Ron Lehr, American Wind Energy Association

Craig Cox, Interwest Energy Alliance

Tony Frank, Colorado Working Landscapes

Fred Hefley, Baca Green Energy

Vic Doyle, Baca Green Energy

Kay Lynn Hefley, Colorado Farm Bureau

Kirpal Singh, Harvesting Energy Network Volunteer

Jim Sears, Sun Source

Brad Haight, MFGLL

Jimmie Dean, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

 

Overview and Status of State Legislation

Landon Gates with the Colorado Farm Bureau led a discussion of state legislation involving renewable energy.  Below are the bills he is tracking: 

 

HB 1275 – This bill would change the valuation of wind turbines for property tax purposes to a method based on production.  It is intended to be revenue neutral over 20 years, however the property taxes in the early years would be less and remain constant throughout the life of the turbine.  Both the Farm Bureau and Farmers Union support it.  It has passed the 3rd reading in the House and is going to the Senate. 

 

SB 138 – This bill would require that gasoline in Colorado contain a specified percentage of ethanol by volume (5% by Jan. 1, 2007; 10% by Jan. 1, 2009; 15% by Jan. 1, 2011; and 20% by Jan. 1, 2013).  An amendments to the bill would require that 75% of the gasoline sold have the specified percentage of ethanol.  The Farm Bureau supports the bill with the amendment.  The Farmers Union supported the original bill and the amendment, but are concerned about where the feedstock is coming from.  They would be interested in ways to support local feedstock for the ethanol production.    

 

HB 1325

Craig Cox with the Interwest Energy Alliance presented information about a possible amendment to HB 1325.  HB 1325 would create a task force to study transmission line.  The bill passed House Appropriations committee on 3/17 and could be on the House floor for a second reading on Monday, 3/20 and a third reading on 3/22.  A future amendment support by Craig would go beyond the study of transmission and seek the construction of transmission lines to areas with high quality wind energy areas of the state.  The bill would be similar in nature to legislation enacted in Minnesota, Texas, and North Dakota.  The Farm Bureau support the language of the amendment. 

 

SB 16 and SB 3

Jake Meffley with Environment Colorado provided an update of SB 16 and SB 3.  SB 16 would require the use of biodiesel (B20) for all state owned vehicles.  At one point the bill would have applied to only 40 state vehicles, but it now includes a larger number.  SB 3 concerns the use of biofuels in state buildings.

 

Other Bills that the attendees stated should be watched include:

HB 1322 – Concerning the use of a severance tax to create a fund for new energy technologies.  The new technologies could include renewables as well as clean coal (IGCC).     

 

HB 1317 – This bill seeks to create a repository of energy information from several Colorado colleges and would make the information accessible to the general public.

 

Update of Least Cost Planning Recommendations

Morey Wolfson presented an update of the LCP recommendations involving several parties.  The presentation is available as a PowerPoint attachment by contacting Tony Frank (frank@workinglandscapes.com) or will be put up soon on the web site www.workinglandscapes.com/CREF.htm.  

 

Summary of Meeting for Interconnection and Net Metering for Renewable

Morey Wolfson presented an update of the February 22 meeting at Tri-State concerning under 2 MW Interconnection and Net Metering.  The presentation is available as a PowerPoint attachment by contacting Tony Frank (frank@workinglandscapes.com) or will be put up soon on the web site www.workinglandscapes.com/CREF.htm.  

 

What’s New, Upcoming Events?

¨      In the Colorado General Assembly the Select Committee on Strategic Renewable Energy has set three dates for meeting:  March 22, 1:30 p.m. (Legislative Services Building, Hearing Room A); April 12, 1:30 p.m. (Old Supreme Court Chambers); and April 26, 1:30 p.m. (Old Supreme Court Chambers). 

¨      Passive Solar Workshop, March 25, 9 a.m. to 12 at NREL

¨      Intermountain Harvesting Energy Summit, March 27-28, Loveland, CO at the Ranch on the Larimer County Fairgrounds.

¨      CO Renewable Energy Society, March 29, 5:30-7 p.m.: Dr. Art Nozik, Senior Research Fellow with NREL will present Quantum Dots, Nanotech Photovoltaics, Third Generation of Photovoltaics.

¨      American Solar Energy Society Annual Conference, Adams Mark Hotel, Denver, July 8-13.  They are expecting 1,500 to 2000 people.  Sunday, July 9 is public day. 

 

The next CREF meeting is scheduled for Friday May, 19, 9 a.m.