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Colorado Renewable Energy Forum
August 19, 2005
At the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Headquarters
Meeting Minutes
Attendees:
Leland Swenson, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Landon Gates, Colorado Farm Bureau
Scott Prestidge, Congressman Udall
Ron Lehr, American Wind Energy Association
Sam Anderson, Biofuel Technologies
Ron Larson, American Solar Energy Society, Colorado Renewable Energy Society
Ravi Malhotra, ICAST
Tom Potter, The New Center
Tiffani Lennon, Environment Colorado
Morey Wolfson, Energy Consultant
Mark McGahey, Tri-State
David Hiller, Senator Ken Salazar
John Brown, NREL
Drew Bolin, Governor’s Office of Energy Management & Conservation
Rob Pearson, OEMC
Olga Erlich, OEMC
John Stencel, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Chris Rundell, Prairie Wind Energy
John Collins, Platte River Power Authority
Stacey Simms, American Lung/Clean Cities
Bob Mailander, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Karen Hyde, Xcel Energy
Bob Easton, WAPA – Rocky Mountain Region
Angela Crooks, McNeil Technologies
John Covert, Colorado Working Landscapes
Tony Frank, Colorado Working Landscapes
Overview of Colorado Coordinated Planning Group CCPG
Bob Easton and John Collins gave a presentation about the role of CCPG in transmission planning. Bob Easton is the former chair of CCPG and is with WAPA-Rocky Mountain Region. John Collins is the current chair and with the Platte River Power Authority.
The CCPG’s members include the major utilities (PSCO, Tri-State, CSU, PRPA, ARPA, WAPA and others) and meets three times a year. They will meet again on August 25. The Group deals with the following issues:
Mr. Easton provided a description of the TOT3 constraints in Northeast Colorado. Five year ago it was constrained 30% of the time. Today the percentage is less. The TOT3 path is owned by four entities. A new line is planned for 2009 that will increase the capacity by 400 MW.
Mr. Collins stated that the web site www.rmao.com would have information about long range transmission plans. He stated that it is difficult to plan beyond 3 years out. In addition, the web site http://ccpg.basinelectric.com has information about CCPG meetings and the Colorado Long Range Transmission Plan.
Ron Lehr described a timing mismatch between the planning for transmission and the need now to get renewable energy project on line. John Collins stated there are two bottom line questions for getting a project developed: Who are you selling to?, and Where do you interconnect?
The Colorado Renewable Energy Forum will be presenting at the next CCPG meeting on August 25th at Tri-State. Chris Rundell (Prairie Wind Energy), Fred Hefley (Baca Green Energy) and John Covert (Colorado Working Landscapes) will represent CREF.
Harvesting Energy Tours planned for the Southeast and San Luis Valley, August 31-September 1
Scott Prestidge has been working under the Colorado Farm Bureau to organize the Harvesting Energy Tour. Congress Mark Udall and former Speaker of the House Lola Spradley have led each tour stop. Other organizations supporting the Tour include Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Environment Colorado, and Colorado Working Landscapes. The purpose has been to highlight local efforts to develop renewable energy projects and to address the rural economic development benefits from renewable energy. The Tour is scheduled to make stops in Lamar, Springfield, Trinidad, Alamosa and Canyon City on August 31 and September 1.
Clean Cities Metro Denver – E85 Demonstration Project
Stacey Simms gave a presentation of the Clean Cities program. Ms. Simms is the manager of the Metro Denver chapter that is based out of the American Lung Association of Colorado; there are more than 80 Clean Cities chapters in the country with 4 in Colorado. It is a program supported by the Department of Energy and privated businesses and organizations. The goal of Clean Cities is to promote alternative fuels that produce less pollutants. It is alternative fuel neutral; it is not seeking to advance one alternative fuel over another.
Information on the Clean Cities program can be found at www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities and for Denver Metro Clean Cities at www.alacolo.org/cleancities.cfm.
Ms. Simms distributed a draft handout proposing an E85 demonstration project involving a retail fuel distributor located in an area with a strong market for E85 (e.g. near the Federal Center in Lakewood or the Stapleton Redevelopment area). The demonstration project would include a resolution to be adopted by agricultural organizations and a steering committee that would coordinate a strategic marketing plan directing consumers to the retail pump in the target area. A Workgroup meeting for the Demonstration Project involving Denver Metro Clean Cities and the Intermountain Harvesting Energy Network has been tentatively scheduled for September 8.
Clean Cities will be holding “Beyond a Billion” events on October 14.
Organizations can become members of Clean Cities for $250 per year. Membership information is available at www.alacolo.org/cleancities.cfm or by calling Stacy Simms at 303-847-0271.
Update on Farm Bill’s 9006 Grants
John Brown, NREL State & Local Initiatives, gave a presentation of 9006 grant opportunities for agricultural producers to develop energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. Colorado submitted has submitted 8 applications to date in 2005. States with more applications include Mississippi with 40 and Minnesota with 38.
Mr. Brown stated most applications fail from a technical standpoint. A high quality project can be sustained for 15-20 years and provide energy savings resulting in a pay-back of period of 3-5 years.
Mr. Brown’s PowerPoint presentation is available for anyone interested. Interested individuals can contact Tony Frank, frank@workinglandscapes.com.
Amendment 37 Rule Making Update
Morey Wolfson provided an update of the Amendment 37 rule making proceedings involving CORE 37 (Renewable Energy Interests) and the Utilities. Solar energy has taken up the majority of the rule making process. Consensus has been reached on some issues, but several areas have not been settled. On August 15 the parties (i.e. CORE 37 and Utilities) filed a document with the PUC representing areas where they reached consensus and areas they have not. Major concerns for CORE 37 include:
· Transparency in acquisition process
· Cost recovery
· Determining retail rate impact to include benefits of renewable energy development
· Program administrator for the solar program
On August 30 the Colorado Public Utilties Commission will have a Public Witness hearing from 4-6 p.m. to have the parties discuss the rules.
The Solar rebate program should be available to consumers by the first quarter of 2006.
What’s new?
· Denver Mayor Hickenlooper is hosting a national peak oil conference on November 10-11 entitled “Beyond Oil: Intelligent Response to Peak Oil Impacts”. Information about the conference can be viewed at www.aspo-usa.com.
· Mike Bowman called in to say that 30 states will consider a resolution supporting the Ag Energy Workgroup’s 25x’25 vision statement in their upcoming legislative sessions.
· The Colorado Farm Bureau participated in the National Farm Bureau’s Energy Conference from August 15-18 in at NREL’s facility in Golden. Landon Gates with the Colorado Farm Bureau organized a dinner during the conference with representatives from the Utah Farm Bureau, Idaho Farm Bureau, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Environment Colorado and Colorado Working Landscapes. The dinner’s discussion centered on the development of a regional Intermountain Harvesting Energy Network.
Next Meeting
Tony Frank will email suggested meeting dates for September to the CREF distribution list.
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