Wednesday, May 13, 2015 8 AM – 5 PM

Denver, Colorado

 

This is the second year for this free public expo in Denver.  It features speakers and exhibitors from across the entire spectrum of Colorado’s energy industry from fossil to renewable as well as efficiency.

 

For more information see http://www.metrodenver.org/colorado-energy-expo

 

The Office of Sustainability at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) organized the 3rd annual Sustainnovation conference which was held on April 10th, 2015.  The theme this year was Climate Disruption.  SECRES had a booth at the conference.  A steady flow of students and community members came by to talk about renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The conference opened with a talk on the evening before from Winona LaDuke, a well known author, speaker and activist working for environmental causes and Native American justice.  During panel discussions UCCS students and faculty highlighted the great work going on at UCCS.  Keynote presentations from James White, Ph.D. (professor of Geological Sciences, CU Boulder) and Jennifer Cross, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, CSU) provided a wealth of information on climate change and how to influence the public to take action.  Dr. White’s presentation was similar to one he gave in 2014.  Dr. Cross has a TED talk here.

Climate Change: The Latest Science, Why It’s Serious, and What We Can Do About It

100 Colorado Springs residents turned out to learn about climate change from Dr. Charles (Chuck) Kutscher, Director of the Buildings and Thermal Systems Center at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).  The presentation was co-sponsored by Colorado Renewable Energy Society, and Pikes Peak Chapter, IEEE.  It was held at the Carnegie Room, Penrose Library, Colorado Springs.

Climate change from fossil fuel emissions is happening today.  Our understanding of the science of climate change and our ability to predict its potential effects on our habitat has increased substantially over the past several years. The Pentagon identifies climate change as a major cause of global destabilization. Addressing this challenge will require a combination of adaptation and a rapid transition away from carbon-based energy sources.

 

Dr. Kutscher’s presentation is available online.

The Chasing Ice trailer video shown can be located here.  Watch for the full film to be shown at UCCS on April 20th, 2015.

 

Colorado Springs Independent reporter Matthew Schniper interviewed Dr. Kutscher in his office at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden.  The print edition contained an abridged version of the interview.  Now the full interview is available online.

If you are interested in a textual summary of the presentation see the Jefferson County CRES chapter (JCRES) section of the December CRES newsletter.

 

Colorado Springs, May 7th

In spite of a major hail storm, a great crowd turned out for this.

The landscape of electrical power generation is changing more dramatically today than in the last 130 years, and the impact on municipal utilities is significant.  Rising mining costs, new gas supplies from fracturing, plummeting solar and wind costs, antiquated power grids and health/environmental/climate impacts and regulations are just some of the issues driving this change.

Colorado State University Extension and the Southeast Colorado Renewable Energy Society (SECRES) will be co-hosting a panel discussion entitled “Municipal Electric Utilities: What Does the Future Hold” to identify the opportunities and challenges for municipal utilities in clean and renewable electricity. The discussion will be held at the El Paso County Extension Office – 17 N. Spruce St. in Colorado Springs – on Thursday May 7 from 6-8pm.

Introduction: Jan Martin, 2 term Colorado Springs City

• Moderator: Cary Weiner, Colorado State University Extension
• Panelist: Jim Riggins, Colorado Renewable Energy Society
• Panelist: Vince Guthrie, Fort Carson
• Panelist: John Romero, Colorado Springs Utilities
• Panelist: Dan Hodges, Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities
• Panelist: Norm Weaver, Fort Collins Utilities

Colorado State University’s Faces of Energy photo exhibit will be shown. The traveling exhibit is intended to tell the story of energy in Colorado through the eyes of its citizens. Hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic drinks will be served from 6:00 – 6:20pm with the panel running from 6:20 – 7:40pm and the event closing at 8pm.

Registration by Monday, May 4 is required in order to attend and $5 suggested donations will be accepted at the door. For more information and to register, visit www.ext.colostate.edu/munipanel

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Getting Beyond the Nightmare

An Evening with Susan Perkins

Thursday, March 19, 6-8 PM, free

Patrick A. Lucero Public Library, Lucero Room

1315 E. 7th St., Pueblo, Ph. 719 562-5600

The $70 million Black Hills Peaking Plant has already been approved by the PUC. Puebloans will be paying for this facility for many years, despite the fact that there are more cost effective and environmentally sound options. Learn from an experienced energy attorney and activist what’s wrong with the current system and what some of the options are for taking control and deciding our own energy future.

Susan Perkins is the Principal of Perkins Energy Law, a renewable energy law firm in the Denver Tech Center which has as its focus providing legal and energy policy assistance for the development of renewable and sustainable energy resources in Colorado. Ms. Perkins contributes to the formulation of local, state and national renewable energy policies, and represents a wide range of clients who share the common goal of advancing the use of renewable and sustainable energy resources. Ms. Perkins has practiced law for over thirty years, working initially with top energy law firms and later with a Fortune 200 independent oil company in legal and executive management positions of increasing responsibility.

This General Meeting of the Sierra Club Sangre de Cristo Group is co-sponsored by Re-Volt Pueblo. For more information (719) 248-5718. There is no cost to attend the meeting, and it is not necessary to be a member of the Sierra Club to attend.

Washington Post article “How not to shutdown coal plants”

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