The governor’s annual New Energy Economy conference Tuesday at the Colorado Convention Center attracted 840 attendees, including several civic leaders who touted their green initiatives.
During a panel discussion, Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera said the city implemented a program in December that allows residents who produce excess power through solar panels to sell the energy back to the city. The program became a template for lawmakers this year when they passed a so-called net-metering bill, Rivera said.
He also said Colorado Springs has invested $2 million in taxpayer money in a company called Pure Stream, which is developing technology that could significantly cut sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants.
Denver Public Works Manager Bill Vidal said the city is implementing a “strategic transportation plan” that will encourage residents to use their automobiles and other forms of transportation more efficiently.
Even Rifle, which sits at the heart of western Colorado’s natural-gas boom, is getting into the “new energy economy” mix.
Rifle has partnered with SunEdison and Xcel Energy on a 2.3-megawatt solar power project, said Mayor Keith Lambert.
The town signed a 20-year agreement to use the solar energy to power a water-pump station and a wastewater- disposal system.
“We know the renewable industry is where our future lies,” Lambert said.
Also Tuesday, Gov. Bill Ritter announced the first recipients of “New Energy Communities” grants totaling $10 million.
The 14 winning projects are in Avon, Boulder County, Cortez, Fort Collins, Garfield County, Grand Junction, Greeley, La Plata County, Longmont, Loveland, Pikes Peak, Pueblo, Routt County and Yuma County.
Garfield County received the largest grant of $1.6 million.
The money will finance efforts to increase energy efficiency in public, commercial and residential buildings in the county.
Avon received $1.5 million, which will fund the construction of a neighborhood waste-heat recovery system that will capture solar heat and extract heat from the wastewater-treatment plant.
Last year’s conference attracted 550 attendees.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com
