Let's do this next to our schools and in our neighborhoods

Longmont takes action

The Longmont City Council voted unanamously in December to place a 120 day moritorium on oil and gas drilling within city limits.  The decision comes on the heels of citizen demand that the city take action and protect residents from potential harmful side effects of modern oil and gas drilling operations.  "ROAR" (citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas Regulation) is a group of local citizens that are leading the charge.  CforSE is asisting the effort by canvassing and generating hundreds of letters and statements of support to city council members.

This is a very loud and visible issue.  Many people in Longmont will be inspired to vote based upon council's decision, especially if gas wells begin to pop up in city parks and open spaces.  The current regulations allow drilling to occur as close as 350 feet from any occupied building!  How big is your neighborhood park?

Please visit  www.longmontroar.org  for more info and to get involved in the action!

Don't FRACK Longmont!

Last week I attended a meeting of neighbors and concerned citizens gathering to discuss how to deal with proposed oil and gas fracking within city limits, on city property, and less than 1,000 feet from several homes and Trail Ridge Middle and Fall River Elementary schools.  The proposed wells would also encircle Union Reservior and be located on Open Space.

The problem is that these wells have a high possibility of leaking and spilling toxic chemicals into the surrounding air. water, and land.  Since 2009 there have been over 1,000 State documented spills and accidents at these type of well around CO.  There have been over 2 MILLION GALLONS of spilled toxic waste. The state has prosecuted only 5 cases this year and those are 3 years old.  The State admits that they are backlogged and overwhelmed by the new oil and gas rush on the Front Range.

The State is unable to protect residents from toxic spills and accidents at these sites.  One current well located within 500 ft of Trail Ridge Middle School leaked toxic benzene in 2006.  The State did not fine the company or make them clean it up, they simple documented the accident and closed the case without resolution.

The City of Longmont must act to protect residents health, property values, and quality of life!

You can tell Council not to allow oil and gas drilling within city limits or on city property at this link:  http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/WebReqForm.nsf/CityCouncilContact?OpenForm

Garfield County

Chantel, Jared, Trish, and Alex will be knocking on doors in Garfield County from Monday, Nov. 28th to Wednesday, Nov. 30th.  We are generating letters to the Governor to let him know that sustainable energy issues are important to his constituents and to ask what he will be doing to address these concerns over the upcoming year.  One specific that we are asking for is a statewide On-Bill Financing program designed by the Governor's Energy Office.  It should be designed to make it easy for utilities to opt into, find capital, and manage their programs.  This push on the governor is a critical peice in the overall state campaign to move us in a more sustainable energy direction.

Last year we got letters to the county commissioners asking for energy efficency financing.  They were unable to do exactly what we asked, but they did approve a similar program this fall.  For information about how you can finance energy improvements to your home or business call CLEER 970-704-9200

Longmont

In regards to willingness to pay for renewable and efficiency programs, the 2010 City of Longmont Customer Service Satisfaction Survey found that, 

"two-thirds of Longmont residents would pay something. About a third reported that they 

did not want any additional costs per month on their monthly electric bill. Few (15%) would pay 

$5 or more per month, 3 in 10 would pay $1 to $5 and about a quarter would pay less than $1 per 

month."

Despite this obvious desire for programs to help customers become more sustainable, Mayor Coombs' perspective is that "City government should lead this effort by example", he goes on to say how city buildings can become more efficient, but nothing about how to help the citizens.  Longmont Power and Communication (LPC) offers some services to help (maybe a decent energy assessment program), but not much more than links to outside programs.  To help with the financing of efficiency measures the Longmont website directs you to the now defunct Residential ClimateSmart Loan Program run by Boulder County.  This program hasn't been available since June 2010.  This makes me wonder how serious the utility can be about the results of their survey.

Call LPC and ask them what assistance is available to help you finance expensive energy improvements to your home or business. They will be happy to talk to you and offer you some small rebates and lightbulbs, but when it comes to financing a new furnace, insulation, weatherization, or other higher dollar items, they are unable to assist.  Ask them to go to cforse.org and check out the on-bill financing information, and consider a similar program for Longmont.

LPC phone # (303) 651- 8386