Loveland Update Letter to Mayor

Hello Mr. Mayor and Gretchen

I'm writing to touch base and provide feedback that we have gotten from Loveland residents so far.

We asked Loveland residents, "Should Loveland adopt an energy policy focused on reducing bills through efficiency, and promoting renewable energy sources when economically feasible?"

We received the following responses over 8 days so far:

contacts:            954 people

responses:          581

"Yes" response:  544

"No" response:      37

Number of people who signed a supporting statement:  302

Number of people who contributed financially:  164   Average amount:  $19.10

Number of people who wrote letters:  86

You may recall that in 2009 we did something very similar and Director Ralph Mulinex recommended a city sponsored survey in response to 92 letters received asking for home efficiency programs.  The result is a successful program today to help Loveland residents reduce waste.  This program is a great step but there is still much work to done and LWP needs guidance from city leadership to do it.

There are over 1,400 CforSE members in Loveland that have contributed financially over the past four years. What can I tell them about Loveland's progress in adopting such an energy policy so far?

Thank you very much for your time and efforts!

Loveland Energy Policy

We have now canvassed for 4 days in Loveland talking to folks about a potential Loveland Energy Policy based upon reducing bills through efficiency, and transitioning to renewable energy options as they become economically available.  Of the 291 people asked so far, 271 (93%) said that they support the idea.

We began working on this campaign because Loveland Water & Power (LWP) is having success with their home efficiency program and they want to pursue more options, but they need goals and a road map to direct their efforts.  This direction needs to come from council, and council needs direction from the citizenry.  That's where we come in.  We raise public awareness of this possibility and present public support to council so that they are informed of the desires of the community.  Once council decides to get to work on this, Loveland Water & Power can work out the details and work with council and the citizens to craft and adopt the best policy options.

In general, we want a policy that sets a goal to reduce purchased power by "X" amount, by "X" date and instructs LWP to pursue programs that help residents become more energy efficient and support the growth of renewable energy production within the city.  Examples of these programs might include financing for energy improvements to your property through your electric bill (Fort Collins just adopted this), and development of a Community Solar Garden (Colorado Springs and Poudre Valley REA recently started these).

There are many reasons to pursue such a policy.  Economically it makes sense to reduce waste at home and thus reduce monthly bills.  It makes sense to reduce waste as a community and reduce the need for expensive capital projects like transmission lines and power plants (next one now scheduled for 2020 at the cost of $80 million).  This policy can also stimulate job growth in the local building retrofitting, and renewable energy, industries.

If that is something that you support, please contribute to the cause using the "Give Online" button, and write to the city council asking them to "adopt an energy policy that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy to reduce the amount of power that Loveland must purchase".

ccouncil@ci.loveland.co.us

Governor responds with a load of...

The following email was sent in response to the question, "What are you doing to reduce dependency on fossil fuels in CO?"  The referred to bill (HB12-1315) restructures the Governor's Energy Office to promote natural gas development.  Hardly reducing dependence on fossil fuels!  Other than that, this response says absolutely nothing except that Governor Hickenlooper is full of a substance that is expelled from the body as waste!

He has a long way to go to get my support!

Dear fred:

Thank you for writing regarding the GEO. The new Colorado Energy Office will promote all types of energy that protect the environment, lower long-term consumer costs, and increase energy security.

HB12-1315 will create the type of  “all of the above” energy office that the President has been championing. Colorado will not only build on our national brand as a leader in energy conservation and renewable clean energy, we will also cement our reputation for energy innovation.

Our state has a long history of creating and deploying technology that allow us to access new energy resources and improve upon the efficiency of existing ones. The State of Colorado is committed to promoting any innovative energy technology, no matter if the fuel source is wind, gas, or coal, as long as that energy can benefit the environment and save consumers money.

Once again, thank you for writing to the Governor's Office. We appreciate your concerns and will keep your thoughts in mind as we move forward.


Sincerely,

Governor's Office of Correspondence

Update to the PVREA update

PVREA communications specialist Ric Soulin filled me in on some of the details of PVREA's current efforts to help members become more energy efficient.  PVREA has contracted out the management of their programs to the Governor's Energy Office allowing them to leverage their funds with those of the GEO and use experienced energy efficiency agencies such as Long's Peak Energy Conservation.  The GEO will likely not exist in the same capacity next year, but Ric assures me that PVREA is dedicated to keeping energy bills low for their members, and that they will continue efficiency programs even if the GEO does not.

Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association (PVREA) update

2yrs ago cforse members wrote to PVREA asking for a program to help low income families, not with money to simply pay their bills, but with energy efficiency upgrades to reduce their bills.  PVREA responded with the CARE program which provided up to $1,200 in weatherization and insulation per project for income qualified households.  The program was apparently "too successful" and they used all of their allocated funds ahead of schedule.  This past year they decided to use the State's weatherization program instead.  The problem is that the federal tax funding for the State program is going to run out long before the job gets done as well.  

What we need, all over CO, is a sustainable financing mechanism for energy efficiency upgrades.  Kansas has it, Kentucky has it, New York, California, Michigan... 22 states have On-Bill Financing which pays for energy efficiency upgrades using the savings generated on energy bills.  It is a revolving fund, when the money is paid back, the rural t associations loan it out again.  PVREA and Tri-State could be providing this service to us, but they say it's too hard :-(  

Midwest Energy in Kansas has helped other REA's to set up this program and they are willing to help PVREA and Tri-State.  PVREA members need to remind the board who they work for.  Write to PVREA and tell them to work with Midwest Energy on bringing an On-Bill Financing mechanism to Colorado REAs.

The annual meeting is this Saturday (March 31st).  You can go and vote for board members, or you can mail a ballot in by Wednesday.  For more info: www.pvrea.com

We like Steve Szabo and Roger Alexander in this election.

On the plus side, PVREA has started a solar garden option, so check that out too!