BlogBloghttp://cforse.org/blog/2012-02-22T03:04:55ZSquarespaceEnergy Financing Option for homeowners might have a chancehttp://cforse.org/blog/2012/2/21/energy-financing-option-for-homeowners-might-have-a-chance.htmlcforse2012-02-22T03:01:24Z2012-02-22T03:01:24ZProperty Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) allows homeowners to finance energy improvements (efficiency, solar, etc.) through their property taxes.  Colorado approved this tool, but Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae nixed it by refusing to underwrite mortgages where PACE was present.  Now these publicly owned entities must hold a public comment period to help determine policy.  More info:  www.pacenow.org.  and write a comment!

]]>Erie, CO fighting for a quality of lifehttp://cforse.org/blog/2012/2/11/erie-co-fighting-for-a-quality-of-life.htmlcforse2012-02-12T00:00:26Z2012-02-12T00:00:26ZGround zero in the new "gas patch" of Colorado.  Plenty of other places in CO (too many) have seen the kind of drilling that is occurring in Erie, but if you live in northern CO and you want to see what the gas patch on the front range looks like, take a drive through Erie.  You will notice condensate tanks scattered across the landscape (tan, round tanks, sometimes surrounded by chain link).  These tanks emit Hazardous Air Pollutants such as Benzene.  The one just upwind of the high-school on Erie Parkway emits 10.66 tons per year of Volatile Organic Compounds including Benzene.  Within a 5 km radius of the school oil/gas facilities emit over 412 tons per year (according to CO Air pollution Control Division).  For comparison, the gas station in town emits 5 tons per year.

Encana, an oil drilling company (with the distinction of having the largest fine in CO history), is planning on drilling and fracing 8 wells on a pad 350 feet from Erie Elementary School.

It's time to stop sacrificing or health and environment for the profit margin of the most profitable industry in history!  For a fraction more in financial expense the industry could operate in a safe and trusted manner.

For more info check out: http://gcmonitor.org/article.php?id=1339

For more about Erie specifics and getting involved:  www.erierising.com

]]>Steamboathttp://cforse.org/blog/2012/2/5/steamboat.htmlcforse2012-02-06T01:31:44Z2012-02-06T01:31:44ZJared, Alex, Zak, and Derek will be canvassing in Steamboat Springs Monday, Feb. 6 through Wednesday the 8th as part of our statewide campaign to ensure that public health is protected from the dangers of oil & gas development.  

Routt County has been dealing with their own oil & gas issues and there will be a public forum with county commissioners and State officials on Feb. 21st at 5:30.  

which will be held in 
the Routt County Commissioners’ Hearing Room, except where specified, on the third floor of the 
Historic Courthouse Building, 522 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat Springs. Questions regarding these meetings 
should be directed to the Routt County Commissioners Office at (970) 879-0108. 
For more information check out:  www.RouttCountyFrack.org

 

]]>Fracking could happen as far west as Golden, Lyons, and Boulderhttp://cforse.org/blog/2012/1/30/fracking-could-happen-as-far-west-as-golden-lyons-and-boulde-1.htmlcforse2012-01-31T00:49:48Z2012-01-31T00:49:48Zgreat new mapping on line that shows the extent of the Niobrara -- this oil rich formation, the Niobrara, goes all the west right up to the Golden fault, so there is potential for drilling in all of these cities Boulder, Denver, Aurora, even all of Lakewood, heck drilling could go as far west as the foothills west of Golden since there is an overthust of the mountains there.

the intent here is to assuage the angst of us citizens by allowing any one to locate any point on the map within this box and determine the depth to the Niobrara, the thickness of the overlying Pierre Shale that overlies the Niobrara which should prevent upward migration of frack fluids into the Fox Hills aquifer that is on top the Pierre shale.  The Fox Hills formation is the deepest aquifer, there are three aquifers above: the Laramie, the Denver Fm and in some locations the alluvial aquifer.
these layers are in this order going down:
Alluvial aquifer
Denver Fm
Laramie Fm
Fox Hills
Pierre Shale
Niobrara
D Sands and J Sands of the Dakota Formation -- this is the historic oil and gas field that produces in the Wattenburg Field, so keep in mind that all wells drilled into the Niobrara will be above these 1000s of previous oil and gas wells, so any abandoned well not properly sealed could be a conduit upward for pollution as every prior oil and gas well penetrated right thru the Niobrara Fm.

 

]]>Let's do this next to our schools and in our neighborhoodshttp://cforse.org/blog/2012/1/21/lets-do-this-next-to-our-schools-and-in-our-neighborhoods.htmlcforse2012-01-22T06:32:44Z2012-01-22T06:32:44Z

]]>Longmont takes actionhttp://cforse.org/blog/2012/1/6/longmont-takes-action.htmlcforse2012-01-06T21:27:26Z2012-01-06T21:27:26ZThe 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!http://cforse.org/blog/2011/12/3/dont-frack-longmont.htmlcforse2011-12-03T21:40:59Z2011-12-03T21:40:59ZLast 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 Countyhttp://cforse.org/blog/2011/11/28/garfield-county.htmlcforse2011-11-28T23:06:34Z2011-11-28T23:06:34ZChantel, 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

]]>Longmonthttp://cforse.org/blog/2011/11/13/longmont.htmlcforse2011-11-14T00:10:50Z2011-11-14T00:10:50ZIn 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

 

]]>Destiny or Destinationhttp://cforse.org/blog/2011/11/7/destiny-or-destination.htmlcforse2011-11-08T01:03:17Z2011-11-08T01:03:17ZSometimes where you end up closes circle, 
and you don't see it until you look back.
When I was 14 I walked to and from Jr High with
my girlfriend and gushed about pedal cars. They
seemed sensible to me. No pollution. Inexpensive. 
Even a 14 year old could drive one - to the drive in!
Mostly,I disliked smog produced by automobiles
and wondered why some of us had to breathe smog so
others could travel at high speeds. I never did get to
the drive in with that girl, (or a satisfactory answer to my
question), but we did take a taxi to our first dance. It was 
awesome.
Fast forward 35 years. Travel is fundamentally the same.
Traffic produces smog, congestion and high costs.
Populations grow, infrastructure lags. While researching 
the role electric vehicles might play to improve these problems, 
I discovered car sharing and decided to propose a program 
for the city. I wanted to include electric cars for short trips.
Also, I suspected that lower weight, lower energy, 
lower impact vehicles, operating primarily in bike lanes would 
be another terrific addition to the car share menu. People can 
choose exactly the vehicle and energy use that is perfect for each trip.  

We call it "full spectrum vehicle sharing". It really is just a car share
menu with more choices. High impact choices cost more,
low impact choices cost less. So, got car sharing approved for  
CSU, got Fort Collins CarShare operating, and are ramping Fort Collins
"full spectrum" Vehicle Share up to launch the first program of its kind!
Go to our website at www.fortcollinscarshare.com for a quick look, 
and contact us for more information, or if you want to get involved. 
Help us close the circle and make a positive changes in how people move around. 
We have a dream that is so exciting, it makes us feel 14 again!   
Shane Miller

 

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