Actions for a Sustainable Colorado Energy Policy
First and foremost – Energy Efficiency!
Over half of the energy we consume is lost to waste.
Specific policy needs:
- Financing options for residents and small business
- Coaching to help residents and business owners through process
- Rate structures that reward conservation
- Strong efficiency standards for all new construction
Renewable Energy Power Generation
Specific policy needs:
- Incentives for rooftop solar
- Community Solar Gardens
- Development of Geothermal resources
- Modernize the power grid to handle distributed generation
Write Governor Hickenlooper and tell him that you want a sustainable energy policy for Colorado. click here
On-Bill Financing (OBF) for energy efficiency improvements to buildings - OBF allows the utility to pay for energy improvements to a building that will save the customer money each month on energy bills (insulation, efficient appliances, weatherization). The customer repays the utility with a portion of that savings. Repayment is structured so that the customer sees a net savings each month.
Advantages: works for any building with an electric meter - rented or owned, residential, commercial, government, industrial. Transfers with electric bill from one occupant to the next. No lein or credit issues. No money down. Savings directly pays for project.
Challenges: State finance law is fuzzy in this regard, stalling efforts from some utilities. Legislation has been introduced to fix this problem. Requires some effort on the part of the utility - changing billing system, engaging customers and energy contractors. Utilities must recognize that their role is changing and that simply bringing more juice to their customers is not enough anymore. They must help customers reduce waste and find alternatives to fossil fuels.
Action: Call Governor Hickenlooper's office and leave a message. Tell them to support an On-Bill Financing program that utilities can opt into. (303) 866-2471
Resources: Midwest Energy, National Small Business Association
FortSun 2021 - A vision of our energy future in Fort Collins.
-Solar panels on half the roofs in town
-Electric Vehicles in half the garages
-Low energy bills
-Equitable Rates
Write to City Council and tell them that you want Fort Collins Utilities to work with FortSun 2021. It can be as simple as one sentence. They need to hear from all of us to prioritize action. Say what you like, a personal message goes a long way.
Email: cityleaders@fcgov.com
PLEASE take the survey! It is quick and painless and Mayor Wietkunat said that Fort Collins residents don't care enough to follow through. Let's prove her wrong!!
Action Steps for Fort Collins Utilities
1) Maximize building efficiency by offering current programs plus OBF, tiered rates, and energy retrofit coaching.
2) Modernize electric grid with smartmeters and infrastructure that can handle distributed generation.
3) Install solar panel and electric vehicle infrastructure such as solar gardens and EV charging stations.
Please email us for more information. I'm happy to talk about it (almost) anytime!
CforSE in your neck of the woods:
Loveland and Longmont - We are working to inhance the efficiency assistance programs offered by these utilities. Loveland has expressed support for our work to connect interested citizens to utilities staff and demonstrate public demand for better efficiency programs. Longmont has a long way to go and has not been very responsive to constituent concern. Remember that come election time!
Rural Electric Association (REA) territory - REAs are nonprofit, member owned co-ops. They are supposed to do everything to help members get reliable and affordable electricity. Some of them offer efficiency assistance (Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association is the best), but they have a long way to go. They say that On-Bill Financing is too hard and that they are too small to administer the program. We are asking them to work together to with the Governor's Energy Office to establish an On-Bill Financing program for REAs across the state.
Denver/Boulder Metro area - If your representative is on the Transportation Committee then we are asking them to support On-Bill Financing legislation that will be introduced into that committee. Folks outside of those districts are asking the Governor to take action supporting a transition away from fossil fuels.
Updated 11/1/11
History
2008 – Gallegos Sanitation started using biodiesel in their trash trucks after receiving over 1,100 letters from Northern Colorado residents. Waste Management and Rams Waste have yet to respond to this consumer demand.
2009 - La Plata Electric Association expands efficiency programs for low income families after receiving over 200 letters from members.
August 2009 – The Fort Collins’ City Council votes 7-0 for a plan to improve the Fort Collins’ public bus system after receiving over 4,300 citizen requests. Before our campaign Councilman Wade Troxell wanted to de-fund the bus. Wade responded to his constituents’ demands by becoming a vocal champion for the new plan.
June 2010 – The “Flex” public bus route runs from Fort Collins to Longmont. Letters and support from Cforse members help to make it possible to take public transportation from Fort Collins to Denver. www.flexnoco.com
July 2010 – Loveland city council votes to implement energy efficiency programs after receiving over 200 letters from Loveland Cforse members.
July 2010 – Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association (PVREA) begins the “CARE” program which helps low income families make their homes more energy efficient. Cforse generated over 200 letters from PVREA members asking them to make this move.
August 2010 – Senators Udall’s office calls Cforse to pledge their support in restoring Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) assessments, which provide property owners with an affordable and convenient way to finance the high upfront cost of energy improvements. Cforse generated over 100 letters to the senators.
August 2010 – The Larimer County Commissioners show interest in implementing a PACE program in Larimer County after receiving over 700 letters from residents and business owners, but fail to act, demonstrating lack of leadership.
Summer 2011 - Fort Collins Utilities working on establishing an On-Bill Financing type program.
Summer 2011 - Governor's Energy Office recognizing financing as a major obstacle to energy efficiency retrofits and pledges to do something about it in 2012.
September 2011- Garfield County Commissioners approve a financing program for energy efficiency after receiving about 200 letters generated by CforSE. Call CLEER for more info. 970-704-9200
Nov. 2011 - Fort Collins City Council passes first reading for Conservation Discount Rate (tiered rate) for electric customers. This is a progressive rate structure that rewards conservation and discourages waste.
Dec. 2011 - Longmont passes a 120 day moratorium on oil & gas drilling to buy time to adapt regulations to better protect public health. CforSE generated over 500 letters to help make that happen.
March 2012 - Erie passes a moratorium on oil & gas drilling after CforSE generates 100 letters to the Board of Trustees.