Upcoming AQCC meeting, 2020 Colorado legislation, meet our board president, and more!
|
|
Air Quality Control Commission Meeting
When: Thursday Feb. 20, 9 AM
Where: 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South,
Sabin Room
Denver, Colorado
The Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) is meeting to discuss the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as other issues. We highly encourage that anyone who is available attend this meeting, and express your support for the AQCC's creation of strong, robust, and comprehensive regulations for green house gasses.
The meeting agenda can be found
HERE
.
|
|
Mayor's Conversation on Climate Change and Clean Energy
|
|
On January 25th, CEA hosted the “Mayor’s Conversation on Climate and Clean Energy.” This collaborative session brought together Boulder-based political leaders to discuss climate change innovation happening at the state capital and in our local city council. Nearly 100 attendees were given the chance to ask questions directly to two City Council members, one state Senator, two state Representatives, the Boulder County Commissioner, and an editor from Homer Microgrid News. Read more about the event
HERE
, and see event materials including a video of the entire event
HERE
.
|
|
Legislative Update
The Colorado State Legislature is in full swing and CEA is following several energy, environment, and climate-related bills. Of the bills currently calendared, CEA supports the following:
- SB20-055 Incentivize Development Recycling End Markets
- HB20-1155 Higher Efficiency New Construction Residence
- HB20-1162 Prohibit Food Establishments's Use of Polystyrene
- HB20-1059 Valuation of Energy Storage Equipment
- HB20-1163 Management of Single-use Products
- HB20-1064 PUC Study of Community Choice Energy
D
escriptions of these bills and hearing dates can be seen
HERE
.
A list of all energy, environment, and climate-related bills introduced to date can be found
HERE
.
|
|
It's Our Privilege to Go to Jail for Climate Justice
CEA board member Devon Reynolds reflected on her reasons for engaging in direct action for the Daily Camera's opinion section this month. She encourages us all to move out of our comfort zones as we work for climate justice.
Read the full article
HERE
.
|
|
Youth Climate Action Summit
On Feb. 1st, the City of Boulder's Youth Opportunities Advisory Board hosted a Youth Climate Action Summit, the first of a number o
f planned activities engaging with area youth to address the climate
emergency. Marlow Baines (a high-school senior, co-youth director of Earth Guardians, and a primary organizer of the Denver climate strikes) gave an address about the climate crisis as a symptom of social injustice, the need to center marginalized communities in our activities, and how youth can not only participate in the movement, but be leaders in it. Breakout sessions were then held on Energy, Ecosystems, and the Circular Economy; ideas and actions generated by the youth will be published on the city's website, and you can see a video about the summit
HERE
.
|
|
Pueblo Bring Power Home 2020 Campaign
On February 10th, Pueblo City Council voted unanimously in favor of letting citizens decide whether the city should renew its franchise agreement with Black Hills Energy, or "divorce" the investor owned utility and form a local, city-run utility. Citizens will now vote on the matter during a special election on May 5th. Supporters of the effort to municipalize Pueblo's electricity cite rising electricity rates and a lack of decision-making agency as reasons why the city should cut ties with Black Hills. Visit
BPH2020.org
to learn more about the citizen-powered campaign towards energy democracy in Pueblo. You can read more about this story
HERE.
|
|
What We Are Reading
Microgrid Development in California
A new state law in California is sparking energy suppliers to urge the California Public Utilities Commission to consider that non-utilities should to be able to propose and create microgrids. This comes amidst the state's planned power cuts to reduce the risk of wildfires. Read more
HERE
.
Gas Pipelines
The delivery of natural gas to homes and businesses is increasing in cost due to multiple factors. Annual spending on gas distribution systems has already increased from around $5 billion to $15 billion between 2009 to 2017. See why
HERE
.
Kauai’s Solar Model
Kauai, the oldest island in the chain of Hawaiian Islands, offers a model for the world with the Kauai Island Utility Coop. As of 2019, Kauai’s solar farms generate 95.9 megawatts of power daily, meaning that each day about
1/3 of the island's power
is generated from solar.
You can even
rent an electric vehicle
from Mission Zero Hawaii when you go.
|
|
Meet our Board President, Brian Highland
|
|
Brian began to devote more of his energy to combat the climate crisis after the IPCC’s sobering Special Report came out in October of 2018. He came to realize that personal accountability is not enough; we need to advance policy to have a more significant impact. He also feels that it’s important to approach the challenge through a lens of equity so that marginalized communities are centered in any climate change discussions.
Brian is also excited about the rapid advancements in technology that can get us to a carbon-free future. He is a
software engineer with a degree in electrical engineering and hopes to get involved on that front, too. In the meantime, he takes his electric bike to work and dreams about microgrids.
Read Brian's letter to Daily Camera on how to improve Colorado’s electric system
HERE
, the last letter on the page.
|
|
Connect with CEA on social media
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
