Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

C.E.L. Energy Committee Notes 9-28-06

Present: Claire, Gary, Josh, Lorrie

1. Task Reporting/Recap
-Ride Share- The team felt that this is a very important and achievable goal- Lorrie will check in with Jose and also research models herself. Pick-up/Drop-off point may be future RFTA - Park and Ride lot at Dolores Way.

-Horse Hitching Posts- Team feels that while potentially a good P/R opportunity we don’t have a lot of time to work on this. But Josh will write a questionnaire for the Potato Days crowd. Josh will also check with Pete Mertes at CDOT about any prohibitions or concerns about horses and highway use. Josh will also check on horse use on RFTA trails with their trail coordinator.

-Post Carbon Study, Claire will ask Joani to take a second look at the Willits, CA study with an eye towards future large scale energy production (including liquid fuels) that may go beyond the present TOC energy plan. The primary author of the Willits Energy Plan, Brian Corzelius could also be a good resource.

-Community Bikes. Mike Chamness had such a program in TOC- bikes were stolen. Josh reports a wide variety of tracking/security measures. Claire interested in how much carbon savings would result….if significant then a lever with the town. Josh will ask Alice Hubbard Laird of NCTF. Easy measures include bikes with non-interchangeable parts and solid wheels and solid rubber tires. Sponsorhips would help defray expenses.

-CREBS. Claire reports that negotiations continue with Xcel Energy re. how much they will pay. While designed to be tax neutral….or even revenue producing this effort must still go to a public vote. On Oct. 9th there is a meeting at 6:00 pm (town hall)? and if the bonds go on the ballot then we will need to help promote the idea to TOC voters quickly and effectively. All- please attend this meeting. Additionally it was noted that additional grant funds may be available from the 2005 Energy Bill ….we need a grant writer who knows the fed. system.

-Hydro/Water Plant. Joani will report on this.

-RFTA Shuttle/ Feeder Routes, Joani to discuss with Scott Chaplin

2. Review of TOC Energy Plan/Priorities
Gary will send out plan link. CEL energy team members to prioritize actions using a scoring system.

3. Potato Days (Oct. 7th)
-Bond information if ready (we will not know until after event is over)
-Solar Information- Gary
-Rebate Applications- Gary
-Energy Plan- Claire to draft Executive Summary of Plan
-Horses- Josh to provide questionnaire as mentioned above

4. Reporting for Oct 5th General Meeting- will use these notes as a report.

5. Strategic Planning
-Education-Tie in with other committees
-Public Policy
-Public Relations
-Technical Assistance- provide DVD’s to Local Video Stores for free distribution (Sounds Easy Store offers this)
-Research & Resources- link CEL site to member organizations and businesses
(Suggest selecting an activity for each category)

6. Additional Business- none noted

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C.E.L. Energy Committee Meeting 1 Agenda 8-11-06

Participants: Josh, Soozie, Lisa, Jose and Gary

1. Scope/Purpose/Reporting

Committee Organization:

A mission statement is needed for the group which addresses: scope/scale and territory. The Willits effort provides some useful ideas. Efforts on energy conservation and renewables are needed at the municipal, residential and commercial levels yet the Energy Committee will have to look at what is needed in the big picture and work the timelines for the most critical energy items.

All agreed that the Energy Group would meet once a month for now. The next Energy Group meeting will be held at 6:00 pm at the Carbondale Community School prior to the General CEL meeting, Gary will act as chair. It was noted that the Energy Group will need to prepare a written report for the September 7, 2006 General CEL meeting. It was also noted that there is clear overlap with a number of other CEL groups but for now Josh will be our liaison to the Shelter Group as he is currently in both Groups.

2. Review of previous ideas:

Organized ridesharing/hitchhiking: In spite of the current price of gasoline most vehicles in the valley carry one person. Other towns and nations have organized ways to make the most of vehicular flow, plus it would cuts down on traffic congestion. Jose will research options and report back to the group.

The hitching post(s): Many Carbondalians own horses. Yet rarely ride them for their basic transportation needs. Horses offer a way to reduce fuel use while providing a great press opportunity. Costs would be minimal: hitching posts and water troughs in front of some volunteer vendor stores. Josh to research model statutes, old and modern.

Transportation: All agreed that more bike racks and shelters are needed (especially near Catherine Store). Also, Alice Hubbard Laird would like to provide an update on the work being done by the New Century Transportation Foundation. Another idea that was floated earlier is to make Colorado St. a bikes only venue. The Community Bikes concept will be explored by Josh.

Biodiesel: A B-100 fuel co-op exists now, it will need to expand so that it can provide reliable sources of ASTM quality fuel, adding additional local capacity, and adding staff to support this all-volunteer effort. Such an organization could also support future ethanol manufacturing and distribution.

3. Strategic Planning

It was agreed that the Willits Energy Independence plan offers a good model for Carbondale….at least as far as an outline and source of ideas. Such a report would build upon the earlier work by Joani Matranga inventorying our existing energy sources (and resulting green house gas emissions) and develop a future energy portfolio that meets the needs of a post-peak world. Gary has been in contact with the author of the Willits plan, Brian Corzilius, an electrical engineer who is available to assist us if we need help. This could also be let as an RFP to firms like Earth Tech and CH2M Hill. Such firms may also be able to work on a phase II for implementation.

Gary noted that a good list of categories to use for the energy group efforts includes:

I. Education

II. Public Policy

III. Public Relations

IV. Outreach

V. Technical Assistance

VI. Research and Resources

General News:

Town of Carbondale Energy Plan passes Board of Trustees. All agreed that CEL should be supportive but help build on plan with a much greater emphasis on Economic Localization.

Randy Udall would be happy to provide an overview/update of the current energy situation. This could be proposed as a General Meeting agenda item.

Great resource: Lisa Wright, is the Press Secretary for head of the House Peak Oil Caucus, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett: She provides an incredible source for up to minute Peak Oil News, Lisa.Wright@mail.house.gov (e-mail to get on her press list)