news & events
greenprint in the news
Sustainable energy a natural fit
By: Mike Taylor
ColoradoBiz Magazine
July 13, 2006
Recent developments, events suggest Colorado's growing prominence in eco-friendly movement
Colorado is a confirmed giant in the natural-products industry, with Boulder at the center of it nationally in terms of economic impact and the community's ability to attract and cultivate winning natural-products startups.
Not surprisingly, the state also is in the thick of the energy-sustainability movement. This makes sense, because the same demographics that make the area ideal for testing and getting natural products off the ground - namely a population that leans heavily toward health, fitness and an appreciation for the outdoors -- also should make Colorado and specifically the Front Range a major player in the sustainable-energy movement.
At his State of the City Address on July 12, Mayor John Hickenlooper unveiled "Greenprint Denver" (www.greenprintdenver.org), centering around goals for improved energy emissions, green building, waste reduction, transportation and water.
"Even if there's a 2 percent chance that 95 percent of the world's top climate scientists are right about the dire consequences of global warming, we run the risk of being the first generation in history to leave the next generation a problem for which there is no solution," the mayor said at the Webb Municipal Building Atrium. "We must have a sense of urgency to seize the low-hanging fruit that saves taxpayers money, preserves the environment and creates economic opportunity."
Among a list of specifics, the mayor said the city plans to construct solar and methane power plants capable of powering and heating the equivalent of more than 2,500 homes by 2007. He rattled off several other initiatives to improve and encourage energy efficiency, and perhaps as a way of suggesting that Denver is in fact in the thick of the sustainability movement, he pointed out that this fall Denver will host the Urban Land Institute and International Greenbuild conference, "giving us access to the best urban planning and energy innovations from around the world."
Denver had equally prominent figures from the solar-energy industry in its midst this past week. Hickenlooper himself welcomed attendees of the Solar 2006 Renewable Energy conference, July 7-13 at the Adams Mark Hotel in Downtown Denver. The conference included exhibits by about 100 companies showcasing the latest energy-efficiency and renewable-energy technologies.
The mayor showed up at the kickoff of the weeklong event and quipped to attendees, "Go out and enjoy the city, and spend your money... On second thought - your work is too important. So don't leave the room!"
The event attracted 1,800 registrants from around the world (who probably heeded the mayor's request that they not leave the room, given that it rained most of the week). That turnout of 1,800, which did not include the general public that attended exhibits and presentations, made it the best-attended American Solar Energy Society event in 25 years, according to Phil von Hake of PvH Communications, a Morrison-based consultancy focused on sustainable energy.
While that conference focused on sun power, another development dealt with wind. Denver-based CORE (www.corecolorado.org), a foundation that helps businesses and organizations implement socially and environmentally responsible practices, announced that it has received two grants for $140,000 from the Energy Foundation to promote clean, new energy technologies and transmission policies. CORE is using the larger ($100,000) grant to partner with West Wind Wires, a wind-energy transmission program, to facilitate integration of wind energy to the electric grid throughout the Western states.
All in all, it's looking like maybe Colorado people are starting to care as much about the environment as they do about maintaining their own bodies. Of course, cities along the Front Range perennially rank among the nation's fittest populations by the reckoning of a few national magazines. Being able to boast of the healthiest environment in the nation would be a great goal to shoot for.
----I started this off by mentioning Boulder's thriving natural-products industry. Might as well end the same way:
Tuesday it was announced that the second annual "Naturally Boulder Day" will be held Oct. 20 at Hotel Boulderado. Last year's inaugural event sold out. Keynote speakers this year will include Celestial Seasonings founder Mo Siegel, and White Wave Foods (Silk soy milk) founder Steve Demos, who when last heard from had left White Wave and planned to travel the world. His recap should make attending worthwhile by itself. For more information, visit www.naturallyboulderproducts.com.
Article URL: http://www.cobizmag.com/articles.asp?id=1149
