All Categories - SUSTAINABLE RESILIENT LONGMONT

Sustainable Resilient Longmont Hires Program Coordinator

7/17/2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 17, 2019
Media Contact: Abby Driscoll, Board Chair
(720) 491-9065 or abby@srlongmont.org

Longmont, CO July 17, 2019--- Sustainable Resilient Longmont is pleased to announce the hiring of Rachel Zelaya for the Program Coordinator position. This is the organization’s first paid staff position. Rachel has been a resident of Longmont for five years. Originally from New Hampshire, she earned a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a Masters in Classics and Teaching Latin from the University of Colorado-Boulder. She was also an Agricultural Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa.

Growing up close to nature instilled a love for the environment in Rachel as a young person, that she has carried into her adult life. She brings experience working with nonprofits and running her own small business in Longmont, and is excited about Longmont’s potential to lead the way towards a sustainable future for the next generation.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Rachel on board to help propel Sustainable Resilient Longmont into the future,” said Board Chair Abby Driscoll. “Her experience working with nonprofits, and her knowledge and commitment to sustainability are a perfect fit with the Program Coordinator’s role organizing our events and communications activities,” Driscoll added.

Longmont Museum and Sustainable Resilient Longmont to Co-host Climate Sustainability Roundtable

4/12/2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2019
Media Contacts:
Joan Harrold, Longmont Museum
303-774-4715, joan.harrold@longmontcolorado.gov

Abby Driscoll, Sustainable Resilient Longmont
720- 491-9065, abby@srlongmont.org

Longmont Museum and Sustainable Resilient Longmont to Co-host Climate Sustainability Roundtable

Longmont, CO April 11, 2019--- The Longmont Museum is collaborating with Sustainable Resilient Longmont to bring a robust program to the community on climate change. The Climate Sustainability Roundtable will take place Thursday, April 18 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
This dynamic, interactive event will explore the link between our global climate crisis and local sustainability efforts. Speakers will present about the science of climate change and actions being taken at the state and local level. Guests will be encouraged to find out more about what they can do to promote environmental conservation and sustainability. Speakers include:

Dr. James Butler, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Elise Jones, Boulder County Commissioner and Air Quality Control Commission
Magnolia Landa-Posas, Just Transitions Collaborative, University of Colorado at Boulder
Joan Peck, Longmont City Council
Emily Gedeon, Colorado Sierra Club
Karen Dike, Sustainable Resilient Longmont

The event will be moderated by Liz Lane, producer and news host at KGNU Community Radio.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Sustainable Resilient Longmont to present such an important conversation to the people of Longmont and the region. As a center for culture in Northern Colorado, it’s essential that we provide a forum for people to listen and exchange ideas around the key issues we face as community,” said Justin Veach, manager of the Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium.

“From floods and fires to heat waves and droughts, climate change is something we have felt the very real effects of here in Longmont. I am pleased that Sustainable Resilient Longmont can help bring this conversation to the forefront as we celebrate Earth Day and explore how we can make a positive impact in our community,” added Abby Driscoll, Board Chair of Sustainable Resilient Longmont.

Dr. James Butler is director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Global Monitoring Division, which provides long-term records of all greenhouse gases, stratospheric ozone and ozone-depleting gases, aerosols and radiation at Earth’s surface. At this event, he will present a brief history of the primary greenhouse gas that regulates our climate, identify its link to human civilization, highlight its changes in past years, and underscore the impacts we can anticipate in coming years.

“A major part of NOAA’s mission is ‘to monitor the pulse of the planet’ so that we can know where we are and plan for the future,” said Dr. Butler.

Elise Jones, Boulder County Commissioner and Member of the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission said, “Boulder County’s Sustainability Program is committed to addressing the link between climate and sustainability through several innovative programs and initiatives to reduce pollution, save energy and transition our economy towards a clean energy future.”

“I’m committed to supporting local initiatives in Longmont to pave the way towards a more sustainable future for our community,” added Longmont Councilwoman Joan Peck. “That means not only environmental protection, but also affordable housing, reducing pollution from greenhouse gases emitted from automobiles by increasing options for public transit, limiting waste headed to our landfills, and thinking creatively about how we go about planning for the future in a growing City. We can do this but we have to be proactive.”
For more information please visit www.longmontmuseum.org or www.srlongmont.org
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Sustainable Resilient Longmont
Sustainable Resilient Longmont collaborates with the Longmont community to cultivate a sustainable and thriving city. As the hub for education, advocacy and action, we support the three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, responsible economic growth and social equity. www.srlongmont.org
Longmont Museum
The Longmont Museum is a center for culture in Northern Colorado where people of all ages explore history, experience art, and discover new ideas through dynamic programs, exhibitions, and events. Learn more at www.longmontmuseum.org or visit us at 400 Quail Road, Longmont CO 80501.

Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy Applauds Platte River Power Authority for goal of 100 percent non-carbon electricity by 2030

12/6/2018

For Immediate Release: Thursday December 6, 2018

Media Contacts:
Gordon MacAlpine, Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition, ph. 970-342-4668, gmacalpi@trinity.edu
Kevin Cross, Fort Collins Sustainability Group, ph. 970-484-3141, jkevin87@comcast.net
Dick Mallot, Renewables Now Loveland, ph. 970-682-0374, dickmallot@comcast.net
Karen Dike, Sustainable Resilient Longmont, ph. 720-363-7119, karenkdike@gmail.com

Fort Collins, CO. - Today, Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy (NCP4CE) applauds the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) Board of Directors’ unanimous vote to commit to a goal of a 100 percent non-carbon resource mix by 2030. The board’s vote represents the culmination of years of advocacy for 100 percent clean, renewable electricity from community members living in PRPA’s four owner municipalities of Fort Collins, Longmont, Estes Park and Loveland. The goal was adopted as part of the utility’s Resource Diversification Policy and approved by the PRPA Board of Directors.

Earlier this year, the cities of Longmont and Ft. Collins both made commitments to reach 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2030. In the past month, the Estes Park Town Board and the Loveland City Council also passed resolutions supporting PRPA’s goal of a 100 percent non-carbon resource mix.

PRPA is the second Colorado utility this week to commit to a carbon reduction goal, following Xcel Energy’s announcement that it will reduce carbon pollution 100 percent by 2050. Colorado is home to nine communities that have committed to clean, renewable electricity. This momentum has pushed the state’s utilities to respond to customer demands for cleaner energy.

“I am thrilled to see the PRPA moving in the right direction. Renewable energy is the path that we must take to reduce the harmful effects of climate change in our communities. The residents of Longmont support this vote by the PRPA and this represents a major step forward to achieving Longmont’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, set forth by the City Council in January,” said Karen Dike, Vice Chair of Sustainable Resilient Longmont.

“We applaud PRPA for hearing the voices of people from across Northern Colorado who are ready to be powered by 100 percent clean electricity. This statement of values from PRPA is encouraging as the utility starts its long term energy planning, and we will continue to voice our vision throughout that planning process for Northern Colorado to shift away from fossil fuels and embrace clean, renewable electricity,” said Kevin Cross with the Fort Collins Sustainability Group.

“We are enthusiastic about this vote on the heels of the Loveland City Council’s support for the PRPA Resource Diversification Policy. We are confident the conditions will be met to see this goal to fruition, and expect it to happen even sooner than 2030. With the economic forces driving renewables further along, it’s exciting to see PRPA moving in this direction that will also benefit our environment,” said Dick Mallot of Renewables Now Loveland.

“Platte River has been a leader in the past, in the early stages of developing hydro and renewable energy; and now it's fitting that our municipal utility will take advantage of the opportunity to lead again, both economically and environmentally, as Colorado moves toward zero carbon emissions," added Gordon MacAlpine of the Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition.

The member organizations of the NCP4CE are: 350 Northern Colorado, Colorado Sierra Club, Community for Sustainable Energy, Environment Colorado, the Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition, the Fort Collins Sustainability Group, the Northern Colorado Renewable Energy Society, Renewables Now Loveland, Sustainable Resilient Longmont, and Transition Fort Collins. https://colivableclimate.org/noco-partners-for-clean-energy/

Sustainable Resilient Longmont to hold Longmont Renewable Energy Fair

5/15/2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2018
Media Contacts: Karen Dike, Board Vice Chair and Renewable Energy Committee Chair (720) 363-7119 karenkdike@gmail.com Abby Driscoll, Board Chair (720) 491-9065 or abby@srlongmont.org

Longmont, CO May 15, 2018--- This Saturday, May 19, Sustainable Resilient Longmont will hold the Longmont Renewable Energy Fair at the Roosevelt Park Pavilion in downtown Longmont. This free, community event will feature presentations and information from the City of Longmont Sustainability Office, Longmont Power & Communications, the Boulder County Sustainability Office, the Platte River Power Authority, Longmont Mayor Brian Bagley and Council Member Marcia Martin. With food trucks, a beer garden, live music, a kids arts & crafts table, and booths from local organizations working on renewable energy, this event will celebrate the success of the Ready for 100 campaign’s success in Longmont and look forward to how we accomplish the city’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.

“It’s encouraging to have the support of city and county leaders as we move forward to implement Longmont’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030,” said SRL Vice Chair and Renewable Energy Committee Chair Karen Dike. “It’s ever more critical that we provide opportunities for individuals, homes and businesses to transition away from fossil fuels that are impeding positive progress to reduce the harmful effects of climate change,” added Dike.

“We must keep the drumbeat going if we want to achieve the city’s goal of 100% renewable by 2030,” SRL Board Chair Abby Driscoll added. “None of this will happen overnight. Market forces are now reducing the cost of battery storage while price reductions in wind and solar energy are combining to help protect the planet. Now that it’s literally cheaper and more economical to power the grid with renewables, we’re going to start seeing real change occur,” added Driscoll.

WHAT: Longmont Renewable Energy Fair
WHEN: 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. Saturday, May 19
WHERE: Roosevelt Park Pavilion: 700 Longs Peak Ave. Longmont, CO
Program Schedule:
12:10 p.m. Welcome

Karen Dike and Abby Driscoll, Sustainable Resilient Longmont
Tom Roiniotis, General Manager, Longmont Power & Communications

12:20 Billy Shaddox Band
1:00 p.m Breakout Groups
Track A: Moving Longmont and the Region to 100% Renewable Energy

Jason Frisbee, CEO and Alyssa Clemsen Roberts, Chief Strategy Officer, Platte River Power Authority

Track B: Be the Change You Want to See in the World, Boulder County Can Help

Brad Smith, Sustainability Outreach Specialist, Boulder County

1:30 p.m. Billy Shaddox Band
2:10 p.m. Breakout Groups
Track A: What Businesses Can Do to Reduce their Reliance on Fossil Fuels

Matthew Hannon, Business Sustainability Advisor, Partners for a Clean Environment, Boulder County

Track B: Creating a home free from fossil fuels: create abundance while honoring planetary limitations.

Dave Takahashi, Boulder Resident

2:40 p.m. Billy Shaddox Band
3:20 p.m. Breakout Groups
Track A: 100% by 2030: Longmont’s Plans to Transition to Renewable Energy

Brian Bagley, Longmont Mayor and Marcia Martin, Longmont City Council

Track B: Is there an Electric Vehicle in Your Future?

Bartley Meade, Certified-Nissan Sales Consultant and Electric Vehicle Ambassador, Valley Nissan

3:50 p.m. Closing Remarks

Karen Dike and Abby Driscoll, Sustainable Resilient Longmont

Sustainable Resilient Longmont Presents 4th Annual Longmont Earth Day Celebration

4/16/2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 16, 2018
Media Contact: Abby Driscoll, Chair of the Board of Directors
(720) 491-9065 or abby@srlongmont.org

Longmont, CO April 16, 2018--- This Saturday, April 21, Sustainable Resilient Longmont will host the 4th annual Longmont Earth Day Celebration. This free, community event will feature an environmental education expo and programming for children and families throughout the day, including storytime, climate science films, music, and even magic! This family-friendly event will have a hands-on arts & crafts room with recycled materials, led by a local children’s art teacher. Samples Bistro, High Point Creamery and Sol Coffee will provide food and beverages outside.

Longmont Mayor Brian Bagley will kick off the event with a welcome message at 10:15 a.m. Other public officials attending include: Longmont City Council members Polly Christensen, Marcia Martin and Aren Rodriguez, State Representatives Jonathan Singer and Mike Foote, State Senator Matt Jones and Boulder County Commissioner Deb Gardner. The full program and list of sponsors is below.

WHAT: Longmont Earth Day Celebration
WHEN: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21
WHERE: Longmont Museum & Cultural Center 400 Quail Rd. Longmont, CO 80501

10:15 a.m.      Welcome
Abby Driscoll and Kate Collardson, Earth Day Planning Committee Co-Chairs
Brian Bagley, Mayor of Longmont
Polly Christensen, Marcia Martin and Aren Rodriguez, Longmont City Council
Deb Gardner, Boulder County Commissioner
State Representative Jonathan Singer
State Representative Mike Foote
State Senator Matt Jones

10:30 a.m.   Earth & Nature Storytime
Children's Librarian Amy Fontenot
Amy will lead a storytime featuring books for children of all ages.

11:00 a.m.   Carbon Dioxide, Climate Change, and Civilization
Jim Butler, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A leading climate scientist will provide a historical perspective of the alarming warming patterns we’re experiencing today. His talk will feature video, imagery and props to educate youth about the human impact of climate change.

11:30 a.m.   Songs for the Earth
Hygiene Elementary Choir
The Hygiene Elementary Choir will lead us through songs inspired by the Earth.

12:00 p.m.   Our Climate Our Future
Alliance for Climate Education
Join us to learn the facts about climate change and climate justice, hear from peers facing climate impacts, and become directly connected with opportunities to take action.

12:45 p.m.   Magic Show
Erica Sodos Magical Enchantress
Erica will emerge as a nature elf from the depths of the forest to share her magical secrets, stories and messages. This show will feature informative and inspiring stories about respecting and honoring Earth, water and animals.

1:30 p.m.   Concert
Jeff & Paige
Their exciting fun-filled concerts and CDs are filled with love of the outdoors and ecology, bringing concepts like insect anatomy, energy conservation and plate tectonics to the whole family. Through their live shows and five albums, Jeff and Paige have reached thousands of children with their joyful spirit of play and passion for ecological awareness.

Environmental Education Booths
Alliance for Climate Education
Boulder County Parks & Open Space
Boulder County Sustainability
Citizens Climate Lobby/Citizens Climate Education
City of Longmont - Composting, Recycling & Waste Services
City of Longmont- Sustainability
Colorado Native Bird Care & Conservation
Colorado Ocean Coalition
Colorado Renewable Energy Society
Eco-Cycle
Growing Gardens
Hygiene Elementary
Longmont Food Rescue
Ocean First Institute
Ollin Farms
People and Pollinators Action Network
Rocky Mountain Conservancy
Sierra Club/Boulder Valley ICO
Southard Solar & Construction
Stand With Our St. Vrain Creek
United States Environmental Protection Agency
UpRoot Colorado
Wild Bear Nature Center

Event Sponsors:

Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy Releases Second Review of Platte River Power Authority’s “Zero Net Carbon” Analysis

4/3/2018

Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy Releases Second Review of Platte River Power Authority’s “Zero Net Carbon” Analysis
Review Highlights Opportunities for PRPA to Transition to a Renewable Energy Future

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018

Media Contacts:
Gordon MacAlpine, Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition, ph. 970-342-4668, gmacalpi@trinity.edu
Kevin Cross, Fort Collins Sustainability Group, ph. 970-484-3141, jkevin87@comcast.net
Dick Mallot, Renewables Now Loveland, ph. 970-682-0374, dickmallot@comcast.net
Abby Driscoll, Sustainable Resilient Longmont, ph. 720-491-9065, abby@srlongmont.org

Longmont, CO. Today, Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy (NCP4CE) released a second, more detailed review of the Zero Net Carbon (ZNC) analysis that Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) finalized in December of 2017. The new critique, which was prepared by the Salt Lake City-based consulting firm Energy Strategies, clearly demonstrates that the ZNC analysis underestimates opportunities in the rapidly evolving energy marketplace that make transitioning to 100% renewable energy sources achievable by 2030. “In addition to identifying missed opportunities in the ZNC report, the Energy Strategies study will help to inform a path forward for Longmont, Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030,” said Abby Driscoll, Chair of the Board of Directors for Sustainable Resilient Longmont.

PRPA released its ZNC analysis after stakeholders from its four owner communities expressed interest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with their electric power. The analysis found that PRPA could achieve a ZNC electricity profile by 2030 with costs that are only 8% higher than “business as usual” on a net present value basis- a surprisingly small difference, particularly given the value of the public health and environmental benefits from the carbon reductions.

“The ZNC Analysis went a long way towards making the economic case for Platte River to begin to transition to a zero carbon or 100% renewable resource portfolio,” said Zach Pierce of the Sierra Club, a member of NCP4CE. “The use of more reasonable and current cost assumptions for renewable energy and battery storage could easily have resulted in the ZNC portfolio actually being the ‘least cost’ portfolio.”

While the ZNC study presents a positive path forward for Platte River’s transition to renewables, the Energy Strategies analysis points out several areas where the report underestimated this opportunity. Energy Strategies calls attention to the following issues in the ZNC report:

Overly conservative estimate of declining costs of renewable energy technologies and battery storage technologies;
Exclusion of storage technologies such as batteries from the model;
Inadequate modeling of demand side resources (efficiency, demand response, and distributed generation); and
Overly conservative future pricing of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The Energy Strategies review also highlights that ZNC accounting is “an unreliable measure of actual carbon dioxide emission reductions” that has not “been adopted by any existing or proposed regulatory framework.” It goes on to call on the PRPA to abandon this accounting scheme and instead work with its owner municipalities and stakeholders to “establish CO2 reduction goals…that would be achieved within a specified time period.”

Following Energy Strategies’ recommendation, NCP4CE is calling for the inclusion of a robust stakeholder engagement process in the development of the PRPA’s next Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which will likely commence later this year. That IRP, which will be in effect through 2025, should set the stage for the achievement of 100% renewable electricity by 2030. The member organizations of the NCP4CE look forward to contributing to that development effort.

The Energy Strategies critique of the PRPA’s ZNC analysis is attached to this news release.

The NCP4CE’s first review of the PRPA’s ZNC analysis, which was prepared by the Catalyst Coop and released on December 18th, 2017, is available here.

The member organizations of the NCP4CE are: 350 Northern Colorado, Colorado Sierra Club, Community for Sustainable Energy, Environment Colorado, the Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition, the Fort Collins Sustainability Group, the Northern Colorado Renewable Energy Society, Renewables Now Loveland, Sustainable Resilient Longmont, and Transition Fort Collins.

prpa_znc_critique_executive_summary_180403.pdf
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prpa_znc_critique_180331_final.pdf
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Sustainable Resilient Longmont, Eco-Cycle and the Longmont Observer team up to host Sustainability Issues Candidate Forum

2/2/2018

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2018
Media Contacts:
Abby Driscoll, Chair of the Board of Directors, Sustainable Resilient Longmont
(720) 491-9065 or abby@srlongmont.org
Kathleen Thurmes, East County Zero Waste Coordinator, Eco-Cycle
303-444-6634 x120 or kathleen@ecocyle.org

WHAT: Sustainability Issues Candidate Forum
WHEN: Thursday, February 8th 6:30-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Front Range Community College, Community Rooms: 2190 Miller Drive Longmont, CO

Sustainable Resilient Longmont, Eco-Cycle and the Longmont Observer are teaming up to host a Sustainability Issues Candidate Forum. Two of the three candidates for the Ward 1 City Council Seat will be attending: Tim Waters and Josh Goldberg. The forum will be moderated by Liz Lane, host and producer at KGNU.

Topics will include: energy, waste, water, land use, food systems and sustainable development.

FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS: The event will include live Spanish interpretation.
This event will also be live-streamed on the Longmont Observer Facebook page.

Sustainable Resilient Longmont collaborates with the Longmont community to cultivate a sustainable and thriving city. As the hub for education, advocacy and action, we support the three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, responsible economic growth and social equity.

Eco-Cycle is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit recyclers in the United States. We educate people in every sector of the community—schools, businesses, local governments, neighborhoods, and public events—about Zero Waste ethics and practices. Working in partnership, we help communities achieve their Zero Waste goals, the benefits of which include conserving natural resources and wildlife, reducing pollution, combating climate change, and creating jobs and new business opportunities.

The Longmont Observer is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan, community-driven, Longmont-focused news and media organization. Launched in 2017, Longmont Observer is the first digital, nonprofit news organization to serve the community of Longmont, CO.

Longmont Commits to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy by 2030

1/10/2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2018
Media Contacts:
Hillary Larson, Colorado Sierra Club
(781) 552-1106 or hillary.larson@sierraclub.org

Abby Driscoll, Sustainable Resilient Longmont
(720) 491-9065 or abby@srlongmont.org

Longmont Commits to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy by 2030

Longmont, Colo.,– January 9, 2018-- On Tuesday, the Longmont city council voted to approve a resolution committing the community in a shift away from fossil fuels and to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2030. The City Council Resolution builds off of Longmont Mayor Brian Bagley’s Proclamation signed on December 5th establishing a vision for powering the community entirely with clean and renewable sources of energy like wind and solar.

The Colorado Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign is joining Sustainable Resilient Longmont in celebrating Longmont becoming the 55th city in the nation, and seventh city in Colorado to commit to a sustainable and just transition to 100 percent renewable energy.

“We thank the Longmont city council and Mayor Bagley for their dedication to create a truly sustainable future, powered by 100% clean, renewable electricity by 2030. As one of the most fracked regions in the nation, it’s exciting to see Longmont made the decision to invest in our health and climate,” said Jim Alexee, Colorado Sierra Club Director

“Now, more than ever, action at the local level is crucial to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and transition to a clean energy future,” added Sustainable Resilient Longmont Board Chair Abby Driscoll.

“This is a watershed moment not only for Longmont, but for the broader movement to combat climate change. I’m proud of the grassroots movement that we’ve built over the past year, empowering the people of Longmont to have a voice in what we want the future of Longmont to look like.” said Ready for 100 campaign leader Karen Dike.

“I’m pleased to see the Council taking this step to affirm Longmont’s commitment to clean energy. Our energy production needs to be reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible. This step forward continues us in this direction.” said Longmont Mayor Brian Bagley.

“Longmont is the fourth city in Boulder County, following Boulder, Nederland, and Lafayette to make this commitment, proof that that the momentum for clean energy is both economically feasible on a local level and widely supported by Coloradans,” said Boulder County Commissioner Deb Gardner.

Longmont’s renewable energy commitment follows a recent PACE Global report by the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) which studied the feasibility of moving to zero net carbon. Sustainable Resilient Longmont, along with a coalition of partners commissioned subsequent review of a report by Catalyst Coop, which encourages the PRPA to take into account future costs of wind, solar, and electricity storage. “PRPA is fully aware that the PACE report is conservative. With the renewable investments that PRPA has completed and initiated since commissioning the study, they have already surpassed the parameters of the study. We are confident that PRPA and its four cities will enter a golden age of clean energy together." said Longmont City Council Member Marcia Martin.

“The longer that we depend on old and dirty energy, the more we put our neighbors at risk for asthma and our neighborhoods at risk for climate caused wildfires and floods. 100% renewable energy by 2030 is achievable and affordable. It’s time we make it inevitable,” added State Representative Jonathan Singer.

“That we’re having this discussion shows how rapidly renewable energy has grown. This transition is already creating new possibilities for families, businesses, cities and states as we power the economy affordably and reliably. Thank you Longmont city Council for ensuring a just transition,” said immigrant rights advocate Angel Sanchez.

Sustainable Resilient Longmont Sustainable Resilient Longmont collaborates with the Longmont community to cultivate a sustainable and thriving city. As the hub for education, advocacy and action, we support the three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, responsible economic growth and social equity. For more information, please visit www.srlongmont.org

Colorado Sierra Club is our state’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental group, committed to exploring, enjoying and protecting our most precious resources. We’re working to ensure all Colorado communities have access to a healthy and sustainable future by support local grassroots movements to transition away from fossil fuels to 100 percent clean, renewable energy. Learn more at sierraclub.org/colorado

Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy Urges Platte River Power Authority to Transition to Renewable Energy

12/5/2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 5, 2017
Media Contacts:
Kevin Cross, Fort Collins Sustainability Group jkevin87@comcast.net or (970) 484-3141
Karen Dike, Sustainable Resilient Longmont karen@srlongmont.org or (720) 363-7119
Gordon MacAlpine, Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition gmacalpi@trinity.edu or (970) 342-4668
Jane Clevenger, Renewables Now Loveland jcbertha@gmail.com or (970) 532-9933

The member organizations of Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy (NCP4CE) are looking forward to the release of the Zero Net Carbon (ZNC) Study by the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA). We intend to review the study thoroughly in the weeks following its public release on Thursday, December 7th. It is our hope that it will be a good starting point for discussion, debate, and further modeling concerning how to reduce carbon emissions resulting from electric power consumed in the four communities served by the PRPA to zero by 2030. Specifically, it is our strong desire that the final version of the study incorporate the following:

Avoidance of significant new natural gas infrastructure, such as gas-fired generators or pipelines,
Inclusion of storage technologies to meet the demand for power when wind- and solar-generated electricity is unavailable,
Demand side management initiatives to be undertaken by the utilities in the four member-owner municipalities, and
An accounting of carbon emissions associated with hydroelectricity that is based on the best available science.

“We can't afford to wait three more decades to close the biggest coal polluter on the Front Range. We’re already starting to see the disastrous effects of climate change right here in Northern Colorado with increasingly intense wildfires. We urge the Platte River Power Authority to continue to work proactively to transition to renewable sources of energy, including solar and wind. Future generations of Front Range residents are depending on us now to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and make the switch to clean energy," said Kevin Cross of the Fort Collins Sustainability Group.

Northern Colorado Partners for Clean Energy (NCP4CE) is a coalition of the four municipalities within in the Platte River Power Authority. The member organizations of the NCP4CE are: the Fort Collins Sustainability Group, Sustainable Resilient Longmont, Renewables Now Loveland and the Estes Valley Clean Energy Coalition along with our coalition partners: Transition Fort Collins, 350 Northern Colorado, Community for Sustainable Energy, Colorado Sierra Club, and Environment Colorado.

Sustainable Resilient Longmont Celebrates Longmont Committing to 100% Renewable Energy by 2030

12/1/2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 2017
Media Contact: Abby Driscoll, Chair of the Board of Directors
(720) 491-9065 or abby@srlongmont.org

Longmont, CO December 1, 2017--- Today, Sustainable Resilient Longmont is celebrating a major step forward in Longmont committing to 100% renewable energy by 2030. This Tuesday, December 5th, Mayor Brian Bagley will be presenting a proclamation with a goal of 100% clean, renewable electricity supply by 2030. “We’re thrilled to see Longmont taking positive action to move forward in a commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2030. SRL has mobilized a grassroots group that has been working hard over the last 10 months and has shown that the people of Longmont fully support this transition. We commend Mayor Bagley on taking this important step forward to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and transition Longmont into a clean energy future,” said SRL Board Chair Abby Driscoll.

“The people of Longmont understand climate change and they also understand that fracking is threatening nearby communities and creeping up on our city borders, threatening our health, air quality and quality of life. It’s time that we take a stand to end our dependence on fossil fuels and move to 100% renewable energy. Market forces are also showing that electricity from solar and wind are getting cheaper and more reliable each day, including technological innovations in battery storage that have paved the way to make this goal feasible perhaps even sooner,” added SRL Board Vice Chair and SRL Renewable Energy Committee Chair Karen Dike.

WHAT: Sustainable Resilient Longmont celebrates Longmont committing to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030.
WHEN: Tuesday, December 5th 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: City Council Chambers, 350 Kimbark