Colorado: Udall, Bennet seek in-depth wildfire study

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Ash-covered ground and burned trees in the High Park fire zone. Photo courtesy InciWeb.

Letter to feds raises numerous questions about High Park, Waldo Canyon fires but doesn’t mention global warming

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Colorado’s two U.S. Senators are asking the U.S. Forest Service for an in-depth study of several major wildfires that destroyed hundreds of homes along the Front Range wildland-urban interface — the red zone, where up to 40 percent of the state’s population has chosen to live in areas where fires are a natural part of the ecosystem.

“The unprecedented nature and pattern of these fires calls for a systematic and scientific analysis to learn how we as a society can do better. Our goal is to make sure that the lessons learned — positive and negative — are captured and acted upon appropriately,” they wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, forest fires, forests, global warming, US Forest Service, wildfires | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Chimney Rock gets monument status

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Chimney Rock, in southwest Colorado.

President Obama will designate SW Colorado cultural site under the Antiquities Act

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — One of the most significant cultural sites in Colorado will get a boost this week, when President Obama officially designates Chimney Rock National Monument as part of the Americas Great Outdoors Initiative. The designation provides permanent protection to the 4,700-acre Chimney Rock Archaeological Area in the San Juan National Forest.

“Chimney Rock is almost certainly the most significant cultural site managed by the U.S. Forest Service,” said Richard Moe, who launched the push for monument designation six years ago. “The national monument designation will bring deserved national recognition to a place of significant archaeological and cultural importance to our country.”

This national treasure, and our country’s newest national monument, represents one of the farthest outposts of the Chacoan culture. Home to more than 200 homes and ceremonial buildings built more than 1,000 years ago, the area is of great spiritual importance to the Pueblo tribes of the Southwest.

“The story of my tribe, the Pueblo of Acoma, and our history is intimately connected to Chimney Rock. This place is still sacred to my people, and we are glad to see it will now be protected for our children and grandchildren,” said Chandler Sanchez, chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council and former Governor for the Pueblo of Acoma.  “As a national monument, the ancestral homes of my people will continue to provide inspiration to the thousands of people who visit this site.” (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, public lands, US Forest Service | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado wind turbine makers cutting jobs

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Wind power hits a political stumbling block, as Congress fails to pass a crucial tax credit for the fledgling industry. Photo courtesy NREL/ Dennis Schroeder.

Colorado’s U.S. senators fight for passage of critical tax credit for renewable energy

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado-based companies making parts for wind turbines say they’re starting to feel a negative trickle-down effect from congressional inaction on wind production tax credits.

The tax credits have been used in the U.S. and other countries to spur the growth of renewable energy production, but partisan posturing and the influence of the fossil fuel lobby have hindered political action.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet Tuesday heard from local business leaders about the economic impact and potential layoffs due to recent cuts at Vestas.

Bennet discussed with local CEOs the need to extend the wind production tax credit during a tour of the Walker Component Group’s manufacturing facility, which supplies cables for wind turbines used by Vestas Wind Systems.  (more…)

Filed under: business, Colorado, economy, energy, Environment, renewable energy | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Energy: Congressional inaction on wind power production tax credits is already causing job losses in Colorado

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Wind turbine. Photo courtesy Petr Kratochvil.

Colorado-based wind turbine company announces potential layoffs

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Uncertainty surrounding tax credits for wind energy production is already having an impact, as Vestas Wind Systems announced that it will cut jobs at its factory in Pueblo, Colorado.

Congress has been dithering over an extension of the wind production tax credits for months, with renewable energy as a chip in the current ideological poker game in Washington, D.C.

Wind production tax credits have helped the industry gain a foothold in the past few years, and have been used successfully in other countries to spur renewable energy growth. But the influential fossil fuel lobby — not to mention partisan budget battles — in the U.S. have hampered efforts to renew the tax credit. (more…)

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Energy: Senate moves on wind power tax credit

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Romney favors coal and oil over renewable energy

Wind turbines in Montana. Photo courtesy NREL.

By Summit Voice

Wind power in the U.S. may yet get a leg up from Congress this year, as the Senate Finance Committee this week passed a bill including language that would renew the wind Production tax credit, due to expire at the end of this year.

While the tax credit faces additional hurdles, Colorado’s U.S. senator Mark Udall and Michael Bennet praised the committee after the vote.

“Passing the wind Production Tax Credit is one of the most important steps Congress can take this year to re-energize our economy, create jobs and pursue true energy security. I am glad to see the Senate Finance Committee agrees,” said Udall, who has been giving almost-daily floor speeches on wind power to draw attention to the issue. (more…)

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President Obama urged to use Antiquities Act to designate SW Colorado’s Chimney Rock as national monument

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Chimney Rock, Colorado.

New study shows designation could significant economic benefits for the region

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Despite early bipartisan support, a bill to designate southwest Colorado’s Chimney Rock as a national monument appears to be stuck in pre-election political gridlock.

Chimney Rock, between Pagosa Springs and Durango, likely was an important settlement and spiritual site in the Chacoan culture.

With local community support for the designation, as well a new report showing the economic benefits of the designation, Democratic Colorado senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, along with Republican Representative Scott Tipton, are asking President Obama to make the designation under the Antiquities Act. (more…)

Filed under: Archaeology, Colorado, Travel | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Bucks for beetles: Bipartisan farm bill amendment to double funds for beetle mitigation passes U.S. Senate

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

More federal funding could help western forests recover from the bark beetle epidemic.

House gets another crack at measure

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The U.S. Forest Service is one step closer to getting a funding boost for bark beetle mitigation, as a 2012 Farm Bill amendment offered by Sen. Mark Udall and Sen. Michael Bennet passed the Senate Wednesday.

The amendment would double the proposed budget for beetle-related forest work from $100 million to $200 million. The full budget bill still has to pass the Senate, then heads back to the House.

Along with funding, Udall and Bennet want to see more public-private sector partnerships developed to address bark-beetle epidemic. (more…)

Filed under: agriculture, Colorado, Environment, Forest health, pine beetles and wildfires, US Forest Service | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: More beetle-kill bucks wanted

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Beetle-killed forests dominate some mid-elevation landscapes in Colorado.

Udall, Bennet seek to double appropriation in 2012 farm bill

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The U.S. Forest Service needs more money to stay on pace with removing beetle-killed trees from western forests, and Colorado’s two senators this week introduced an amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill that would double the budgeted amount from $100 million to $200 million.

The bill would encourage the Forest Service to partner with the private sector to develop some economic value for the dead trees, something that has proven to be a vexing challenge for struggling sawmills in the region and for proponents of using the wood for energy, who have gained very little traction as more and more studies show that large-scale bioenergy from forest products is not sustainable. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, Forest health, forests, pine beetles, pine beetles and wildfires, US Forest Service | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado: Chimney Rock close to national monument status

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Chimney Rock, near Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

House passes bill to establish southern Colorado landmark with bipartisan support

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —Chimney Rock, a southwest Colorado landmark that once marked the ultimate outlier of the ancient Chaco culture, is one big step closer to gaining national monument status.

The U.S. House this week passed the Chimney Rock National Monument Establishment Act with support from both sides of the aisle. The bill was introduced by Republican Congressman Scott Tipton, with a companion measure pending in the Senate, cosponsored by Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall.

“Today’s bipartisan House vote is an important step toward designating Chimney Rock as a national monument, and I applaud Congressman Tipton for his leadership,” Bennet said. (more…)

Filed under: Archaeology, Colorado, national parks, public lands | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Fairplay gold mine critics get help from Udall, Bennet

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Community asking BLM to do full environmental impact statement

Destiny Mine proposal Fairplay, Colorado

A site plan of the proposed Destiny Mine in Fairplay, Colorado.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Fairplay residents fighting for a full environmental review of a proposed goldmine near a residential neighborhood got some political help last month, as U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall urged the Bureau of Land Management officials ito consider the input of community leaders and residents before a decision is made on the proposed Destiny Placer Mine in Park County.

The BLM is currently evaluating the mine under an environmental assessment, a process that, by law, must end with a finding of no significant impact. Many residents, as well as town and county officials are on record as opposing the mine, or at least in support of having the BLM do a full-scale environmental impact statement, a higher level of scrutiny under the National Environmental Policy Act. (more…)

Filed under: BLM, Colorado, Environment, public lands, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , , , | 6 Comments »

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