Colorado: Aurora brownfield eyed for renewable energy

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Innovative Energy underwrites coverage of energy issues.

EPA, Dept. of Energy seek to streamline solar, wind and geothermal project on previously impacted sites

Renewable energy projects could blossom on brownfields and other impacted sites across the country under an innovative EPA and Department of Energy plan.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A 146-acre parcel in Aurora could become an urban renewable energy park under a federal initiative that aims to redevelop Superfund sites, brownfields, and former landfill or mining sites across the country.

The Aurora parcel, on the northeast corner of 6th Ave. and Tower Road, has been identified as a potential site as part of the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy’s RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative.

“This is another example of the value of NREL’s research, development and technological power,” said Sen. Michael Bennet. ” It is an asset to Colorado and the country, and it’s great to see the EPA and NREL working together to try to make use of property that would otherwise remain undeveloped and unproductive,” he said . “I hope the feasibility study will determine this is a good location for solar energy development, which would put this abandoned site to productive use and create new clean energy jobs here in Colorado.” (more…)

Filed under: energy, Environment, renewable energy, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Op-ed: Sen. Bennet focuses on rural Colorado

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Sen. Michael Bennet

By Michael Bennet

This week, Gov. John Hickenlooper and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack hosted a rural economic development summit in Greeley as part of a statewide conversation prompting counties to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and to think with vision about what will drive their economies over the next 20 years.

It’s a conversation that couldn’t come at a better time.

Over the past two years, I’ve seen first-hand the stress rapid change is placing on rural communities. Our state is diverse, so that stress manifests itself in many ways: Some communities are growing with an influx of tourists and retirees, while others are dwindling as populations decline. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, economy, op-ed | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 5,553 other followers