Arizona climate action plan: An advisory panel appointed by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano completed its Climate Action Plan, including a statewide goal of reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to their 2000 emissions level by the year 2020 and to 50% below the 2000 level by 2040 and measures to meet that goal. If implemented, the 49 recommendations would save Arizonans an estimated $5.5 billion by 2020, with additional savings in following years. Governor Napolitano signed an Executive Order to begin implementing the recommendations. Among the recommended actions are adoption of California standards to reduce greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles, changes to electricity pricing, more efficient building codes, increased reliance on renewable energy sources, energy efficiency improvements, alternative vehicle fuels, and better land and forest management practices. 

Xcel invests in 'clean' coal, Rocky Mountain News, August 16, 2006. Xcel makes a major commitment to clean coal technology by investing $3.5 million in engineering studies for a 300-350 megawatt power plant in Colorado using the integrated gas combined cycle (IGCC) technology. The technology, which converts coal into gas, is cleaner, more efficient, and facilitates carbon dioxide capture. It is in use in eastern states but has not been tried yet at higher elevations.

Related: Xcel smart to seek clean coal technology, Denver Post, August 19, 2006 and Burning issues, Denver Post, August 17, 2006.

Wind farms, Xcel ink contract, Denver Post, September 1, 2006 and Study: Wind to blow $251M off energy bills, Denver Business Journal, August 23, 2006. Xcel is actively investing in wind energy by contracting with a Logan County wind farm for enough power for 60,000 residences. A study concludes Xcel customers will save $251 million in 20 years through the use of wind energy rather than gas-fueled power plants.

Customers going solar thanks to Xcel rebate, Rocky Mountain News, August 25, 2006. Since March, when Xcel’s new rebate program began, $1.2 million in rebates for 100 homeowners have already been issued.

Ski resorts champion skies and trees, Denver Post, September 1, 2006. The Aspen Skiing Co. is joining a U.S. Supreme Court petition to force the EPA to regulate vehicle carbon dioxide emissions. Vail Resorts is partnering with the National Forest Foundation to invest up to $600,000 in national forest conservation projects near their Colorado and California resorts.

Aspen ski ads tackle a hot topic, Denver Post, August 28, 2006. In October, the Aspen Skiing Co. will debut ads that tackle global warming head-on.

Vail casts its fate to wind power, Rocky Mountain News, August 2, 2006. Vail purchases wind energy credits sufficient to cover power needs at all of its nationwide operations.

Town of Vail goes all wind power, too, Vail Daily, August 8, 2006. The Town of Vail follows suit by entering into a long-term commitment to purchase wind energy credits for all of its electric power needs, also.

Aspen Climate Impact Assessment, July 26, 2006. The City of Aspen releases what probably is the most detailed assessment of one community’s vulnerability to climate change, showing that local temperatures could increase 6 degrees by the end of the century if heat-trapping gases are limited or 14 degrees if they are not. With lower emissions, skiing could continue at middle or higher elevation slopes, although with a shorter season. With higher emissions, skiing be eliminated by the end of the century or well before. The news release, executive, summary, and full report are available at the web site of the Aspen Global Change Institute, which prepared the assessment. Highly Recommended!

Mayor's green plan sweeping. Rocky Mountain News, July 14, 2006. Denver mayor John Hickenlooper announces the city's ambitious Greenprint Denver initiative, a comprehensive package of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and tree planting programs. One of its goals is a 10 percent reduction in per capita greenhouse gas emissions from the 1990 emission rate by the year 2012, in conformity with the U.S. Mayors Climate Agreement.  

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