Programs of the Colorado Climate Network, page 5

Fourth Network Workshop

State and Local Emissions Inventories - Better Tools for Better Decisions

April 30, 2013, 1-4 p.m., Denver Department of Environmental Health,
200 W. 14th Ave., Denver

Regularly updated inventories of heat-trapping pollution are essential for charting progress towards
emission-reduction goals of state and local governments and for guiding new policies. This workshop
brought together leading local and state government inventory specialists to focus on how to improve
and make better use of state and local inventories to shape better decisions.  The workshop featured
an unique opportunity to see the preliminary results of a new state inventory and to discuss it with the
staff of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The workshop also offered
presentations on and exploration of the range of inventorymethodologies used by Colorado
local governments and discussions about moving toward more consistency between state and local inventories and
among local inventories. Other topics included how to get the most out of  inventories to communicate
progress and shape policies.

See agenda here.

Workshop Presentations (Downloadable)

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Theresa Takushi, Air Quality Planner, Update of 2007 state inventory, presentation

Snapshots of Current Local Government Inventories:

Boulder County, Kealy Devoy, Sustainability and Energy Division, WSP Environment & Energy, presentation
City of Denver, Gregg Thomas, Manager of Air, Water and Climate Section, Denver Environmental Health, presentation
City of Fort Collins. Bonnie Pierce, Environmental Data Analyst, presentation
City of Boulder, Joe Castro, Facilities and Fleet Manager, presentation
City of Aspen, Elyse Hottel, Environmental Initiatives Project Coordinator, presentation

Inventory Reports:

Boulder County
City of Denver
City of Aurora
City of Fort Collins
City of Boulder
City of Aspen

Third Network Workshop

Waste reduction - the forgotten solution to climate change

Friday, October 12, 2012, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. , City and County of Denver Webb Municipal Building,
201 W. Colfax Ave., Room 4.F.6

Reducing by three-quarters the waste going to Colorado’s landfills would do as much to meet the state’s
climate-protection goals as the recent strengthening of the renewable portfolio standards for the state’s power
plants. And local governments have the key role in waste reduction. But this opportunity is too often overlooked
in local climate action plans.

At this workshop both experts and local government colleagues explored waste reduction strategies that work. Considered were both what local governments can do and what the state government should do. As always with a Network workshop, the day featured open, give-and-take discussion
s, along with concise presentations on what has succeeded in the real world.

Featured topics included:

  • The connections between waste management and climate change.
  • Quantifying emissions of heat-trapping gases from from waste-stream organic materials and from qll components
    of waste management operations.
  • Local strategies that are getting results in Colorado.
  • Measuring emission reductions and cost-effectiveness.
  • Engaging residents and businesses in participation in waste prevention.
  • Working with waste haulers to encourage customer participation.
  • Key state policies for local governments to support.

See the full agenda here.

Workshop Presentations (downloadable):

Eco-Cycle: Smokestacks, Tailpipes and Trash Cans - the Waste-Climate Connection
Skumatz Economic Research Associates: Connections Between Climate Change and Waste Management
Fort Collins: Waste Reduction and Climate Mitigation in Fort Collins
Boulder County: Waste Reduction - The Forgotten Solution to Climate Change
Denver: Denver Solid Waste Management
Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability: Local Strategies that are Getting Results
EPA Resources: Sustainable Materials Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases

 

Second Members-Only Workshop of the Colorado Climate Network

The Network’s role on state policy

 Friday, March 9, 2012, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
City and County of Denver Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave., Room 4.i.5

All local government officials and climate program managers know that policies adopted by the state are critical to the success of local governments in reducing their contribution and vulnerability to climate disruption. And local governments play an important role in shaping state policies that will enable the state to meet its climate action goals, strengthen the economy, and create green jobs.

The workshop featured open discussions with key policy leaders from the Governor's Policy Office, the Governor's Energy Office, state agencies, regional planning agencies, non-profits, and local programs. The goal was to identify and prioritize climate protection actions at the state level (including legislation, regulations, policies, technical support, funding, and partnerships) that the network can advance, especially in areas that cannot be fully addressed locally. Featured topics include:

• Current energy and climate issues of most importance to local communities;
• How local communities can help shape state policy;
• The Hickenlooper Administration’s plans to address climate and energy issues;
• Targeted actions that help local communities pursue their agendas for clean energy,
transportation and land use, and waste management;
• Pending federal legislation that could impact state and local options; and
• An initial cut at the Network’s top state policy action priorities, which the Network Steering Committee will use to update the Network's State Policies Agenda.

See notes from the workshop sessions here and the workshop agenda here.

This was the second in a series of Network-member-only workshops, to be held quarterly. Workshops are open only to local officials, managers, and program staff representing current Colorado Climate Network members, each of whom are welcome to send multiple representatives.

The First Members-Only Workshop of the Colorado Climate Network

Demand side versus supply side: Which basket to put your eggs in?
An open discussion among Colorado Climate Network members

Friday, October 14, 2011, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
City and County of Denver Webb Municipal Building, Room 4.i.5

Colorado Climate Network members shared their ideas and learned from their counterparts about a key question facing all local climate programs: how much to focus on demand-side programs (energy efficiency) and how much on supply-side programs (clean energy sources). The open discussion among workshop attendees was kicked off with short presentations by Lucinda Smith, senior environmental planner from the City of Fort Collins, and Kristen Bertuglia, sustainability coordinator from the Town of Vail. The purpose was to equip workshop participants with information and examples from other jurisdictions so that they may make better decisions about the best paths for achieving emissions reductions and other benefits.

The workshop also included an additional open discussion to learn more about a featured local program of a Network member—in this workshop, about the City of Boulder’s consideration of creating a new municipal utility. Jonathan Koehn, the city’s Regional Sustainability Director, will make a brief presentation and lead the discussion about what the city is doing and how it might apply to other Network members.

Workshop Presentations (downloadable):
City of Fort Collins Demand Side v. Supply Side
Town of Vail Demand Side v. Supply Side
City of Boulder Energy Localization

 

 

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