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CRES Accomplishments
The Colorado
Renewable Energy Society (CRES) annually holds the Colorado Renewable
Energy Conference since 1998 and the Colorado Tour of Solar Homes
since 1996. Several of the organization’s other accomplishments
include:
July 2006
Hosted SOLAR 2006, the
American Solar Energy Society’s annual conference, in downtown
Denver July 7th - 13th, 2006. With 1,897 registered attendees and
over 100 exhibitors, it was the largest national solar energy
conference in over 25 years.
February 2005
Helped negotiate an agreement with Xcel Energy to reduce total sulfur
and nitrogen emissions from three coal-fired power plants in Pueblo
(Comanche) after the third one, rated at 750 megawatts (MW), is built
to a level below that of the first two plants combined; increase the
utility’s investment in renewable energy and efficiency; work together
with political leaders in the Colorado Legislature to pass legislation
to allow the utility to adopt innovative electric technologies.
November 2004
Provided support to the successful campaign to pass Amendment 37 that
established a renewable energy standard for Colorado. Under this
standard, the state’s largest electricity providers must obtain 10% of
their power from renewable energy resources by 2015. CRES had set a
goal to establish a renewable standard for Colorado in its 2001
strategic plan.
October 2004
Organized the Colorado Tour of Solar Homes on a statewide basis by
publishing a single guidebook, which CRES distributed to more than
2,000 tour attendees.
April 2002 to 2005
Organized solar activities with eight partners across the state for
the U.S. Department of Energy’s Million Solar Roofs (MSR) initiative
under the MSR partnership for Colorado.
January 2001
Intervened in a case before the Colorado Public Utility Commission (PUC)
that led to building the Colorado Green wind power plant in Lamar.
Rated at 162 MW, the plant was fifth largest in the United States when
construction was completed in January 2003. It was also the first wind
power plant to be included in the utility’s rate base. In the PUC
case, CRES argued successfully that Xcel Energy had neglected the
lowest bid in its resource expansion competition because it came from
wind energy.
April 2000
Organized a coalition to celebrate Earth Day 2000 at the Colorado
Convention Center in Denver. Held on the thirtieth anniversary of the
founding of Earth Day, this was the largest renewable energy and
energy efficiency event in Colorado’s history.
September 1999 to 2005
Recognized Colorado building designers, architects, builders, and
homeowners for creative inclusion of energy efficient and renewable
energy features in commercial, institutional, and residential
buildings through the annual
Colorado Renewable Energy in Buildings Awards.
Finally, CRES also works
with Colorado utilities to expand their cost-effective use of
renewable energy and take full advantage of energy efficiency in
Colorado Springs, Durango, Fort Collins, Montrose, and the Roaring
Fork Valley. |
