Yampa Valley Partners is pleased to be the recipient of the Governor's Energy Office CEC grant.  The grant dollars come from $9.5 million allocated to the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) under the Recovery Act-funded Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program.

The grant will provide Yampa Valley Partners the ability to implement a Community Energy Coordinator (CEC) program that will cover the 3 county area of Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco.    If you are interested in being on the GEO distribution list, please email Kate Nowak, Executive Director at Kate@yampavalleypartners.com.

To view available programs, visit the RechargeColorado.com

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Craig 5:05 Drinks Program is a networking and education program scheduled every 2nd Thursday of the month in Craig, Colorado.  Check back to our website or look for the ads to discover where the program will be held.  We rotate the program around different establishments. 

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Napa Store in Craig Saves Big

John Ponikvar, owner of the Craig Napa Store, was looking to upgrade his lighting in the store so there was brighter lighting on the parts books.  John replaced 67 panels at a cost of $80.00 each for a total of $5360.  John went from the old T-12, 4 bulb fixture to the new T-8 3 bulb fixture and has more light in his store.  He is delighted because there is no noise from the bulbs, no humming, more light, uses less power and the bulbs have a longer life.  Here are his statistics.

Electric Bill

Month/year      electric bill Kilowatt hours (kWh)

June 2005        7053    kWh                June 2010        6126 kWh       927 kWh =  $84.45

July 2005         8053    kWh                July 2010         6943 kWh       1110 kWh = $101.21

Aug 2005        7562    kWh                Aug 2010        6486 kWh       1076 kWh =$98.00

Average savings per month $94.55

Electric rate 2005        8.25 per kWh              2010    9.11 per KWh

Light Bulb Replacement

T12 = 20,000 hours at $1.45each

T8 = 30,000 hours at $1.93 each

T8Long = 40,0000 hours  $3.81 each

Then:  Replaced 36 T12s every two months or 216 bulbs every year ($1.45 X 216= $313.20) John spent $626.40 for two years of replacements.

Now:   Replaced 4 T8s in two years (4 x $1.93 = $7.72)

Total Savings

24 months $94.55 electric bill savings = $2269.20

24 months of bulb replacements =  $618.68  ($626.40 – $7.72)

Total project savings: $2887.88

In 2 years the savings have paid half the project cost

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Recharge Colorado Home Energy Audit Rebates

We invite Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt residents to participate in the residential energy audit rebate program.  The goal of the program is to save energy and stimulate the economy.  There are lots of home energy audit rebates available on www.rechargecolorado.com. The rebates are on a first come first-served basis and are available for existing homes.  Contractors that perform the energy audits must be BPI (Building Performance Institute) or RESNET (residential Energy Services Network) accredited building analysts.  Fortunately we have 2 qualified contractors in our area.  Greenleaf Building Performance 970-846-2640 and Mountain Energy Consultants 970-393-2202.  There are generally different service tiers where your energy auditor will perform different tasks on site.  A “walk through” audit in your house will allow the auditor to review a checklist of items that you will look at to see if any energy efficient improvements can be made.  Other tiers provide for a comprehensive audit of your home utilizing special equipment to test your doors, windows, installation, etc for drafts and air leakage.  The energy auditors checklist is in-depth and you can be assured that the recommendations will lead to more comfort in your home.

Please share your home energy audit  success stories with Yampa Valley Partners. kate@yampavalleypartners.com

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GEO Funding Opportunities

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 Yampa Valley Partners Ignites Energy Steering Committee

 As we mentioned in the last newsletter, Yampa Valley Partners received a grant from the Governor’s Energy office to promote GEO programs, financing options and facilitate a region wide energy plan with key community members in the tri-county area. 

The Northwest Colorado Energy Steering Committee has chosen their own name and will create our regional energy plan.  Representatives have been selected from cities, towns, counties, workforce development, business, economic development, utilities, higher education and non-profits.  Please feel free to contact any of the committee members to give your input on energy efficiency in the valley and what you would like to see in the plan.  The current committee members are:

Moffat County Commissioner Audrey Danner, City of Craig: Ray Beck and Terry Carwile, City Council, Jim Ferree, City Manager

Rio Blanco County: Commissioner Kai Turner, Pat Hooker, County manager

 Town of Rangely: Vicki Pfenning

Routt County: Tim Winter, Facilities Manager, Tom Sullivan, County Manager, City of Steamboat Springs: Meg Bentley, City Council Member, Steve Hoots,City Facilities manager, Town of Hayden, Stef Nijsten

Higher Education Gene Bilodeau, CNCC 

Utility Companies: Dale Dunbar, White River Electric Association, Jim Chappell, Yampa Valley Electric Association

Business: Susan Holland, President Emerald Mountain, Forest Luke, Trapper Mine

Non-Profit: Representative of Yampa Valley Sustainability Council

Workforce Development Linda Dill, Craig Workforce: Labor & Employment Specialist

Economic Development Richard Beason, Director of Craig Moffat Economic Development Council

Work has begun on the Northwest Colorado Energy Steering Committee to create a mission and vision that will guide our work.  Here is our  draft mission statement.

The mission of Northwest Colorado Energy Steering Committee (NCESC) is to educate, communicate and promote sustainable and energy efficient practices so that our tri-county area will utilize our resources effectively and benefit our local economies.

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Please send us your input.  We have posted our meeting minutes below. Meanwhile please check out www.rechargecolorado.com

Kate Nowak, is the regional Community Energy Coordinator for the area.  Contact Kate with questions at Kate@yampavalleypartners.com