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

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

GEO Funding Opportunities

 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 Meeker: Sharon Day, Town Manager, Town of Rangely: Peter Brixius, Town Manager

Routt County: Tim Winter, Facilities Manager, Tom Sullivan, County Manager, City of Steamboat Springs: Meg Bentley, City Council Member, Wendy DuBord, Deputy Manager, Town of Hayden, Russ Martin, Town Manager

Yampa/Oak Creek   TBA

Higher Education CMC - TBA, Gene Bilodeau, CNCC 

Utility Companies: Dick Welle, 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.

In our next meeting in September we will continue working on our strategies and  goals.  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