GEO launches Community Energy Leadership Program

Colorado's New Energy Economy is leading the state forward as a national leader in the production and use of clean energy programs and technologies. The New Energy Economy can secure our energy, economic and environmental future. The Governor's Energy Office (GEO) is responsible for helping Coloradans take advantage of renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities.

Communities are uniquely positioned to achieve New Energy Economy goals through local leadership and programs that deliver programs specific to area needs.

Through funding provided by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the GEO funded Community Energy Coordinators (CECs) to build local capacity and bring the New Energy Economy to rural and mountain communities. CECs receive personalized guidance from the GEO, have access to new energy tools and programs, and participate in GEO monthly training and networking sessions.

Beginning January 2011, GEO's Community Energy Leadership Program will provide a similar opportunity to community energy leaders in Colorado's Front Range communities. GEO will select one representative from ten to twelve Front Range communities to participate in a five-month program.

The program includes the following GEO assistance to allow the community to:

  • Build an effective local energy education and outreach strategy
  • Prepare or evaluate a community energy efficiency and conservation plan
  • Identify energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities in public buildings
  • Prepare a strategy to reduce petroleum consumption in public fleets
  • Assist low-income residents manage and reduce utility costs
  • Increase local participation in residential energy efficiency programs
  • Identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency in the industrial sector
  • Help local businesses reduce energy use and improve environmental performance
  • Work to identify opportunities and strategies unique to the local community outside of the above

Monthly sessions will include training in community energy assessment and goal setting; financing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; high-performance buildings; community engagement; greening local government; and using the New Energy Economy as catalyst for economic growth.

Program participants will meet on the third Friday of each month for a full day at the GEO, located near downtown Denver. The culmination of this program is a presentation by the community energy leader to city or county elected officials and or staff, GEO staff will participate in this presentation at the program participant's request.

The program will be repeated each January and July. Community Energy Leadership Program graduates will be asked to mentor new program participants of the following five-month program.

Eligible applicants

  • City, county, or special district staff designated to implement community-wide energy, sustainability orresource conservation programs.
  • Non-profit organization staff that have been designated by a community to implement community-wide energy, sustainability or resource conservation programs.

Application

Return to the Governor's Energy Office (angie.fyfe@state.co.us) by January 7, 2011
Limit your application to two double-spaced 8 ½ by 11 inch pages.

Name, title
Contact Information
Community Represented
Describe your day-to-day responsibilities
Describe your interest in this program
How do you envision using the knowledge gained through this program?
What are the current sustainability goals in your community?
What support for these goals exists within your community?
As a member of the program and as a mentor to future program participants, what do you believe you will bring to other program participants?
Are you available to attend a full-day session at the GEO (located at 1580 Logan Street in Denver) on the third Friday of each month, January - June 2011?