Manure Digester to Produce Energy

Another exciting announcement for green energy in Colorado. An anaerobic digester will be installed by Microgy in the Fort St. Vrain power plant. This will produce 125,000 megawatt-hours which is enough to power 17,000 homes annually. The energy will be purchased by Xcel Energy, Colorado's largest energy provider. This is a great step forward for Xcel Energy who is under pressure to meet requirements of 20% of its energy being from renewable sources before 2020.

There is some interesting history at the Fort St. Vrain Power Facility. It was originally opened in 1979 and operated for 10 years as a nuclear power plant. It was shut down in 1989 and decommissioned as a nuclear plant. In 1996 it was reopened as a natural gas burning facility. This facility is coming full circle with the addition of a cow manure digester.

I love seeing new was to create renewable energy, especially here in Colorado. This is a great plan and I am glad to see Xcel jump on board to make it possible.

Green Energy and Electric Vehicle Extravaganza

The Green Energy and Electric Vehicle Extravaganza will take place March 13th and 14th at 626 17th St in Boulder, CO. The extravaganza will include an introduction on Excel Energy's new Smart Grid. President Obama talked about the Smart Grid in his speech in Denver at the time of his signing of the stimulus bill. Come to the Extravaganza to find out the details of how this exciting new program will work to power the City of Boulder with renewable energy.

Namaste Solar will also be on hand to give demonstrations and to educate the public on installation and benefits of solar power. And don't forget to check out the electric cars. There will be multiple manufacturers on hand to talk about electric automobiles and the benefits of electric cars.

This is an awesome opportunity to educate yourself on the latest and greatest technologies in electric cars and green energy. Go learn all you can and then be sure to tell your friends and neighbors.

Wind Power

I am a strong supporter of renewable energy sources. I have been baffled for years on why we can't use the wind and and sun more widely for power sources. I understand that Solar is still pretty expensive and more research is needed to make it feasible, but wind is economically feasible now.

I live in Northern Colorado where Wind Power is gaining support with the help of an energy conscious Governor and hopefully a new president on our side. Vestas, a Denmark company, has recently built a wind turbine plant in Windsor, CO and is building a second plant in Brighton, CO. This should help push for more Wind Plants in Colorado, Wyoming, and across the West and Midwest.

I recently read an interesting article on offshore wind farms. According to the article Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Ireland have installed offshore turbines, and Germany has approved nearly two dozen projects expected to go online soon. The U.S. currently has no offshore wind production, although some projects are in the works including a feasibility study under way for a possible wind farm in Lake Erie near Cleveland.

It is estimated that the Great lakes could support 100,000 Wind Turbines, which would create enough energy to power 1/3 of American homes annually. Think of what an impact that could make.

Of course there are issues to think about like bird migration patterns, fish spawning sites, and shipping lanes. In my opinion these issues are much easier to find solutions to than finding a way to dispose of nuclear waste or fighting wars for oil.

When I think about my children and the world I wish to leave behind for future generations, alternative power sources generated by sustainable practices is at the top of the list. We have got to do what we can now to cut our ties with fossil fuels and move on to Wind and hopefully someday Solar. Do what you can today and future generations including your kids and grandchildren will appreciate it.