Compiled by Staff

Vail Resorts Swaps RECs for Forest Restoration Funding

Vail is among the leaders in the ski industry when it comes to  environmental practices and activities. So it was a surprise to some when the resort announced late last month that it would be discontinuing it’s three-year run of buying wind Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) , which reportedly offset approximately 211 million pounds of global warming-causing CO2 emissions annually.

In place of the credits, the resort plans on providing major funding for the restoration of 137,000 acres of Colorado land burned by the 2002 Hayman forest fire, the largest in the state’s history. By juicing the reforestation efforts, they are also helping a local ecosystem that is essential for protecting watershed health, scrubbing CO2 out of the air, and storing carbon.

Critics of RECs say the benefits of investing in the programs can be far off geographically, and that many companies claiming “100-percent wind powered” are actually just buying enough credits to offset their power needs, and running themselves on traditional sources like coal or gas.

Whether it is a sign of discontent with the REC system, or an economic move, is hard to say. Either way, Vail is continues to be extensively involved with environmental efforts, this time with results that are closer to home.

Aspen Ski Company Big Contributor to “Energy Smart” Ballot Referendum

ASPEN — The Aspen Skiing Co. is the largest single contributor to the campaign urging passage of Referendum 1A — the Energy Smart Local Improvement District measure on the Nov. 3 Pitkin County ballot.  The company is also a backer of a similar campaign in Eagle County.

Skico Environmental Director Auden Schendler is helping spearhead the Pitkin County campaign. In addition, Skico gave the Yes On 1A-The Energy Smart Campaign $1,000, and the Skico’s Environment Foundation, supported by company employees, also gave $1,000, according to a campaign finance report filed Tuesday with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. Schendler also gave $96.80 individually.

The Aspen Business Center Co. donated $500 to the cause.

The Aspen Times reports that twenty or so individuals also donated to the campaign, in amounts generally ranging from $20 to $100, though Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland gave three separate contributions totaling $100 in cash and $439 in in-kind contributions, according to the report. County Commissioner Rachel Richards gave $75 in cash and $272 in in-kind contributions.

Several firms in the building/design/energy trade gave to the campaign, which reported a $750 in-kind contribution from Lighthouse Solar in Glenwood Springs and $500 cash from Sunsense Inc. in Carbondale. Referendum supporters have noted the energy district program would put local tradesmen and women to work — a side benefit to the envisioned environmental gains.

Durango Terminates Contract with Novan Solar - Looks for Local Contractor to Finish Rec Center Solar System

 The city of Durango has terminated its contract with a Golden solar installer for failing to finish a project at its Community Recreation Center. City Manager Ron LeBlanc said the city will find a local contractor within two weeks to finish the project.

An official with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs confirmed the school ran into similar problems with the company, Novan Solar, which it selected to install a solar thermal system at the campus recreation center.

The city has paid about $142,000 of the $225,000 cost allocated to install the 64 panels. The panels are in place on the roof but not connected to the pumps downstairs. When connected, the panels will heat the facility’s pool water to reduce the amount of natural gas used at the rec center to heat the water.

“I want it to be right. I want the residents of this city to see that they get their project,” said LeBlanc. “If it takes $83,000 to get them hooked up, then we’ll use all of it.”

Garfield County Man waits for Word from COGCC on Contamination Case

DE BEQUE — A Garfield County man claiming he was poisoned by contaminants from a natural gas drilling operation wants to know what state regulators will do now that a report indicates he may be right. “We’re waiting to see if the commission is going to follow those recommendations,” said attorney Richard Djokic, referring to a recent consultants report sent to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which oversees gas drilling operations in the state. Djokic represents the complainant in the case, Ned Prather, who already has been waiting for a year and a half to learn the outcome of an investigation by the COGCC regarding an incident on May 30, 2008, at his backcountry hunting cabin.

BLM Wants Public Comment on Proposed Drilling on Federal Land Southwest of Rifle

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on an oil and gas exploration and development proposal on federal lands and minerals six miles southwest of Rifle.

Williams Production has submitted to the BLM the Flatiron Mesa Master Plan of Development, a proposed drilling plan for up to 93 wells from one existing pad on BLM land and two proposed pads on private land beginning in fall 2009. The master development plan also details the construction of up to 1.5 miles of new access roads and up to 5.3 miles of pipelines.

The project area covers about 4,000 acres of land already leased for oil and gas development. There is no public access into this area due to access roads crossing gated private land.

Written comments and questions should be directed to the Glenwood Springs Field Office at 2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, CO 81652. Electronic comments may be submitted to gsfomail@co.blm.gov. The BLM requests that comments be received by Nov. 13.

Copies of the master development plan further detailing the proposed oil and gas development are available for review at the location above. Digital copies of the plan and project map are available at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gsfo/GSFO_MasterPlansOfDevelopment.html.