Serious success for a Colorado Springs Small Business!

Given our society’s tremendous (and growing) demand for electricity, combined with its political and market conditions, there is no doubt that coal and natural gas will remain the major fuel source for electricity generation long into the future (unless our consumption/conservation patterns change).

In her Blog, 7.2 million grant to pollution control firm, the Independent’s Pam Zubeck, overviews the recent success of a project between a Colorado Springs’ small business, the Neumann Systems Group (NSG), and the city’s municipal utility – Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU).

The technological and business potential of NSG’s innovation in removing polluting compounds form hydrocarbon combustion gasses, practically supported by CSU, is no less then amazing. While recognizing that this is a serious scientific and industrial “work in progress,” the leadership of Colorado Springs should be trumpeting the success of this private (small business) and public partnership.

In addition to the environmental and economic upside mentioned in Zubec’s Blog, It is creating good, local jobs – check out NSG’s webstie.

Congratulations to CSU and NSG.

Thanks, to Pam Zubec and the Independent for this report.

PS. I’m certain that the emissions rising from the towers in the photo that accompanies Pam's Blog is water vapor not combustion gas. In other words, I think the photo is misleading, but her article is positive.

Colorado Springs Business: Here is Your Energy Future!

I believe one of the most important issues facing our community is our energy future.

Consequently, I’ve been attending meetings held by the Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) and participating in their Electric Integrated Resource Planning Process (EIRP). By 2020, CSU’s goal is to “provide 20% of its total electric energy through renewable sources, reduce average customer use by 10% and maintain a 20% regional cost advantage.”

Click here to link CSU’s overview of EIRP.

This balanced approach provides a consensus path toward the future by recognizing the business opportunities and environmental responsibility of renewable energy, while maintaining regionally competitive utility rates (business attraction). Most importantly, it recognizes the importance of conservation – the least expensive, most efficient energy option comes form in the form of using less.

I’m challenging myself to think about this in two ways: behaviorally and technologically.

Am I wasting energy with bad habits and can I invest in more efficient appliances?

Business and Our Energy Future

Good business requires the assessment of risk.

Here is an article by Debbie Kelly, at The Gazette: Summit aims to answer oil, gas exploration questions.

The article overviews an upcoming “town-hall” like meeting where representative of various Colorado governmental agencies (Colorado Geological Survey, Oil and Gas Commission, Ground Water Commission and Department of Water Resources) will present information about issues associated with new opportunities to explore for oil and gas along Colorado’s Front Range. Also in attendance will be representatives’ form the oil and gas industry.

Technological advancements in drilling for oil and gas have opened tremendous opportunities to produce energy sources that are critical to our economy and culture. The direct benefit to business and local economies, and the subsequent addition of new fuel sources to our overall society cannot be underestimated. However, exploration and production of natural resources (mining) effect the environment and can produce social strains on communities were they are produced. There are certain risk-reward trade offs that are associated with business and our energy future.

This forum is be sponsored by State Rep. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan, whose goal is to is “to educate policy makers and property owners in El Paso and Elbert counties about the impacts and issues associated with large-scale industrial oil and gas production in communities that solely rely on groundwater as their primary source of water.”

I applaud Representative Looper for her efforts in working to bring stakeholders together to understand and assess the risk-reward decision associated with large-scale energy production. Natural resource education, including an understanding of the issues associated with extraction, is critical in determining the future of our massive energy needs.

The ease of “flicking a switch” simplifies the complex issues associated with the economic, social and environmental utilization of our natural resources.

Good business requires the assessment of risks. And risk assessment begins with communications and education.

Burros and Bluegrass?

You bet! They go together like dynamite and blasting caps!

On August 13, 2011, the Western Museum of Mining & Industry will celebrate with its annual Burro Birthday Bash and Bluegrass Festival 

The Mining Museum adopted their burros through the United States Bureau of Land Management’s adoption program. As the US Congress says in the Wild Horse and Burro Act, Oro and Nugget are “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the west.” The Museum supports the donkeys (burro in English!) and its heritage and natural resource education mission with fun experiential events like this one. When you go, you’ll feed and pet the burros, here the steam shovel whistle shriek, watch a air locomotive roll, and kick up your hoofs (I meant heals!) to some good “old-timey” music – all in the beautiful “wet land” environment of the Museum’s property. Fun, real stuff for the whole family!

For more information on the event, click here: Mining Museum Calendar

For more information on the burros, click here: Burro Adoption Story