The City of Boulder is doing exciting things about energy. The presentations by the finalists in the Boulder Energy Challenge on Aug. 7 showcased projects that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions while saving money and boosting Boulder community agencies and/or helping local entrepreneurs make Boulder a hub for energy innovation – a win/win/win.
One project would save fuel costs for Via Mobility Services while helping a Boulder County business demonstrate its hydraulic hybrid technology. Another project would reduce energy costs for Boulder Housing Partners while teaching residents life skills about energy management. Other Boulder entrepreneurs showed how they could pilot a microgrid technology with a potential worldwide market. Another group proposed a way to cut emissions in the transportation sector while building community. Another suggested how it would be possible to bundle solar electricity and electric cars and energy efficiency so as to make them all affordable for many more households. Another showed how waste carbon dioxide could be kept out of the atmosphere and turned into a useful and marketable product.
The Boulder Energy Challenge grants are funded by a portion of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) tax.
It looks like we're getting good value for our money.