About the Chaffee County Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy
Locally based project management firm, INCITE Consulting administered the Chaffee County Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategic Plan. The work was performed through a competitively bid contract with Chaffee County funded by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Colorado Governors Energy Office, Chaffee County, Buena Vista, Poncha Springs and Salida.
The purpose of the Renewable Energy planning initiative was to be prepared to participate in and take full advantage of the clean energy economy – to encourage and implement conservation efforts and the use of sustainable energy as a way to power Chaffee County – Clean energy production, conservation, energy cost savings and jobs!
Chaffee County is one of many rural areas in Colorado that are facing extreme economic challenges while at the same time endowed with a diversity of natural, business and civic resources. Geographic and weather patterns, extensive public lands, and a strong and growing consensus among residents, local governments and businesses in favor of using our resources to produce energy while putting into action sensible solutions to conserve and reduce energy consumption and bolster energy production and conservation jobs.
The energy planning effort, managed by INCITE Consulting principal, Kathryn Wadsworth was overseen by a steering committee made up of one elected official and one staff member from the local branches of government. Buena Vista Town Trustee Robert Flint and Administrator Sue Boyd; Poncha Springs Trustee Aaron Kroschel and Public Works Director Greg Smith; Salida City Councilman Scott Damman and Administrator Jack Lewis, and Chaffee County Commissioner Dennis Giese, Administrator Bob Christiansen and Finance Director Dan Short and CSU Extension Agent Kurt Jones.
The renewable energy plan with oversight from the Steering Committee included an energy use analysis of buildings, transportation and waste, review of renewable resources, economic development opportunities and community input towards energy efficiency and production.
A large component of the planning process was to gather citizen input on the direction Chaffee County and its municipal governments should be taking in regards to renewable energy development and conservation efforts. Citizens are encouraged to post comments and ideas on the website.
