Business

The Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) is directed by former Governor Bill Ritter.  CNEE works toward the advancement of clean energy policy at the state level.  Ritter takes the CNEE message nationally through speaking events about clean energy.  The CNEE has partnered with the East China Normal University which seems to be strategic in that China was number one in all renewable index rankings for 2011 and 2010, reported Ernst & Young.

“We need a national energy policy,” Ritter.  Ritter states the clean energy agenda is really about emissions for example natural gas emissions.  Questioning what forms of energy are most efficient has several factors such as the natural environment of a location.  The factors are numerous however the Feds have some legislation on clean energy.

In the U.S. Federal government the clean energy agenda is basically looking at two issues; one is Property-Assessed Clean Energy, (PACE) financing and two the extension of the production tax credit which the wind energy industry relies upon.

At the state level best practices in extraction and efficiency are being discussed.  The CNEE has worked with about 10 states in advancing clean energy policies.

“What’s really interesting is one size doesn’t fit all, so it is important to tailor our work in states to the resources available in the state—to the economic landscape to some extent—to the way that they are generating electricity, to think about that and what that transition is going to involve.  Interestingly transmission—it’s very difficult and sort of a sophisticated topic but the transmission infrastructure matters a lot because of interconnection—pulling renewables onto the grid can be a very difficult thing to do,” Ritter.

“I think energy is one of those things that should not be all about politics but somehow this debate over whether climate change is real or not, is sort of sucked into it, the whole conversation around clean energy including things like energy efficiency.  It’s about saving energy and good business practices,” Ritter.

Clean energy policy groups such as the Energy Foundation out of San Francisco, Hewlett Foundation, Packard Foundation and the McKnight Foundation fund CNEE.

To read more about the Center for the New Energy Economy, visit; http://cnee.colostate.edu/.

To view the full interview, visit; http://youtu.be/JrnCbJBsEro.

Karen Newman

Karen Newman professor & former Dean at the University of Denver, Daniel College of Business shared with ICOSA her expertise in organizational behavior.  Knowing how groups work together makes for manageable and sustainable careers.

Company’s employees range from the Baby Boomer generation to the Millennial generation so focusing and appreciating all the skills each generation can bring to the table is needed.

Newman has seen that younger people are not as comfortable supervising older generations.  This stems from the American culture of wanting to respect people who are older.  Difficulties go both directions.  Baby Boomers regard Millennials as needing too much guidance, supervision and lack of follow through.  And so the positive mindset of looking at what each generation can bring to the table is truly needed.

Newman states that to engage the Baby Boomer workforce companies need to consider the three features; renewability, flexibility and integration.  Renewability is building the human capital for example mixing up assignments that allow for re-charging.  Flexibility does sometimes mean working less than the 40 hour work week while at the same time embracing re-education such as technology training.  Integration is providing employees with engaging and meaningful work.

A prime example of a company who practices this is CH2M Hill.  They meet the needs of both the company and employees by crafting a balanced work life that is sustainable.

For more information on sustainable careers, read; http://www.theicosamagazine.com/sustainable-careers

Or email Karen Newman at; Karen.newman@du.edu

Just prior to 2008, shortly before the United States financial collapse, gas was in the range of $13 dollars; a far cry from the low price that gas sunk to last week. At $2.30 per 1,000 cubic feet, pricing has pushed some operators, like Colorado-based QEP to stop production in dry gas plays across the United States, abandoning their wells to grind through the slope in the market. “Trying to survive will not work, operators have to continue to thrive with low gas prices. It is the only successful strategy,” said Steven Mueller, President and CEO, Southwestern Energy.

Although dry gas isn’t favoring well, the demand and the price of natural gas liquids continues to do well in domestic as well as export markets. During CERAWeek, gas operators and market enthusiasts shifted from the previous day’s oil conversation to the growing role of natural gas, supply and demand as well as market trends and pricing. Read More »

In one of its more modest sessions, IHS CERA Senior Director, Jackie Forrest, moderated a panel on the Canadian Oil Sands – Growth Prospects and Risks to Growth. Speakers included executives from TransCanada, Laricina Energy and the American Petroleum Institute.

Forrest moderated the session, focusing primarily on the public’s misconceptions of the project. The Keystone XL pipeline project, which was submitted in 2008, is a proposed 1,700-mile pipeline that would transport 830,000 barrels connecting one of the largest oil reserves in the world in Alberta to the world’s largest refining center in the Gulf Coast. After the President stalled any decision on the project until after the 2012 elections, Congressional members, in an effort to push a decision, tied the approval to the payroll tax extension.

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The Greeley Chamber of Commerce is in Weld County, Colorado.  They are a WOW town, a lifeline for business and help companies think outside the box.  There key messages include fostering a strong local economy, Read More »

JoAnn Winks

Johann Winks is the Assistant Port Director of Trade with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Area Port of Denver at Denver International Airport.  Winks recently meet with ICOSA and shared the following information and resources.

The department is responsible for guarding nearly 7000 miles of land Read More »

Alexandra Mitchell

Community service industries such as Pathfinder Solutions are preparing to show a new work force how to get into the civil service/non-profit field of work.  This industry anticipates job opportunities will continue to open as the baby boomer generation retires.  Pathfinder Read More »

Western Energy Alliance is a non-profit trade association representing more than 400 companies across the West connected by the similar interest of environmentally responsible exploration and production of oil and natural gas.

Companies within the intermountain west are represented six ways.  Read More »

Accion brings small business loans to micro-entrepreneurs.  The loan model they use is profitable, expanding and viable.  Small loans range from $200 to $10,000.  Most $200 loans are for small inventory build-up or to build credit.  Accion has Read More »