Colleges, NREL sign research alliance
Gargi Chakrabarty, Rocky Mountain News
Published February 22, 2007 at midnight
Four of Colorado's premier institutions joined forces Wednesday to research and develop renewable energy technologies and transfer them to the market to benefit customers.
The University of Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory signed the "collaboratory" agreement at the state Capitol.
"The collaboratory will serve as one of the key drivers of the new energy economy in Colorado," Gov. Bill Ritter said, referring to his campaign promise to promote alternative energy, encourage cleaner ways of extracting and using fossil fuels, and reward efficiency and conservation.
The state will spend $2 million each year for three years, although the collaboratory likely will attract more dollars in federal and other research funds. Former Gov. Bill Owens had signed the bill granting state funds last year after U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., discussed the formation of a collaboratory with the institutions and pushed the legislation.
"Less than one year ago, I met with the leaders of these four Colorado institutions and proposed a concept which has become the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory," Salazar said.
Dan Arvizu, NREL's director, said the collaboratory already is active and two weeks ago applied for a $21 million grant - to be boosted by $3 million in state funds - to research advanced solar photovoltaic cells over three years.
Arvizu also said the collaboratory is talking to Xcel Energy to manage a facility for the utility to test solar and other technologies. Xcel is on track to become compliant with Amendment 37 eight years ahead of schedule.
The mandate requires the state's top utilities to acquire a portion of their electricity from the sun, wind and plant and animal waste, beginning with 3 percent in 2007 and increasing to 10 percent by 2015 - at least 4 percent of that from solar.
chakrabartyg@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2976
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