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Boulder facility goes ‘off the grid’ generating total power from non-fossil fuels for first time

Oct 29th

Posted by Channel 1 Networks in City News

Less than two weeks after celebrating the implementation of solar photovoltaic panels just outside its gates, Boulder’s Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) reached a new milestone, going “off the grid” completely for two and a half hours on Thursday, Oct. 28. Going “off the grid” means that all power necessary to operate the facility came from sources other than Xcel’s traditional fossil fuel supply.

In this case, Coordinator of Wastewater Treatment Chris Douville explained, the plant was able to draw all of the energy it needed, roughly 1,200 to 1,400 kilowatts at any given moment, from the solar array and from its two co-generation (co-gen) system engines. The co-gen engines capture and burn the gas that is coming off the anaerobic digester process tanks, using that gas to generate additional power instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. The solar system, when at its peak on Thursday, was generating close to 800 kilowatts.

Douville said the success was attributable to a combination of factors, including relatively low wastewater flows, less demand than usual, a clear solar day and cooler temperatures. Data captured at the plant shows the milestone was reached at 11:30 a.m. The plant did not start drawing power from the traditional source again until 2 p.m. Attached is a screen grab that shows the solar photovoltaic production for the day.

“This is a great example of what we can get to,” said David Driskell, executive director of Community Planning and Sustainability. “It shows it is possible to really change our energy mix, and that will have long-term economic and environmental benefits to us as a community.”

While going “off the grid” is impressive, the ultimate goal for the WWTF is for 50 percent or more of the facility’s power to come from alternative sources, over a monthly or annual basis, Douville said. The city hopes to meet this goal through a combination of energy efficiency efforts and maximizing its alternative supplies.
SOURCE: CITY OF BOULDER NEWS RELEASE

Early voting ends Friday

Oct 28th

Posted by Channel 1 Networks in Lafayette

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Voters can find polling places and other information at www.VoteBoulder.org

Boulder County, Colo. – The last day to vote at an early-voting location or request a mail-in ballot for the general election is Friday, Oct. 29.

Boulder County voters can cast ballots or request and pick up mail-in ballots at any early-voting location or from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Oct. 28-29:
· County Clerk’s Office – 1750 33rd St., Boulder
· County Courthouse, East Wing – 2025 14th St., Boulder
· University of Colorado at Boulder, Recreation Center – UCB 355, Boulder
· Lafayette Public Library – 775 W. Baseline Road, Lafayette
· County Clerk’s Office – 529 Coffman St., Longmont
· Twin Peaks Mall (near Sears) – 1250 S. Hover Road, Longmont

Ballots are no longer being mailed to voters.

Since the recommended deadline to mail ballots back to the clerk’s office has passed, voters should drop off ballots at designated locations. Ballot drop-off location details are available inside mail-in ballot packets and at www.VoteBoulder.org. Voters can verify whether their mail-in ballots were received by the clerk’s office by checking their voter information at www.VoteBoulder.org.

Voters can also vote at their assigned polling places from 7 a.m.-7p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Voters are encouraged to check their voter information at www.VoteBoulder.org or call 303-413-7740 to find their assigned polling places. A voter can verify their address information, review a map of their polling place location and obtain a sample of their ballot by checking information online.

“In 2008, we had a significant increase in the number of voters choosing to vote by mail-in ballot,” Boulder County Clerk and Recorder Hillary Hall said. “It made sense to combine polling places where we had fewer voters casting ballots. By combining locations we were able to reduce election costs.”

Voters are required to present an acceptable form of identification at an early-voting location or polling place. This can include a valid Colorado driver’s license, valid U.S. passport or valid student ID card with a photo of the voter. A complete list is available at www.VoteBoulder.org.