Posts tagged city
Boulder approves “incentive” for another innovative energy companyy
Jan 27th
City Manager approves business incentive for Eetrex
City Manager Jane S. Brautigam has approved a flexible rebate application for Boulder-based Eetrex Incorporated, for up to $26,000 in rebates. The rebates were authorized for sales and use taxes, and permit-related fees.
The flexible rebate program is one of the city’s business incentives, covering a wide range of fees, equipment and construction use taxes. Under this program, the city manager may consider a specific incentive package for tax and fee rebates to meet a company’s specific needs. The company is then eligible for the rebate after it has made its investment and paid the taxes or fees to the city.
“Eetrex is part of the new energy economy and is leading innovation in power electronics and battery systems,” Brautigam said. “The city is pleased that its incentives are helping Eetrex grow and stay in Boulder.”
Eetrex develops power electronics and battery systems for the electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles, telecommunications, and computing industries. The company is also the leading developer of on-vehicle inverter-chargers, known as Invergers™. Its battery systems are being used in demonstration projects to show how they can effectively store energy from wind and solar generation to offset peak loads and utilize clean energy more effectively. In 2006, Eetrex was founded in Boulder and moved into a larger 9,700 square-foot space at 4900 Pearl East Circle, Suite 110, in June 2011.
Kathryn Miles, president of Eetrex, said, “Eetrex is committed to supporting the community and establishing our business as an environmentally conscious company. Not only is our technology helping to green the transportation industry and support alternative energy, but we also encourage employees to ride their bicycles to work along with our zero waste practices. We are very pleased to receive this award in recognition of our efforts.”
The flexible rebate program uses social, community, and environmental sustainability guidelines. Companies choose the guidelines that best fit their circumstances, but must meet minimum requirements in order to receive the rebate. Eetrex has exceeded the minimum requirements of the community sustainability guidelines. Of note, Eetrex is implementing a zero waste policy through Green Girl Recycling and is a member of the 10 for Change challenge, which included an energy audit of its facility. The company also will request an EnergySmart training through the city’s Local Environmental Action Division.
Eetrex’s flexible rebate application is one of six submitted to the city in late 2011. Four 2011 applications are pending. The city’s approved 2012 budget includes $350,000 in funding for 2012 flexible tax and fee rebates for primary employers.
For more information about the city’s economic vitality program, go to www.bouldercolorado.gov, click on “Business,” or call Liz Hanson at 303-441-3287.
Boulder gets heavy hitter law firm for first swing at Xcel
Jan 23rd
The City of Boulder has selected the law firm of Duncan, Ostrander & Dingess, PC to help the city as it begins potential condemnation proceedings for the electric utility system within city limits that is currently owned by Xcel Energy. The firm will advise the city in all matters related to the acquisition of electrical distribution facilities and will work to determine the fair value of those facilities.
The city has retained this counsel to provide expert assistance as it moves towards potential municipalization of the electrical distribution system in Boulder, which stems from the passage of ballot items 2B and 2C in November. The city has said it intends to hire outside legal counsel, as well as engineering consultants, to perform some of the work necessary to determine the final costs associated with acquiring Xcel’s system and starting a city-owned electrical utility. City Council will not make a decision about whether to issue bonds to pursue municipalization until those costs are known.
If the city decides to proceed with asset acquisition, and a price cannot be negotiated with Xcel Energy, Duncan, Ostrander & Dingess, PC will file all legal actions that may be necessary to work through the condemnation process. The firm will work closely with city staff and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) counsel, engineers and appraisers as the city creates a separation plan and conducts negotiations.
Duncan, Ostrander & Dingess, PC was chosen from a field of 10 original submissions that was narrowed down to three finalists after a review of all credentials. In evaluating submitted proposals, the city looked at whether the firm had prior experience representing governments in condemnation proceedings, and the nature and extent of its practice in Colorado.
Duncan, Ostrander & Dingess, PC has more than 30 years (as individuals and then as a firm) of service helping governments, urban renewal authorities and utility companies to acquire property for public projects in a timely manner and at fair prices, and has previously represented the City of Boulder in condemnation proceedings. In 2011, U.S. News & World Report designated the law firm as “Best Lawyers Tier One – Eminent Domain and Condemnation, and Litigation – Eminent Domain and Condemnation.”
The firm and its individual members have served as lead counsel for a number of high-profile public projects that required acquisition of multiple parcels in numerous jurisdictions under time restraints imposed by bond financing or other public financing. These include E-470, T-REX, Prairie Waters, FasTracks, the White Cliffs Pipeline and the Rocky Mountain Express Pipeline.
For more information on Duncan, Ostrander & Dingess, PC, visit www.dodpc.com. Visit www.BoulderEnergyFuture.com for more information on the city’s work related to potential municipalization.
Boulderwind cowx 54mph 92mph gusts: trees, lines, transformers, accidents, signs, debris blown
Jan 18th
A tree fell on power line near 11 and Walnut starting a fire.
Nearby homes were evacuated.
In east boulder cattle fences blew down and cattle were on highway.
RTD is reporting some large signs down in city.
City 911 very busy. Dispatch reports
Power outages all over city.
Wind related roll over accidents 2 in last hour.
Some officers have been seen wearing helmets and googles. Good advice to anyone walking around. See weather report below. This does not account for the foothills of Boulder where winds are high
8:20 pm Power lines down on Pennsylvania on hill
8:25pm Tree down at 9th and college impeding traffic
Tiles flying off down town church at Broadway and Spruce
8:45pm Boulder County reports power line down in field at redwood court, sparking with fire and embers.
all fires out at this point, but police report signs, debris flying through air. Power lines are down and there are still power outages.
9:00pm Boulder Airport reports constant wind speed of 54mph Various sources in city report gusts of 71mph to 92mph
Diagonal and Look out road RR crossing sign blew into car causing tow car accident.
9:27pm Boulder Weather Station live reposts Power lines and trees continue to fall at this hour.
High Wind Warning
.HIGH WINDS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING…
.VERY STRONG WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE NORTHERN COLORADO
MOUNTAINS…FOOTHILLS AND ADJACENT PLAINS THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING. THE HIGH WIND WARNING IN THE MOUNTAINS HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A
BLIZZARD WARNING FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT AS SNOW WILL DEVELOP ALONG
WITH THE CONTINUED WIND.
WIND GUSTS FROM 70 TO 90 MPH WILL BE COMMON IN WIND PRONE
MOUNTAIN AND FOOTHILL AREAS…AND ALSO IN FAVORED AREAS JUST EAST
OF THE MOUNTAINS SUCH AS ROCKY FLATS…BOULDER…AND CARTER LAKE.
THE STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY CAUSE DOWNED TREES…POWER OUTAGES…
AND MAY BLOW OVER HIGH PROFILE AND LIGHT WEIGHT VEHICLES.
MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND AVOID TRAVEL IN AREAS
EXPERIENCING VIOLENT WINDS. MAIN AREAS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED ARE
INTERSTATE 70 IN JEFFERSON AND CLEAR CREEK COUNTIES…THE PEAK TO
PEAK HIGHWAY BETWEEN BLACK HAWK AND ESTES PARK…AND HIGHWAYS AT
THE BASE OF THE FOOTHILLS.