EVENT: November 4 CRES Workshop in San Luis Valley

Friday November 4, 2011 CRES Energy Workshop in the San Luis Valley Your Renewable Energy Project: Strategic Planning for Fast-Track Permitting Do you have a small renewable energy project you’d like to develop? Small wind, hydro, solar, maybe biofuels?  Wondering about how to work with local agencies but unsure about permitting needs?  Don’t let unexpected permitting and environmental compliance requirements keep you from realizing your vision!  CRES, Grand Environmental Services, and Rebecca English and Associates are presenting a series of strategic environmental planning workshops across Colorado, starting with a workshop on November 4, 2011 in Monte Vista in the renewable-energy rich San Luis Valley.  Click [here] to register. This one-day workshop will help renewable energy project proponents:    Get better organized Evaluate energy project strengths and challenges Develop a strategic plan for team-building, permitting, funding, and implementation Meet and work with like-minded folks working on similar projects  We will include a panel of local energy experts including: Heather Sanchez and Terryl Jensen - San  Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative Marty Asplin - Del Norte Mark Simmons - Clear Energy Chris Canaly - San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council Joy Hughes - Solar Gardens Institute

CRES Executive Director Tony Frank will speak on renewable energy trends in Colorado and the importance of community-scale distributed energy generation for local jobs, a cleaner environment, and energy security. This workshop is co-sponsored by the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (SLVREC), the Town of Antonito, San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council and ClearEnergy.  Register Here with a credit card To pay by check or cash, email Becky English. Workshop Date and Time:  Friday November 4, 2011, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Contact: 970 509 0199 or 303 733 4064 RSVP:  Attendance is limited, RSVP today! Cost:  $15 in advance before 5PM November 2, $20 at the door, lunch included. Venue:  SLV Rural Electric Cooperative at 3625 US Hwy 160, approximately 2 miles west of Monte Vista, Colorado 81144, (719) 852- 3538. More Information: beckyrep@gmail.com or call 970 509 0199 or 303 733 4064

Tentative Workshop Agenda A.M.-Overview, Resources, Connections 8:30 AM Signup and coffee 9:00 Welcome – Heather Sanchez SLVREC and Becky English CRES 9:15 Heather Sanchez – comments on Cooperative business model and support for small energy developers? 9:30 Chris Canaly SLVEC – Valley-wide considerations, ecosystem, big base map 9:45 Geoff Elliott GES – Strategic Planning Overview 10:15 Break 10:30 Panel of Helpful Folks – focus on nuts and bolts of energy planning + permitting Becky English – Permitting/communications/reporting – how to build alliances to meet purpose and need, logical funding directions? Terryl Jensen SLVREC – rules of thumb for power generation and transmission, different scales mean different engineering Kelly Thompson Agro Engineering – overview of ag-energy connections and considerations? Joy Hughes – Solar Gardens, how will they work for Antonito, Saguache, Crestone? 11:30 Becky and Geoff – Strategic planning for the Antonito Wastewater Plant Solar Site, introduction to tools and techniques. 12:00 Lunch Speaker Tony Frank CRES – statewide CRES initiatives, community + business trends, policy challenges P.M.-Strategic Planning Applications to Local Community Energy Projects 1:00 Breakout groups evaluate several possible sites in and around Antonito for renewable energy installations.  Connectivity pros, cons, strengths, challenges. 2:00 Whole Group Strategic planning Exercise – compare site strengths, challenges, permitting, funding opportunities 3:00 Participants work on their own projects in groups or individually 3:30 Wrap up and To Do Lists 4:00 Adjourn

Contacts Geoff Elliott 970-509-0199 geoff@grandenvironmental.com Becky English 303-728-4131 beckyrep@gmail.com Heather Sanchez 719-852-3538 hsanchez@slvrec.com