SLV – The Mecca for Solar Energy in Colorado
U.S. Secretary of the Interior and native of the San Luis Valley Ken Salazar released the final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on July 24 identifying potential utility-scale solar development on public lands in the west.
All of the solar zones specified in Colorado are targeted for approximately 16,300 acres in the San Luis Valley. They include: Antonito Southeast on the boundary of Colorado/New Mexico, Los Mogotes East in Conejos County, Fourmile East in Alamosa County, and De Tilla Gulch about eight miles outside of Saguache.
The PEIS targets 17 Solar Energy Zones totaling nearly 285,000 acres of public lands in six western states as priority areas for utility-scale solar development. The six states are Colorado, Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.
Tragic Loss of Hall of Famer
One of the greatest U.S. distance runners of all-time, former Adams State University and Olympic distance runner Pat Porter died July 26 in a plane accident in Arizona near the Sedona Airport.
His son Connor, age 15, and Connor’s friend, Connor Mantsch were also killed. Porter, who was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame on July 20, was 53.
Porter competed in the 10,000-meter run at both the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and Seoul, South Korea.
Kerber Creek Restoration Project Continues to Grow
Newly planted baby willows and cottonwoods became an integral part of the ongoing Kerber Creek Restoration Project in Villa Grove and Bonanza to mitigate the aftermath of mining – evolving with the aid of the Western Hardrock Watershed Team.
Center High School freshman Carmen Ruggles is volunteering for what may evolve into an amazingly informative award-winning science fair project. According to The Valley Courier, Ruggles commented on the restoration approach, “I like how they are restoring the environment and I want to be a part of it. It will take nature hundreds of years to work this out and I want to see it happen sooner.”
The restoration efforts involve the use of the Groasis Waterboxx, a planting technology that is so effective, trees have managed to survive in places as dry as the Sahara.
Using the Groasis Waterboxx appears to be an intriguing growing technique for SLV and desert dwellers globally. Ruggles’ part of the project includes tracking tree growth and keeping the restoration team and Valley residents updated.
Recycling: It’s the Law
The Alamosa city council unanimously agreed during its July 18 meeting to a one-time $13,178 contract with certified recycle company Blue Star Recyclers for program development to train the public, Blue Peaks Developmental Services clients and staff, and WSB Computer Services in how to safely handle collected electronics.
The recycle project provides local residents with developmental disabilities more job opportunities, and San Luis Valley residents will soon have an outlet to recycle electronics.
This is great timing, because Senate Bill 133 is going into effect throughout Colorado in August – prohibiting the public from dumping electronic devices/components in landfills. Electronic devices include: computers, fax machines, video recorders, laptops, printers, digital video disc players and any device containing a cathode ray tube or flat panel screen greater in size than four inches diagonally.
The bill also specifies that certified recyclers must be used for electronic device disposal after July 2013.
25 states now have this same legislation prohibiting electronic devices in landfills. WSB Computer Services received a Recycling Resource Economic Opportunity grant of just over $49,000 from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and matched it with about $29,800 in in-kind support.
Local communities benefit by: job creation, (particularly for a segment of the population that has difficulty finding work), taxpayer savings (from not having to provide as much assistance to residents who now have employment and income), a place for people to recycle electronics responsibly and elimination of electronic waste in landfills.
It has been estimated that about 250,000 pounds of electronics would be recycled in the first year alone in the San Luis Valley.
