Boulder’s energy future topic at Summit

BOULDER – A panel of experts will discuss Boulder’s energy future during lunch at the Boulder County Business Report’s annual Green Summit.

The all-day event includes breakout sessions on various aspects of clean technology and green business practices.

The summit will be from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 14, at the Millennium Harvest House, 1345 28th St. in Boulder.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Prioritizing mental health in hospice care

Prioritizing mental health support alongside physical comfort, Pathways hospice care aims to enhance the quality of life for patients and their families during one of life's most challenging transitions.

Cost is $49 per person and includes breakfast and lunch. Cost increases to $59 per person Monday, June 13. Register online at www.bcbr.com/greensummit.

The luncheon panel topic, Boulder’s Energy Future: The City Decides, will focus on the city of Boulder’s pending decision on whether to create a municipal-owned utility or to sign a new franchise agreement with Xcel Energy.

Panelists committed to participate so far are Craig Eicher, Boulder area manager for Xcel Energy, and Jonathan Koehn, regional sustainability coordinator for the city of Boulder.

Hunter Lovins, a leader in helping companies, communities and countries profit from sustainable practices, will be the keynote breakfast speaker.

Lovins was named a Newsweek “Green Business Icon” in 2009 and a Time magazine “Hero for the Planet” in 2009.

She has authored and co-authored numerous books including her most recent, “Climate Capitalism,” “Natural Capitalism, “Green Development,” “Energy Unbound,” Factor Four – Doubling Wealth, Halving Resource Use,” “Energy Unbound” and “Brittle Power.”

She is founder and president of Natural Capital Solutions and a professor of business at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

Other Summit topics include:

ACE: Dealing for Jobs – The planned Aerospace Clean Energy Manufacturing and Innovation Park in Loveland could spur creation of thousands of jobs along the Front Range as it facilitates commercialization of NASA technologies. Elaine Thorndike, CEO of the Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology, will serve as panel moderator. The panel will include Betsy Hale, business development manager for the city of Loveland, the site of the proposed park.

Moving Forward: The Ideal Transportation System – High-speed rail, electric cars, buses, bicycles – ideas for a more sustainable system for transporting goods and services abound, but funds are limited. Panelists include John Huyler Jr. principal of The Osprey Group; Ben Holland, marketing coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Institute, and manager of Project Get Ready; and a representative from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

High Fives – Ten companies and organizations will make five-minute presentations on one of their greatest successes in sustainability, providing practical ideas for attendees to implement at their own companies.  They are: Third Street Chai, zero-waste program; Boulder Chamber; HVAC tune-up pilot; Ocean First Divers, high-efficiency boiler for domestic hot water and pool; PumpHouse, solar thermal brewing system; Hotel Boulderado, zero-waste program; 1011 Walnut, lighting, HVAC, solar screens, controls, cool roof;  Lyon’s Fork, insulation and thermal comfort; Rally Software Development Corp., zero-waste program, environmental outreach team; Liquor Mart, refrigeration tune-up and LED lighting in walk-in refrigeration; and Boulder County.

Green Real Estate: Lessons Learned – Implementing green design into real estate – both new projects and retrofits – requires a commitment to sustainability, but also a commitment to due diligence. Panelists include Laura Hutchings, principal and president of Populus LLC, the administrators of the residential EnergySmart program; John Olsen with the Geological Society of America and Jessica Bergen, property manager for W.W. Reynolds Cos.’ Real Estate Services. Moderator will be Elizabeth Vasatka, environmental coordinator for city of Boulder.

Clean-Tech Reality Check – Colorado, including the Boulder Valley, has emerged as a leader in the “New Energy Economy.” But other cities, states and countries are pushing toward renewables and clean tech with equal – or greater – zeal. How do we really stack up with other parts of the world, and are we losing ground? Panelists include Scott Franklin, CEO of Lighthouse Solar; a representative from Namaste Solar Electric Inc.; and a representative from the Governor’s Energy Office. Mark Weakley of  the law firm Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, will serve as panel moderator.

One-on-Ones – 9News business reporter Gregg Moss conducts one-on-one interviews with four leading clean-tech entrepreneurs. They include Kim Coupounas, CEO of Golite and Sandy Butterfield, CEO of Boulder Wind Power.

Eco-Heroes Awards – Celebrate with the Boulder County Business Report as it honors six Eco Heroes – individuals who are contributing to sustainable business practices. This year’s honorees are John Basso, Amadeus Consulting; Kay Bingham, Newlands Greenlands; Steve Heising, SunWave Lighting; Becky Hemmerling, The Organic Dish; Beth Powell, ProjectPeople LLC; and Doug Ward, volunteer at Longmont Power & Communication and Center for ReSource Conservation.