By Kent Singer, Executive Director, Colorado Rural Electric Association

Denver Marriott City Center was energized in October when CREA presented its second annual Energy Innovations Summit. The Summit featured experts from Colorado and around the country talking about energy policy, new technology and creative solutions to our energy challenges.

Here are some of the highlights:
The day opened with the “View From Washington” panel, which included representatives of the three utility sectors: electric cooperatives, municipal utilities and investor-owned utilities. The panelists all recognized that with the current gridlock in the U.S. Congress, energy policy is being developed by state legislatures and administrative agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency.

Glenn English, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, indicated that in all his years in Congress and as the head of NRECA, he has never witnessed the kind of partisan divide that exists in Congress today. This will make it extremely difficult to devise an energy policy that will give utilities certainty as to what type of generation fuels they can use in the future.

Dr. Bryan Willson, head of the Colorado State University Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory and director of the CSU Clean Energy Supercluster, gave the luncheon presentation. Dr. Willson described the impressive work of both of these organizations and the spin-off companies that are developing new battery and renewable energy generation technologies.

The final general session of the day featured Carol and Eddie Sturman, the founders of Sturman Industries. The Sturmans are technology innovators based in Woodland Park who develop digital devices that improve the efficiency of engines for transportation and stationary power.

Technology invented by Sturman Industries may revolutionize the efficiency of the internal combustion engine to the point that electric cars will not have the market penetration that some expect in the future.

The Sturmans are true Colorado innovators, seeking to develop technology that will improve the efficiency of power delivery and lead to more distributed power generation sources.

In between these sessions, the conference also featured several breakout sessions with panels of experts who addressed the latest projects and technologies in specific areas. These sessions discussed micro hydropower generation, storage of electricity from intermittent (renewable) sources, the possibilities for carbon capture and utilization or sequestration, the use of natural gas for power generation, the difficulties associated with citing transmission facilities and how electric cars will affect the grid. All in all, 31 energy experts spoke at the Summit.

In addition to hosting panelists and speakers, the Summit featured displays from 20 groups, including wind and solar power developers, broadband communication companies and Touchstone Energy.

Why does CREA sponsor an energy conference? CREA sponsors the Summit so that members will be in the know when it comes to the latest developments in the energy industry.

As owners and operators of rural electric utilities, co-op directors, managers and staff need to be aware of all possible sources of power generation and the opportunities and challenges associated with these sources. The Summit is another CREA service provided to your local co-op.
The Summit is also open to all interested parties and provides a forum for interaction between those affiliated with the co-op program and those from the other utility sectors. It also brings together environmental advocates, regulators and others connected to Colorado’s energy industry for a discussion of issues that affect all parties, which is invaluable as we all consider the future of electricity generation for Colorado.
Colorado’s member- owned electric co-ops are leading the way in innovation in the electric utility industry. They will continue to lead in ways that always keep the reliability and price of our product at the forefront.

Watch for information on the 2012 CREA Energy Innovations Summit next summer.