Friday, May 19, 2006

Northern Colorado Businesses Form Clean Energy Initiative

A new group has formed in Northern Colorado, focused on connecting entrepreneurs and major power users with researchers and government in the area of clean energy, the group said yesterday. The Northern Colorado Clean Energy Cluster is a collaboration of the Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation, the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp., the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, Colorado State University, the city of Fort Collins, Larimer County, the Poudre School District and the Platte River Power Authority. According to J.J. Johnston of the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp in a statement released by the effort, "The Clean Energy Cluster sends a message to the business community that the unique cooperation of these organizations can help streamline development and commercialization of new technology, leading to new job creation." The Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp. said that it has hired The Brendle Group, an engineering and energy-efficiency consulting firm, to develop a strategic plan for the new cluster and help it seek funding to become self-sustaining.