MEEKER | Matt Solomon, representing the Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative, gave a brief presentation to Meeker trustees on April 19. The Initiative, started by Sen. Bob Rankin, operates under the umbrella of the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC).
The group has received federal funding to do surveys and education to see what actually fits in the planned transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. “We have a date and no plan,” Solomon said of the state’s expressed goals to end dependence on fossil fuels.
The initiative has received $100K from the federal Department of Energy (DOE) for its first survey effort to find out what knowledge about energy the public has.
Solomon, who will be taking over the grant navigator role for AGNC, asked trustees and staff to come up with a list of projects, as the Department of Energy in Washington has energy initiative funding to distribute. “The state shut us down for the energy initiative money, but the DOE didn’t,” Solomon said, adding, “It’s our money, so let’s recapture it.”
In regular business, the board approved the annexation and ordinance of a portion of the Conrado property adjacent to Highland Cemetery.
Town Clerk Lisa Cook said 1,512 ballots for the town’s municipal election were mailed. Ballots must be returned by April 2, 2024. Votes cast for Matt Franks, who withdrew from the trustee race after ballots were printed, will not be counted.
