HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-037-03/21/2006-AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO JOIN THE EFFORTS OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE NOR RESOLUTION 2006-037
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO JOIN THE
EFFORTS OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE NORTHERN
COLORADO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE FORT
COLLINS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT,
LARIMER COUNTY AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE IN DEVELOPING A
CLEAN ENERGY CLUSTER FOR NORTHERN COLORADO
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins (the "City") is dedicated to the improvement of the
natural environment through continuing efforts to promote clean and renewable energy sources;
and
WHEREAS, the City has expressed its support for clean and renewable energy sources
and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its participation in the international Cities for
Climate Protection Campaign; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the Fort Collins Local Action
Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and to the Fort Collins Electric Energy Supply
Policy; and
WHEREAS, the strong working relationship between the City and Colorado State
University ("CSU") provides an outstanding collaborative setting within which these two public
entities can work together for the betterment of the environment and for an economically stable
economy for the community and the region; and
WHEREAS, CSU has already gained international recognition for its research and
development of cleaner engines, solar energy production, networked distributed energy, wind
engineering and atmospheric sciences, and for its commitment to regional economic
development that will have a global impact; and
WHEREAS, other regional public institutions such as Platte River Power Authority,
Western Area Power Administration, Colorado Renewable Energy Society and the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory have also exhibited nationally leading energy policies in such
areas as solar energy, wind energy, biodiesel fuels, and geothermal heating; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Colorado, through Executive Order D 005 05,
has directed a statewide initiative to order the greening of state government in Colorado,
demonstrating a statewide commitment to reducing energy use in Colorado; and
WHEREAS, the Poudre School District has demonstrated a continuing commitment to
energy reduction and healthy environments in nationally recognized schools such as Fossil
Ridge High School, Bacon Elementary, Zach Elementary, and Kinard Junior High School; and
WHEREAS, local community organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Sustainable
Living Association, the Northern Colorado Renewable Energy Society, and the Fort Collins
Sustainability Group are dedicated to the improvement of the natural environment by supporting
the development and application of clean and renewable energy sources; and
WHEREAS, private companies in Fort Collins and northern Colorado are also providing
new research and development in clean and alternative energy sources; and
WHEREAS, the City was selected recently by the Siena Club in 2005 as one of the four
leading cities in the United States in the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy; and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins has a highly educated workforce capable of providing an
intelligence pool of highly capable researchers able to enhance existing clean energy
technologies and develop new clean energy strategies and products; and
WHEREAS, the City, CSU and private enterprise want to attract the best and brightest
individuals to develop new and emerging clean and renewable energy technologies; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City and Larimer County to develop primary
employment that is economically stable; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the nation as a whole to develop clean and
renewable energy sources; and
WHEREAS, nationwide attention is being paid to the concept of industry 'blustering" as
a means of furthering the economic health of local communities; and
WHEREAS, the clustering of related industries calls for a high degree of collaboration
among individual businesses and public entities in the development, design, production, transfer
of information and marketing of a particular kind of product in a single geographic location, on
the theory that such entities can better further their industry objectives through such close
interaction and collaboration; and
WHEREAS, the independent efforts of various public and private entities in the Northern
Colorado region to advance commerce in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency, solar
and wind energy, green building, fuel cells and other technologies make the region an ideal
location for a "Clean Energy Cluster" that could attract additional economic activity and
participation from outside the region; and
WHEREAS, the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation and the Fort
Collins Area Chamber of Commerce believe that Fort Collins and the Northern Colorado region
have the attributes to foster a Clean Energy Cluster that will create new opportunities for primary
employment; and
WHEREAS, an industry cluster focused on clean energy would also enable the City and
the region to improve the health and well-being of their citizenry by advancing their respective
clean air goals, and could attract state and federal funding to facilitate the further development of
additional clean energy sources, much to the benefit of the region and the nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS that the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to participate on
behalf of the City in the fonnation and development of a Clean Energy Cluster by working with
Colorado State University, Larimer County, Poudre School District, the Northern Colorado
Economic Development Corporation, the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, and local
business entities to develop a Clean Energy Cluster strategic plan, and to support the
advancement of such plan as it is implemented.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the C uncil of the City of ort Collins this
21 st day of March, A.D. 2006.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk