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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