The city of Aspen and Pitkin County, Colo., crafted a local response to global warming with an innovative tax on energy consumption.

Co-op uses economic development to grow new opportunities

Faced with a slumping economy and a shrinking customer base, Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative and its member systems fought back by investing in the community—an investment that has paid big dividends.

Green power fairs promote alternative energy and educate consumers

Redding Electric Utility and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative recently invited their customers to tell them about something that is good for them and the community.

Vantage point:
Hydrogen economy strives to emerge in fossil fuel infrastructure

Fort Collins, Colo., Energy Services Engineer Gary Schroeder shares insights about the future of a hydrogen economy.

Advanced technology energizes Yellowstone Valley Co-op

Thanks to increased population and economic development, Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative can look forward to system growth and new members.

Solar stock tanks protect pasture land and history

A stone's throw from the historic Oregon Trail, rancher Rob Hellyer is pioneering new water supplies for livestock with the help of modern alternative energy technology and High Plains Power, Inc.

FAA taps West River Electric Association for experimental wind project

West River Electric Association threw the switch on the Rapid City, S.D., remote center air/ground communications facility in November, making it the Federal Aviation Administration's first wind-powered remote communication facility in the lower 48 states.

Pilot project could turn Southern Nevada Water Authority into hydropower producer

Since 9 percent of Nevada's electricity comes from hydropower, it was natural for Southern Nevada Water Authority to see potential energy in its regional water distribution system.

Prize winning anaerobic digester generates interest in biogas

Dennis Haubenschild didn't set out to win awards or become an unofficial spokesperson for renewable energy when he built Minnesota's first anaerobic digester on his 1,000-acre dairy farm in 1999, but he accepts those things as a byproduct of success.

When Sangre De Cristo Electric Association hired Bill Green as member services director two years ago, he had the blueprint of Tri-State Generation and Transmission's Energy Efficiency Credit program, and he had years of experience implementing similar programs at other utilities.

Topics from the Power Line:
Using local resources leads to better energy choices

Opportunities to effectively use local energy resources are all around us. Here are several examples of how Western's Energy Services Power Line experts recently helped customers understand the energy potential of local resources.

• Stockpiling wind key to reliability
  
• Palo Alto recognized for solar promotion
  
• DOE shares energy efficiency report
  
• Accident leads to possible PV breakthrough
  
• Renewables had ups and downs in 2001