Alternative Fuels Company to Move to Colorado

Cool Planet hopes to expand its biomass materials to include beetle kill pine.
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture

Cool Planet Energy Systems, a California based company, announced that it will move its headquarters to Greenwood Village, Colorado. The company has created an efficient process to to generate gasoline out of plant waste and biomass.

In addition to relocating its headquarters, the company is also looking to create a manufacturing plant in Aurora. The manufacturing plant is hoped to have the capacity to produce about 10 million gallons per year from organic waste.

The company's move will create new job opportunities for Colorado. Cool Planet applied for tax credits that equate to approximately 400 jobs. Cool Planet has financial backing from Google Ventures, BP, and ConocoPhillips among others.

Wesley Chan, a general partner at Google Ventures said, "Cool Planet is on the cutting edge of advancements in alternative fuels, and this expansion into Colorado brings them one step closer to making their fuel available to anyone who drives a car."

Cool Planet is also expanding their focus to use Colorado's beetle-kill trees as a fuel source. The char remnants from the process would be used to strengthen the forest soil and prevent erosion.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

Professor K.K. DuVivier Writes for Solar Today

Professor K.K. DuVivier, professor at Sturm College of Law, was recently published in Solar Today. She teaches energy law and renewable energy law courses as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy Program. DuVivier has done considerable research into the field of solar energy while working on her book, The Renewable Energy Reader, (Carolina Academic Press 2011). DuVivier has focused her attention on the many legal impediments to the development of renewable energy resources.

She recently partnered with Dan Staley, a green infrastructure consultant in the Denver area to author an article in Solar Today. The article, "Managing the Dark Side of Trees," advocates for a more comprehensive planning strategy. This strategy involves evaluating the benefits of both trees and solar energy. With these considerations in mind, more effective planning can take place early in the process and avoid conflict.

To read the publication, follow this link:
http://www.omagdigital.com/publication/?i=164079&p=28

To access the article directly, follow this link:
http://www.omagdigital.com/display_article.php?id=1432533

President Obama Announces Plan to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Suncor power plant off of I-270 near Denver
Photo Courtesy of Ihana Photography

Earlier this week, President Obama announced a plan to reduce carbon emissions specifically from power plants focusing on coal-fired generators. The White House released a fact sheet for the plan on Tuesday, June 25th.

President Obama stated, "The question is not whether we need to act -- the overwhelming judgment of science, of chemistry and physics and millions of measurements, has put all that to rest," he said. "The question now is whether we will have the courage to act before it's too late."

However, not everyone is a fan of the President's new plan. John Boehner, R-Ohio, told USA Today, the plan will "limit low-cost energy options, hike costs for consumers, and destroy good-paying jobs."

The plan ultimately seeks to reduce carbon emissions, but also intends to help the country adapt to climate change, and trigger international efforts to address climate change. Colorado has seen the effects of climate change in its extended drought and fire seasons.

Colorado has been taking its own steps toward reducing carbon emissions including the Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act signed by former Governor Ritter in 2010 and approved by the EPA in 2012.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

MRLS Alum Authors Report Criticizing the BLM's Greater Sage Grouse Plan

Greater Sage Grouse
Photo Courtesy of the USFS

Megan Maxwell, MRLS'12, recently authored a report on the BLM's greater sage-grouse conservation recommendations as set forth in the BLM's December 2011 National Technical Team Report. The report is titled: BLM's NTT Report: Is it the best available science or a tool to support a predetermined outcome?

Maxwell's report was published by the Northwest Mining Association (NWMA). The NWMA is a 118 year old non-profit, non-partisan trade association. The NWMA focuses on hardrock mineral exploration processes including: prospecting, exploring, mining, and reclamation closure activities on BLM and USFS lands, and private and state lands in the west.

The NWMA has retained Maxwell, who is a biologist in addition to being trained in environmental law, to conduct further review of the NTT Report. She graduated with her Master of Resources Law Studies degree in December of 2012. Maxwell said, "The program [Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy Program] really did prepare me for the work I am doing now and I am very grateful for that."

Congratulations to Maxwell on her great work! We wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

Colorado Ikea Nearly Doubles Solar Capacity

The Centennial Ikea, located on 13.5 acres along Interstate 25, north of County Line Road, recently announced that it will install 2,492 solar panels this July. The project will be complete and operational by this fall. The added solar panels will generate 1.1 megawatts of power and total 4, 704 panels. The energy generated could be enough to power 180 homes.

John Ellis, Ikea’s Centennial store manager stated, “This is another example of the Ikea commitment to create a more sustainable life for communities where we operate.” The company has set a goal of being energy independent by 2020. To reach its goal, Ikea has recently installed solar panels on 39 of its 44 locations.

In addition, the company currently recycles waste material, and uses energy efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems. Ikea has also stopped using plastic bags and accepts fluorescent bulbs for recycling.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

Recent LLM Graduate Roger Maier Boing Presents at AIPN Model Contracts Workshop in Amsterdam

The Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) 2013 Model Contracts Workshop, held in Amsterdam from June 16-19, featured a presentation by Brazilian attorney Roger Maier Boing about "Civil Law Issues in AIPN Model Contracts."

Roger, a December 2012 Denver Law Environmental & Natural Resources Law LLM graduate, is a partner at the Rio de Janeiro-based firm of L.O. Baptista-Schmidt, Valois, Miranda, Ferreira & Agel Advogados.  Roger's practice includes representing foreign firms that are investing in Brazil's oil and gas sector.

Also attending the workshop was Don Smith, Director of the ENRL program.  He is the 2013 AIPN "Professor in Residence."

The annual workshop provides attendees an excellent overview of the AIPN's numerous model contracts for oil and gas projects. Presenters include the foremost international oil and gas experts.

2010 Marine Preserve Decision Still Controversial for the UK

In 2010, the United Kingdom government decided to create the largest marine reserve in the world and set aside the Chagos Islands as a protected area. The Chagos Islands are located in the central Indian Ocean, near the tip of India. The area is comprised of an archipelago of 55 islands.

Diego Garcia Island, U.S. Air Force Base in the Indian Ocean
Photo Courtesy of Serendigity Photography

The controversial history of the Chagos Islands begins in the 1960's. The local populations were evicted so that the U.S. could establish an Air Force base on the largest island, Diego Garcia. The islanders have been fighting for their right to return to their native lands ever since.

The 2010 decision to create the Chagos marine park delivered aqblow to the island people. The islanders challenged the decision in court, claiming it was another tactic to prevent them from returning. The controversial preserve decision banned commercial fishing in some areas and denied the Islanders an integral part of their livelihoods.

Colin Roberts, British diplomat and creator of the park, denied that the park was created for the "improper purpose of keeping the Chagossians out, as the U.S. wanted" and said that it was for environmental and conservation purposes.

Lawyers for the islanders attempted to introduce a WikiLeaks document supporting the accusation. However, the High Court judges ruled that the documents were inadmissible under the Diplomatic Privileges Act of 1964.

The judges further ruled that the marine protected area was "compatible with EU law." The Chagos island people will continue to struggle for access to their homelands.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant