Coyote Gulch

Friday, December 15, 2006

? for president?
Daily Kos: "There's been a flurry of activity by potential presidential candidates for both the Democrats and Republicans, with several appearing to be lining up campaign staff and preparing announcements for early in the new year. While few will be able to match Barack Obama's recent huge splash in the media and in New Hampshire, it's crucial for candidates to have effective campaign organization and support of activists and leaders in early primary states in place when they announce, to best be able to capitalize on early publicity."
"2008 pres"
7:12:29 AM

Dem convention in Denver?

According to the Rocky Mountain News, Denver's chances of landing the 2008 Democratic National Convention are dimming. From the article, "Denver's chances of winning the 2008 Democratic National Convention looked less promising Thursday, with U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar saying he was 'concerned' that Denver might lose to New York City after a conversation with DNC chairman Howard Dean. Salazar and Dean spoke for more than 30 minutes Thursday morning, and it ended with the senator putting the odds of Denver winning the convention at '50-50' - a less optimistic assessment than previously, said Salazar spokesman Cody Wertz."
"2008 pres"
6:57:36 AM

'Super Ditch' for southeastern Colorado?

Here's an update about the attempt to create a Super Ditch in southeastern Colorado, from the Pueblo Chieftain. They write, "A water management plan nicknamed 'Super Ditch' is getting a favorable reception in the Arkansas Valley, its sponsors say. Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservation District staff and board members have attended several meetings of ditch company shareholders in the past week and have outlined the concept of the program...

"The Lower Ark board wants to set up a district that would lease water to users by fallowing a percentage of farms. The plan is designed to provide for equitable pricing of water, more access to leases by more farmers and keep water rights in the valley by easing the pressure to sell."

More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
"colorado water"
6:50:13 AM

Energy policy: Wind for production of hydrogen

Xcel and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are showing off their latest collaboration, according to the Denver Business Journal. From the article, "Xcel Energy Inc. and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory on Thursday showed a unique facility that uses electricity from wind turbines to produce and store pure hydrogen, offering what may become an important new template for future energy production...

"The facility links two wind turbines to devices called electrolyzers, which pass the wind-generated electricity through water to split the liquid into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can be stored and used later to generate electricity from either an internal combustion engine turning a generator or from a fuel cell. In either case, there are no harmful emissions, and the only by-product from using the hydrogen fuel is water."

More coverage from the Rocky Mountain News.
"2008 pres"
6:37:30 AM

Colorado Court of Appeals: Counties can regulate oil and gas

Colorado counties can regulate oil and gas development under a recent ruling by the Colorado Court of Appeals, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "According to attorneys for Gunnison County, the unanimous opinion will enable counties to make sure that oil and gas exploration doesn't adversely affect wildlife, water quality, livestock and recreation. The lawyers added that the ruling enables the counties to regulate oil and gas exploration on federal lands within their counties...

"Deputy Attorney General Casey Shpall, whose office represented the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, downplayed the impact. Shpall said that courts will have to determine if there is a conflict between county and state regulations."
"colorado water"
6:30:30 AM

Westerners coming back to conservation?

From the Seattle Times: "[Historian Patricia Nelson Limerick] and others said in the 1990s that the New West was shedding its slavish reliance on mining, logging, ranching and dams. They prophesied that it would become a region where the economy, politics and popular culture were dominated by urban people who went outdoors not to chop down trees, punch cows or pour concrete but to recreate, appreciate and preserve. That prophecy proved premature. Working-class indignation exploded in the Interior West against environmentalists, Democrats and outside agitators, stalling efforts by the Clinton administration to rewrite grazing, mining and forestry laws. Republicans shrewdly harnessed the populist anger and consolidated political control, and in 2000 they began an aggressive push for oil, gas and mineral extraction on public land. Last month's elections, though, may signal the end of Republican dominance and fierce resistance to many conservation measures. Profound demographic and economic change seems finally to be asserting itself across the region. Westerners cast votes suggesting that the protection of their natural surroundings is not negotiable."
"2008 pres"
6:23:24 AM

Million project pipeline

Here's an update on the Million Pipeline Project from the Pueblo Chieftain. They write, "The developer of a proposed $4 billion pipeline that would bring water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming to Colorado's Front Range is filing permits with federal agencies and believes the project could be completed in a short time. 'We honestly believe our timeline will be three years,' said Aaron Million, a Colorado State University graduate student who wants to convert his research into a business. Million wants to build a dual pipeline from Flaming Gorge Reservoir along the Interstate 80 corridor already used for natural gas pipelines, then south through Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and possibly all the way to Pueblo. The water would be high quality and from a watershed outside Colorado [ed. Not strictly correct. Due to the capricious overlay of political boundaries the Green River does flow through Colorado, for a short while.] that would provide added protection against drought within Colorado basins, Million said. Along the 400-mile route, Million would work with both municipal and agricultural water providers as customers for his privately financed pipeline...

"Million bases a claim to use unappropriated water from the Green River in Colorado on the fact that the river makes a 40-mile oxbow through the far western portion of the state before heading back into Utah. He argues Colorado is entitled to a use portion of the water under the 1922 Colorado Compact. Flaming Gorge was built in 1962 to regulate water in Upper Basin states under a 1948 compact. 'Bringing a 3.8 million acre-foot reservoir online allows for the use of our water resources,' Million said. Million also is considering filing for unappropriated water rights in Brown's Park along the Green River...

"Two of the biggest changes in the project since Million first announced it will be to request less water and to develop hydropower on one leg of the pipeline. There may also be some users in Wyoming. Million initially thought of requesting 250,000-450,000 acre-feet of water annually, but since dropped the request to 150,000-250,000 acre-feet per year to address other water needs. There also are needs on the Western Slope, particularly in the Yampa River basin, Utah and Wyoming that must be addressed, Million said...

"Hydropower would be added on the portion of the pipeline from Laramie, Wyo., to Fort Collins, he added. In Colorado, Million sees the pipeline playing a role in serving agricultural needs in the South Platte valley, where farmers this year found themselves short of water as senior water rights holders asserted their call on the river. 'We think we can single-handedly protect 125,000 acres of agricultural land in the South Platte basin,' Million said. 'We want to plan this so it's complementary to other projects.' Million said he has talked to Colorado Springs, which is looking for a source of fresh water if its Southern Delivery System plans fall through...

"Million said completing the pipeline all the way to Pueblo will be addressed in his purpose and need statement. Million added the leg after learning about potential environmental impacts of increased flows on Fountain Creek. Million has stressed the environmental benefits of the project, which include minimal disturbance of land since no new reservoirs are planned and conservation requirements he would place on the pipeline. Since all water from the pipeline would be imported, it could be reused to extinction, Million said."
"colorado water"
6:16:28 AM

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