Fort Collins Receives $6.3 Million
from U.S. Dept. of Energy
City of Fort Collins
Release Date: Apr-22-2008
FortZED is on its way to reality. Earlier this week the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the City of Fort Collins and a diverse group of partners will receive $6.3 million in federal grant money, pending appropriation from Congress, to research, develop and demonstrate new electric grid technologies. The project will result in a 20 - 30 percent peak electric load reduction and will be the first phase of implementing FortZED, a long term vision for a zero energy district in downtown Fort Collins.
More than 75 projects from across the country competed in the grant application process, and the Fort Collins project was one of only nine demonstration projects to be selected. The effort is a cooperative project between the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado State University, InteGrid Lab, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, Advanced Energy, Woodward, Spirae, Eaton, the Brendle Group and New Belgium Brewing Company. These community partners, along with the Governor's Energy Office, the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority and other local contributors, have committed $4.9 million in matching funds, including cash and in-kind services, to make the DOE grant a reality.
The idea for FortZED came from the UniverCity Connections community visioning initiative, and has been steadily gaining momentum.
"Clean energy is a priority for the City of Fort Collins," states City Manager Darin Atteberry, "and we're very pleased to be the only municipal utility on the list of grant recipients. While the City played a key role in developing the grant application, this project is another success story about community partnerships. In true Fort Collins fashion, a diverse group of community partners quickly stepped up to the plate to bring this project to life."
Clean energy will continue to be a big part of how Fort Collins positions itself as a community. Chad Preiss, Vice President for Woodward and Chair of the Northern Colorado Clean Energy Cluster, notes that "There was enormous competition for this grant. This is a significant award and reinforces that Fort Collins is a major player in the clean energy scene."
For more information on the Fort Collins initiative, go to http://www.nccleanenergy.com/jumpstart.html.
A copy of the release issued by the Department of Energy announcing the grant recipients is available at http://www.doe.gov/news/6170.htm.
Contact Information:
Mike Freeman, Chief Financial Officer
970-416-2259
mfreeman@fcgov.com
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