Meet the Garfield Clean Energy Collaborative Partners

About Garfield Clean Energy Collaborative

The purpose of Garfield Clean Energy Collaborative is to make it easier for residents, businesses, and governments throughout Garfield County to become more energy efficient and tap clean energy as a means to creating a stronger, more resilient economy. The GCEC uses state legislation that allows governments to cooperate with one another to provide a service or function that is most efficiently provided on a regional basis rather than by single governments.

The formation of the Collaborative is one of the many results of a Department of Local Affairs grant originally awarded to a partnership of governments in Garfield County in 2008. The grant was overseen by the Garfield Clean Energy Advisory Board, which reported to the Board of County Commissioners. The new Collaborative is a self-standing entity, and will continue to oversee the programs to help residents, businesses, and local governments become more energy efficient and reduce energy costs. The non-profit CLEER (Clean Energy Economy for the Region) implements the work of Garfield Clean Energy.

Members of Garfield Clean Energy Collaborative are Parachute, Rifle, New Castle, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Garfield County, the Garfield Regional Library District, and the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority. The board consists of a representative appointed by each entity, along with an alternate. The Garfield Clean Energy Collaborative (GCEC) held its first official meeting Jan. 11 and elected New Castle Councilman Greg Russi as chair and Glenwood Springs Mayor Pro-tem Leo McKinney as vice chair.

Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of every month, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, alternating between Glenwood Springs and Rifle. Members of the public are welcome to attend; meeting agendas are posted at all town halls.
To date, the Garfield Clean Energy initiative has helped more than 91 businesses and over 289 homes cut energy costs; saved over $1 million in public building energy expenses; and installed 23 new renewable energy systems on public buildings.

Garfield Clean Energy Progress Report Read the Garfield Clean Energy 2008 to 2010 Progress Report, published Dec. 9, 2010