Beginning next week, the city and Xcel Energy will kick off the application and recruitment process for the Energy Partnership Advisory Panel. The panel will meet regularly to review and discuss energy issues and provide feedback on projects and programs that arise from the voter-approved partnership between Boulder and Xcel Energy.
The Advisory Panel will serve to connect the community to the new partnership by representing electricity and gas customers in Boulder in both residential and commercial sectors. The panel will review project proposals, gather perspectives on community impacts and make recommendations to the partnership’s Project Oversight team.
The city manager, in coordination with Xcel Energy, will select up to 15 community members, with a focus on ensuring a representation of the broad energy interests in the Boulder community, including homeowners, renters, large and small commercial customers, the University of Colorado and other key stakeholders. Applicants need not be experts in energy or technology; the city and Xcel Energy are seeking participation from voices who can bring their perspective as Xcel Energy customers and Boulder community members.
Schedule:
Week of Jan. 25: Application opens and can be accessed through the following website: https://bouldercolorado.gov/projects/xcel-energy-partnership
Jan. 25 through Feb. 26: Outreach and recruitment
Feb. 26: Application period closes
March 10 (anticipated depending on number of applications received): Selection of panel members by the city manager and Xcel Energy
April: First meeting of the panel
The partnership advisory panel is just one of several avenues for public engagement on the Xcel Energy partnership. The city and Xcel Energy will create technical working groups, host public meetings and provide regular community updates to support the wide interest in this topic.
For more information, please contact Energy Manager Carolyn Elam at 303-441-4936 or elamc@bouldercolorado.gov.
In partnership with Boulder County Public Health, the City of Boulder is hosting mobile testing each Tuesday afternoon, beginning Jan. 26 and through March 2021, in several different neighborhoods throughout North Boulder.
This mobile testing is designed to reduce barriers to testing for underrepresented community members, including those with mobility or transportation challenges. Initial mobile testing locations include Boulder Meadows and sites near other manufactured home communities to be determined.
Bicultural and bilingual (English/Spanish or English/Nepali) Emergency Response Connectors will support bilingual outreach to community members through printed flyers and digital media as well as provide bilingual greeting and navigation through the testing process. Emergency Response Connector stipends will be funded by federal CARES Act dollars, through a Housing & Human Services fund focusing on inclusive communications.
Testing is free, no identification or appointment is required, and all personal information is confidential.
A pilot of this approach was launched at Boulder Meadows on Dec. 22, 2020, during which 69 community members were tested.
If you need more information or have questions, please contact Ryan Hanschen at hanschenr@bouldercolorado.gov or Elizabeth Crowe at crowee@bouldercolorado.gov.
Regards,
Chris
