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Jeff Dickinson of CLEER on Mandated Mitigation and Community Solar Gardens

Here in Carbondale, houses over 5000 square feet are required to mitigate the impact that their energy consumption has on the climate. Many homeowners do that by installing photovoltaic panels on the roof of their house. But Tuesday night, the Carbondale trustees were presented with another option: community solar arrays, or solar gardens.

A representative from the Carbondale clean energy company, the Clean Energy Collective gave a brief presentation to the board on the benefits of community arrays. By their model, a home-owner buys part of the array, which is installed off-site in a field of panels.

For context, the board asked local energy consultant Jeff Dickinson to do some research on rooftop panels versus community arrays. Dickinson is part of the renewable energy team for local energy consultant group CLEER and KDNK's Eric Skalac caught up with him after his presentation to find out about how solar works in Carbondale and about why the prospect of a new option for homeowners is a complicated proposal.

Commissioners Adopt Oil Shale Resolution

Garfield County commisioners adopted a new oil shale resolution this week. KDNK's Amy Hadden Marsh has this report.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Energy

In January, President Obama outlined his administration's plans for creating jobs and developing domestic energy. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has been out promoting the policy, which includes an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy. KDNK's Eric Skalac and Ed Williams spoke to secretary Vilsack about gas development, and about conflicts between energy and agriculture operations.

Colorado BLM Holds Meeting in Silt to Discuss Oil Shale

A meeting in Silt Monday night to consider which western lands might be exploited for oil shale and tar sands was well attended. That's in line with previous steps in the process of drafting an Environmental Impact Statement to clear the way for commercial leasing. KDNK's Marilyn Gleason brings us this report from Silt.

Thompson Divide Coalition talks drilling impact with Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs has so far escaped the impacts of natural gas extraction that have changed the face of communities across the West. In fact, the city was recently named Most Fun Town in America and one of the top seven ski towns in the country by Rand McNally. But, the Thompson Divide Coalition says the prospect of natural gas exploration in the mountains south of town could spoil all the fun. KDNK's Amy Hadden Marsh has more.

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