Energy expert Randy Udall on coal's role

Carbondale was built on coal, and remnants of a once-thriving coal industry are scattered from Redstone to New Castle to Elk Run in Basalt. A drive to Paonia affords dramatic views of three large coal mines' operations while some say there is a war on coal.

Climate change has given the black rock a black eye, and the industry is suffering as power plants switch to cheaper, cleaner natural gas. This week on NRG with MG, energy guru Randy Udall is back for his monthly appearance to talk with KDNK's Marilyn Gleason about coal – starting with its local history.

CORE working to increase energy efficiency in the Roaring Fork Valley

Remember the stimulus package? Pitkin County collaborated with Gunnison and Eagle Counties to haul in almost $5 million federal dollars. Since then, the three counties have shared the money to make energy efficiency improvements possible for residents in their homes. The community office for resource efficiency, or CORE, administers the Energy Smart program in the Roaring Fork Valley.

On this episode of NRG with MG, Pitkin County Program Manager Tyler Ruggles tells KDNK's Marilyn Gleason how locals can get those federal dollars into their homes before most of the money runs out later this year.

Climate change solutions at 2013 Telluride Mountainfilm

An upcoming Colorado film festival will explore climate solutions with a symposium that kicks off three days of films about mountain sports and mountain life. Telluride Mountainfilm tours the U.S. and brings a mini-festival to Aspen each year. Inspired by a variety of events, from Superstorm Sandy to scorching temperatures across the U.S. and collapsing ice in the Arctic, this year's Moving Mountains Symposium features a full day of experts looking for solutions to climate change.

On this episode of NRG with MG, festival director David Holbrooke tells KDNK's Marilyn Gleason why climate change heads the agenda at a film festival in the Rockies.

Randy Udall on using art to illustrate climate change

Carbondale energy expert Randy Udall is back today to reflect on climate change, which he admitted last month now looks more threatening than Peak Oil or any other challenge related to energy. For the last month, NRG with MG visited with filmmakers and photographers using their art to portray climate change. KDNK's Marilyn Gleason begins by asking Randy Udall about the art of climate change.

Himalayan glaciers illustrating climate change

Photographer and filmmaker David Breashears has looked down at the rest of the world five times from the summit of Mt. Everest. He filmed and helped direct and produce the IMAX film "Everest" as catastrophes unfolded around him--events later documented in the bestseller "Into Thin Air."

Today his non-profit Glacier Works seeks to meld adventure and photography into new awareness of threats to the planet, especially from climate change. Through Glacier Works, David Breashears' large-scale pictures of Himalayan glaciers came to the Aspen Institute last summer with the exhibit "Coal + Ice." This week, NRG with MG looks again at the art of climate change, as KDNK's Marilyn Gleason speaks with David Breashears.

Breashears' gigapixel image of the Mount Everest basecamp has garnered 500,000 hits and an interview on NPR--you can see the image that caused all the internet commotion by clicking here.

Making art out of climate change

2012 continued a 36-year streak where the average temperature for the year was above the 20th century average and record breaking ice melt was observed in the Arctic last summer. There to observe this grim record was Daniel Beltra, one of a number of artists and photographers using their craft to visually demonstrate the planet in decline. Daniel Beltra began his career as a photojournalist in his homeland of Spain. His love of nature led him to work with Greenpeace to shoot environmental disasters, including the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill in 2010.

His large scale images of melting arctic ice are now on display in Aspen at Quintenz & Co, 501 E. Dean St. KDNK's Marilyn Gleason spoke to Beltra about the art of climate change in this week's edition of NRG with MG.

Climate Change, Policy and a Second-Term President

Randy Udall is back today for his monthly visit on NRG with MG. 2012 continued a 36-year streak where the average temperature for the year was above the 20th century average. Record breaking ice melt was observed in the Artic last summer. Warm summer temperatures on land in North America that set or neared record highs, were balanced somewhat by extreme cold in December. KDNK's Marilyn Gleason revisits climate change this month, starting with Randy Udall.

You can find the article, "Seeking Clues About Sea Level from Fossil Beaches" at nytimes.org.

Aspen's Hydro History

Aspen voters narrowly rejected a new hydroelectric power plant in November after a contentious and controversial campaign.

Today, Aspen relies on renewable hydropower for about 40 percent of its electricity. But before 1958, Aspen got all its power from hydro, and in 1885 it became the first town west of the Mississippi to have electricity.

Writer and Aspen Times columnist Paul Anderson wrote the history of Aspen's electric utility, "Power in the Mountains." Today on NRG with MG, Paul Andersen discusses the more recent local history of renewables with KDNK's Marilyn Gleason, beginning with the decision that closed down the hydro plant that once supplied all of Aspen's electricity with extra left over to sell downvalley.

Renewable Energy in the Wild West

Aspen voters narrowly rejected a new hydroelectric power plant in November after a contentious and controversial campaign. Today, Aspen relies on renewable hydropower for about 40 percent of its electricity. But renewable energy is nothing new here. Its roots go back to the mining days when untamed wilderness collided with industry, and innovation held the key.

Writer and Aspen Times columnist Paul Anderson wrote the history of Aspen's electric utility, "Power in the Mountains." On this episode of NRG with MG, he's here to tell how it all began. KDNK's Marilyn Gleason starts with the first sentences of Paul Andersen's book.

Betting on Renewable Energy

Volatility has ruled energy markets in recent years, starting even before the Great Recession began. Meanwhile renewable sources such as solar, wind and tidal energy, although vast enough to meet our total energy demand, are slow to attract private investment or stable government backing.

Chris Nelder has authored books on profitably investing in renewable and conventional energy. On this episode of NRG with MG, Nelder tells KDNK's Marilyn Gleason how tricky it is to make good investments – something President Obama famously learned from Solyndra.

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