Highlands Ranch - Alternative Fuel City of the Future

Highlands Ranch Community Association Recreation Delegates Listen to Energy City Incorporation Plans

Four ThunderRidge high school seniors made a presentation to the HRCA rec delegates on Tuesday, April 21, 2009. The topics covered were:

1. SEE (Speed Energy Efficiency) Zone Speeding Ticket Study
2. Wind speed tracking tower installation
3. Hydrogen home fuel cell pilot
4. Amend the Colorado Constitution to allow any community to form their own energy city

At the conclusion of the presentation, a few audience attendees either asked some questions or praised the seniors for undertaking a tough and noble task to address our future energy requirements.

One person asked the four seniors, “Did you ever think of forming a special district instead of an energy city?” That’s the polite way of saying, “I don’t want to incorporate under any circumstance.”

The energy city is just a name. The “city” reference is being used under a different set of municipality rules that has never been addressed before in any community or state around the county.

I’ve been telling the TRHS seniors for three years that they will get some objections from adults who just don’t want to learn what an energy city does and what it can mean to the residents. And I tell the seniors to set their goals high and don’t settle for second best unless the main goal becomes impossible to achieve. Persistence, creativity and an open-mind are three traits exhibited by the 31 seniors who have lent a hand over the last three years in trying to offer up sound solutions to our local energy problems.

ThunderRidge high school seniors lobbying State Capitol leaders to create energy cities across Colorado

On March 18, 2009, ThunderRidge high school seniors, Abhi Rahman and Miranda Carey met with Mr. Bart Miller, senior attorney, office of legislative legal services in the Capitol Building. The meeting was held in the office of Senate Majority Leader, Brandon C. Shaffer’s office.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the pro’s and con’s of drafting a house bill referred measure to allow communities to form their own energy city in Colorado. The vision of the energy city is to create a diversified economy that attracts and retains energy businesses to the new energy city. Some of the other benefits are:

- bring communities statewide into the clean energy movement
- diversify local economy
- attract high paying clean tech jobs
- solidify local tax base
- residents reap the financial rewards - energy city government pays the residents instead of the residents paying local government

Abhi Rahman stated, “It’s important for Highlands Ranch and Colorado to start an open dialogue with our state leaders to discuss creative ideas and concepts that addresses our local energy needs for the next 10-20 years.” Miranda Carey further added, “We thank Senator Shaffer’s office for inviting us back to talk further about how the Colorado Constitution can possibly be amended that will allow any community in Colorado to perform a local vote to form an energy city.”

31 ThunderRidge high school seniors over the last three years have designed an energy city strategy and tactical plan for Highlands Ranch by using a clean technology web lab incubator as the focal point for the new energy city. The energy city will offer clean-tech wet lab facilities and business mentoring services to energy-related start-up companies. The energy incubator will stimulate the local economy by attracting energy businesses, attract capital and solidify the tax base.

For more information on this topic: Energy City Formation at State Capitol

Energy City of Highlands Ranch Website: www.hrcleantech.com

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Two ThunderRidge high school seniors visited the Colorado State Capitol today to lobby key political leaders about amending the state constitution. Key introductions were made by a lobbyist who is mentoring the two seniors on how to lobby.

The two TRHS seniors are seeking two legislator sponsors for a referendum to allow any large or small community in Colorado to form an energy city styled government entity based upon subsequent voter approval to form an energy city.

They met six political leaders and the seniors are excited to report back they are being invited back to the capital to further discuss their energy city strategy.

This amendment change can empower smaller towns to seek out new ways to generate revenue by forming a municipal energy city entity. Larger community’s like Highlands Ranch can then ask the voters of Highlands Ranch if they want to incorporate just as an energy city and build a best-in-class wet laboratory energy business incubator to attract and retain new energy businesses to Highlands Ranch and Douglas County. The energy city will be fully transparent with elected people to run the incubator and seek out voter approval on initiatives that may impact their finances. The energy city is NOT a city with a mayor, police, fire protection and water/sewage services. The energy city will allow the residents and homeowners to empower themselves to be less reliant on traditional energy fuel sources.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The same four seniors presented their Energy City of Highlands Ranch research topics to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, other county employees and a handful of citizen attendees. At the end of the presentation, the commissioners asked some excellent questions on the fuel cell technology and the energy city concept in general. All three of the commissioners stated to the seniors that they were impressed on how thoughtful and well prepared they were to present their research topics. They all stated the senior project topics will be reviewed for further discussions and shared with the county’s sustainability group.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Four seniors out of a group of nine volunteered to gather together to formulate a public presentation to present their ThunderRidge senior research project to the Highlands Ranch Metro District board of directors on February 24, 2009. The core research topics to present are:

1. Speeding Energy Efficiency Zones
2. Wind Speed Monitoring
3. Hydrogen Fuel Cells
4. Amend the Colorado Constitution

The seniors presented their PowerPoint presentation and the HRMD directors were very complimentary of the seniors research work and commended them for their community efforts.

The next presentation will be on Tuesday, March 3 at the Douglas County Board of Commissioners business meeting.

Abu Dhabi has started the Masdar Project that will create a sustainable energy city that is not dependent on fossil fuels. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has been contacted so Highlands Ranch and Abu Dhabi can begin the process to share goals and ideas and work together to solve tough energy problems. Below is the text of the letter.

=============================
January 17, 2009

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber
Chief Executive Officer
Mina Road, ADPC Admin Bldg, Second Floor
P.O. Box: 45005, Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

Dear Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber:

Coincidently, in May 2006 I started an initiative in Highlands Ranch, Co (population of 100,000) to transform the community to an energy municipality and become self sustainable. It’s like the Masdar project but on a much smaller scale.

My vision is to create a city-owned clean technology wet lab incubator that attracts clean technology start-up companies. The incubator would also have solar, wind and geo-thermal to produce clean energy. The energy start-up companies become successful and the future City of Highlands Ranch would receive an income stream from these start-ups. All revenues would get reinvested back to the residents of Highlands Ranch to eventually take the new energy city off the power grid by the year 2020.

Our local high school students have been involved in this project for almost three years and their efforts have gained local and national support. Supporters have been NREL, CH2M Hill, Invenergy (wind), Merrill Lynch and Colorado Governor Ritter.

I would like to extend the invitation to you and your Masdar initiative staff to visit Highlands Ranch, Colorado to learn more about our project and form a partnership to share ideas and learn from each other.

Below are some website links that pertains to our clean energy initiative:

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_9050942
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5324427
http://www.hrcleantech.com
http://renewablehighlandsranch.blogsome.com
http://denver.yourhub.com/HighlandsRanch/Stories/News/General-News/Story~568022.aspx

ThunderRidge Seniors Meet With Local Leaders to Discuss Energy Empowerment

On Friday, January 2, 2009, ThunderRidge high school seniors, Ahbi Rahman and Miranda Carey met with Senator Ted Harvey (R) and Legislator Frank McNulty, District 43 (R) to discuss how Highlands Ranch can explore various avenues to take Highlands Ranch off the grid by the year 2020.

This is the third year that ThunderRidge seniors are exploring creative and innovative strategies and tactics to empower Highlands Ranch to nurture and grow a local energy economy and create an energy city that owns and manages a clean technology wet lab incubator. The clean technology incubator would become the spring board for new energy start-ups to come to Highlands Ranch and mature their clean tech business. Once the business leaves the Highlands Ranch energy incubator, the energy city receives an annuity on energy revenues and patent royalties earned by the energy start-up company.

Miranda Carey states, “Highlands Ranch has the opportunity to develop a one-of-a-kind clean technology business and social environment to attract and retain energy business start-ups.” Carey further stated, “What makes this unique and innovative is that Highlands Ranch could become the first community in the world to develop its sole charter that focuses on one service - energy. What kind of message does that say to new energy businesses looking to relocate to an area that will help their enterprise grow and thrive.”

Ahbi Rahman, who is also a senior at ThunderRidge remarked, “We are excited for the opportunity to meet with our local political representatives to discuss new ideas and solutions on how to solve our energy empowerment problems.” Rahman further mentioned, “The meeting we had with Mr. McNulty and Mr. Harvey was the first step in the direction of discussing how Highlands Ranch can empower the entire community to become less reliant on 3rd party energy sources.”

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

A total of nine ThunderRidge high school seniors are actively working on four energy city research projects. They also started a blog that recaps their progress so far.

They are:

Amend Colorado Constitution to Allow Energy Incorporation — Key introductions will be made shortly with legislators and senators. Governor’s office also being contacted. Lobbying commences in late January in the state capital. http://hrstateconstitution.blogspot.com/

Wind Turbine Field Study - Contacts being made to locate a met tower and get permission to enter property where a wind tower will be erected for a 12 month study.
http://hrwind.blogsome.com

Residential Fuel Cells - Contacts being made with Mitsubishi and Panasonic USA and Japan to start the process to use Highlands Ranch as a beta test market for home fuel cell technology.
http://trhsfuelcell.blogsome.com

Speed Energy Efficiency Zones - In the next couple of weeks or so, random speed tracking zones will be set up in Highlands Ranch to capture auto speed data and drivers who exceed the posted speed limit. Data gathered will be used to assess the feasibility of enacting a speed energy efficiency surcharge fine. http://seezones.blogsome.com

ThunderRidge H.S. Seniors Will Lobby State Capital for Ballot Amendment

Going into the third year of the Energy City of Highlands Ranch research project, nine ThunderRidge High School seniors are working on four energy city research modules. The overall goal of the multi-year research is for Highlands Ranch to become the first community in the world to incorporate and offer only one city service - energy. The long term goal for the energy city is to empower every household and business to get off the grid by the year 2020.

The 2008-09 ThunderRidge H.S. energy city research projects are:

1. Amend State of Colorado Constitution - Title 30 & Title 31 Statutes. Two seniors working with a lobbyist and two attorney’s ( who are well versed in municipality legal issues), will lobby the State Capital to gain interest in amending the Colorado Constitution. Amending the constitution will allow Colorado communities to incorporate and focus on just one city service, energy. Colorado voters would vote on this ballot issue in November, 2010.

2. Residential Fuel Cell Technology Pilot Program - Three seniors will form relationships with Japanese fuel cell manufacturers and Colorado political representatives to use Highlands Ranch as the first residential beta location to test the feasibility of residential home fuel cells. Fuel cell technology can reduce home energy consumption by 30%.

3. Wind Monitoring Station on Shea Property - Two seniors will continue the wind research project that was done during the last school year. Seniors will liaison with Shea Homes, Douglas County and a national wind turbine installation company to procure and erect a wind tower, gather wind speed data and analyze data to assess the feasibility that Highlands Ranch can support wind turbine towers.

4. Speed Energy Efficiency Zones (SEEZ) speeding ticket surcharges - Two seniors will liaison with the Douglas County Sheriff’s department to assess the feasibility of levying a $500 SEEZ speeding ticket surcharge.

The seniors and the Douglas County Sheriff’s department will conduct random speed observation patrols to set up SEEZ monitoring stations. The seniors will observe and record Highlands Ranch auto speeders, set up speed monitoring checkpoints, observe drivers getting a speeding ticket, collect auto speed data and analyze data. The seniors will perform a return-on-investment analysis and present their findings to the Douglas County Commissioners in the Spring, 2009.

For more information, visit the Energy City of Highlands website.

The ThunderRidge high school senior project research (in regards to the Energy City of Highlands Ranch incorporation) has been ratified by the school district for the 2008-09 school year.

2008-09 SENIOR PROJECT RESEARCH MODULES

1. Amend State of Colorado Constitution – Article 32 – Allow communities to incorporate and focus on just one city service, energy. Colorado voters would vote on this ballot issue in November, 2010.

Project Mentor: A local lobbyist has volunteered to assist the students on how to lobby the State Capital and assist seniors on how to present their argument to amend the state constitution

2. Phill Station/Compressed Natural Gas Pilot Program – seniors continue the research performed last school year. Apply for state/federal grant money, liaison with state politicians for grant money, connect with Boone Pickens and solicit pilot volunteers.

Project Mentor: TBD

3. Wind Monitoring Station on Shea Property – seniors continue the wind research project performed last school year. Seniors will liaison with Shea Homes, Douglas County and Invenergy, LLC to procure, erect, gather wind speed data and analyze data to assess the feasibility that Highlands Ranch can support wind turbine towers with a reasonable return-on-investment.

Project Mentor: Invenergy, LLC

4. Energy Speeding Ticket Surcharge – seniors will liaison with the Douglas County Sheriff’s department and the Douglas County Transportation Engineering and Traffic Operations department to assess the feasibility if the future energy city of Highlands Ranch can generate adequate revenue on assessing an “energy speeding ticket surcharge.” The surcharge would be assessed on drivers who speed within Highlands Ranch. Speed Monitoring Stations will be erected around Highlands Ranch.

Seniors would do go out on patrol with officers to monitor auto speeders, set up “speed monitoring stations,” collect auto speed data and analyze data to come up with a bell curve percentile analysis to see how many speeders fall in/out the bell curve. ROI analysis is performed. Findings presented to the County Commissioners.

Project Mentors: Sheriff Weaver’s department and the Douglas County Transportation Engineering and Traffic Operations department (T.B.D. on 2nd mentor) and someone with statistic process control analysis expertise (T.B.D. on 3rd mentor)