A jobs bonanza in this energy transition for Brighton

entire city. ere are several reasons to put this legitimate amendment in front of Westminster voters.

First, more and more residents are saying that it is past time to determine if the majority of wish to go to a di erent election approach, either electing councilors by wards or voting districts or mixing wards with at-large councilors.

Secondly, the city has changed dramatically since 1958 when the all at-large system to elect six council members was established. In 1958, Westminster was a small rural-feeling town of a few thousand residents. e incorporated area of the town was approximately four square miles in size.

Today, approximately 116,000

SEE CHRISTOPHER, P13

Letters To The Editor

Every transition produces winners and losers. U.S. scal policy shifted in the 1880s and the economy of Aspen cratered for decades. Some silver-mining towns never recovered. In the 1980s, newspapers were plentiful. Ink now stains far fewer printers and editorial wretches. Amazon thrives but Sears and Kmart, no more.

Big Pivots

How will Colorado’s coal-based towns transition as we quell emissions from energy production? Legislation of recent years seeks to deliver what lawmakers call a just transition, meaning that Pueblo, Craig and other coal-based communities will stay on their feet.

Allen Best e newest round of job-producing investments in emission-free technologies, though, call into question how di cult that will be. Two new factories are to be created in Brighton, on metropolitan Denver’s northeastern fringe. e combined investment of $450 million will deliver more than 1,200 average- to better-paying jobs.

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VSK Energy will manufacture solar photovoltaic panels and will employ more than 900 people. It is a direct result of incentives in the federal In ation Reduction Act of 2022, which seeks to restore U.S. manufacturing of renewable energy components. e second factory will produce a new generation of energy-rich lithium-ion batteries. e company, Amprius Technology, says that a new anode, which will use silicon mined in Montana, will double the range of a Tesla, allowing it more than enough capacity to roam Colorado from corner to corner and the ability to juice up to 80% capacity in six minutes. e company also says the new batteries will deliver value to drones and aircraft. Sounds like a game-changer. Both companies cited proximity to Interstate 76 as a signi cant consideration in siting their factories. ey also have proximity to I-25, I-70 and I-80 plus Denver International Airport. If of not immediate importance, they also have access to transcontinental rail lines.

Availability of a large, skilled workforce was also cited. e battery company also cited the proximity of the Colorado School of Mines and other universities. It will employ a half-

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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Something more intangible was also in play. It was described as a “strong cultural t” by Ashwini Agarwal, the leader of Vikram Solar, the parent company for the solar manufacturer. Supply chains matter, but Colorado’s initiative in accelerating the energy transition also matters.

Andrew Huie, the vice president of infrastructure for Amprius, said something similar. “Colorado and Gov. Polis are embracing clean energy, and batteries align with Colorado’s clean energy goals,” he told me. “ ere may be synergies.”

Other companies are also carving out futures in this new energy economy along the Front Range. e Denver Business Journal recently cited three companies from Denver to Fort Collins that hope to stake a future with new batteries. And Lightning eMotors manufactures electric vehicles in Loveland.

Brighton already has Vestas, which arrived in 2010 to manufacture nacelles, containing the gearboxes and drive trains for wind turbines. Vestas also built a factory in Pueblo, near the

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No compassion in housing solutions e Colorado Sun and other media are missing the big good news story out of Douglas County. Ready? Ta-da! ey have solved the homeless problem in Douglas County! And, as their spokespeople will continually remind you, it is with choice and compassion.

So, how is this accomplished? First, you should know that their citizens do not like seeing homeless encampments. is is something I’m sure all other county commissioners and mayors did not know.

Second, the homeless should be told this new information, so a social worker is sent to meet them compassionately accompanied by an armed sheri ’s deputy. e social worker informs the homeless about addiction services, mental health care, and homeless shelters. All those choices! Soon they will also be compassionately given the choice of paying a $1,000 ne if they choose incorrectly.

So, the homeless will then, oh so kindly, be given a ride free of charge to take advantage of those wonderful services. e only teeny tiny glitch might be that those services will be many miles away.

Why is that, you may ask? Obviously, you have not been paying attention.

SEE BEST, P13

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Window.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

SEE LETTER, P24

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