July 31, 2014 VOLU M E 9 0 | I S S UE 50
LakewoodSentinel.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Community Solar Garden opens in Jeffco Clean Energy Collective partners with Xcel By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com
Players play pickleball at the new courts at the Green Mountain Recreation Center. The courts had an official opening on July 26. Photos by Clarke Reader
Love at first swing Green Mountain opens outdoor pickleball courts By Clarke Reader
creader@colorado communitymedia.com Ask Chris Beal — Colorado’s resident pickelball ambassador — and she’ll tell you that the sport should come with a warning label about its addictive nature. She’s been spreading the word about pickleball around the state for many years and Lakewood was one of the first places to listen. On July 26, the city celebrated the official opening of its outdoor pickleball courts at the Green Mountain Recreation Center, 13198 W Green Mountain Drive, an achievement that wouldn’t have been reached without the support of Beal and other community sportspeople. “If you play it three times, you’re addicted,” Beal said. “It’s grown and grown and become a sport for all ages — it’s one of the fastest growing sports in the area.” The event on July 26 gave old hands a chance to play in the
Ken Adducci helps teach newcomers how to play pickleball at the new Green Mountain Recreation Center. new courts and offered demonstrations for those interested in learning. “We’ve had indoor pickleball for many years and we even have an employee league,” said Sara Livingston, facility coordinator at the recreation center. “We all got a lesson and some of our local police officers have started playing.” Ken Adducci, a resident who has been playing since Beal taught it to him, said one of the best things about the sport is that it’s less strenuous than sports like tennis, but still allows for a lot of movement. “Many seniors enjoy it because it’s somewhere between tennis and shuffleboard,” Beal
said. “It works on players’ reaction times and agility, which is part of why we’re seeing it show up in public schools.” The social aspect of pickleball is also key, and was alive and well during the opening event. Players of all ages and skill levels were chatting in between games, sharing tips and favorite places to play. “It’s both fun and social, plus it provides great exercise,” said resident Suzanne Reinert, after playing a game with several of her friends. “I’m excited to come back and play these new courts again.” For more information, visit on the local pickleball scene, visit www.pickleballken.org.
Clean Energy Collective (CEC), a growing developer in solar community gardens, opened two new sites in Colorado — this time in Jefferson County, which will make it easier for Xcel Energy customers to go solar. “It’s based on a model of community use, and we want as many people to take part as possible,” said Todd Davidson, director of marketing at CEC. Two solar arrays were built off Highway 93 on W. 56th Avenue in Golden. The Jeffco Community Solar Arrays are expected to produce about 1,160,000 kilowatt hours of clean energy in its first year, which is enough to power 100 homes annually, the CEC reported. The company predicts carbon dioxide emissions to reduce by over 38 million pounds over the 20 year agreement with Xcel Energy. “This is a great example of what we’re doing in Colorado,” said state Rep. Max Tyler, HD-23 who carried the bill to reduce the state’s energy bill by 50 percent during the 2010 legislative session. He purchased five panels at the solar garden. “This is a great idea and I think Xcel is going to be moving forward and expanding it.” The City of Lakewood has also reserved half of one solar array. Out of the 12 operating sites built by the CEC, roughly six or seven of those sites mark Xcel as the utility provider. An additional four sites by the CEC are under construction, with two located in Denver opening Aug. 21. “These projects provide a great opportunity for members of the community to participate in re-
State Representative Max Tyler, HD-23, signs his solar panel during the open house dedication of Colorado’s newest Solar Garden in Golden by the Clean Energy Collective on Thursday, July 24. Photo by Amy Woodward newable energy who may not otherwise have the chance,” said Kevin Cray, marketing assistant at Xcel for the solar rewards and solar rewards community program. The CEC has over 40 facilities operating across eight states and has developed partnerships with 18 utilities. “Community solar, more than another innovation that I’ve seen lately, really has the power to push to make more individual and family owned and business owned power generators,” said Tim Rehder, senior environmental specialist at the Environmental Protection Agency. “It’s a strong argument that can be made that no company is doing more to further that model faster than Clean Energy Collective.” For more information on CEC’s initiative in Colorado visit www. coloradocommunitysolar.com. Solar subscriber inquiries can be directed via email at info@coloradocommunitysolar.com or at 800646-0323.
LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL ON THE RECORD During the July 28 regular meeting, city council approved a resolution reaffirming the Oak Street project area on the West Colfax corridor as a blighted area and approved the purchase of solar power from the Clean Energy Collective.
Oak Street project
In a 7-2 vote (with Ward 1 councilwoman Ramey Johnson and Ward 3 councilman Pete Roybal voting no, and Ward 2 councilwoman Cindy Baroway and Ward 4 councilman Dave Wiechman absent) council approved the reaffirmation of the blighted designation for the Oak Street project area. That area is bounded by Quail Street on the West, West 17th Avenue on the North, Miller Street on the East and West 12th Avenue/West Collins Avenue on the South. The area includes both commercial and residential properties. The designation is the same that city council adopted in 2005 as part of an urban renewal plan for the West Colfax Avenue Corridor Reinvestment Area, but in order for the Lakewood Reinvestment
Authority to undertake the Oak Street Project, the finding must be no more than seven years old — hence the reaffirmation. “We just did a study so we have a plan — there is not a specific project in mind for the area,” said Mayor Bob Murphy. Representatives from the Matrix Design Group — who conducted both studies — spoke, saying they found six out of the 11 criteria required to deem an area as blight, including deterioration of structures, environmental contamination and factors requiring a high level of municipal services. Council noted that the resolution doesn’t change much for the properties, since they’ve had this designation for the past nine years. Residents in and near the area spoke out against the designation, stating that some property in that area is in good condition, and deeming the whole area “blight” hurt property values. They also expressed fears that the designation could lead to more drastic measures. “Our shop is not a blight and this des-
ignation overwrites our rights,” said Kim Snyder, who owns a business in the area with her husband, Gaylen Foster. They added that this designation could lead to condemnation of the area and perhaps the use of eminent domain to clear them out of the area for development. “The purpose of the designation is not to say every property is blighted, but instead just state that there are blight conditions present,” said Ward 1 councilwoman Karen Kellen. “It’s not a judgment on the properties, but it allows us access to tools to help development.”
CEC solar panels
In a unanimous vote, council approved the purchase of solar energy from the Clean Energy Collective (CEC) for solar energy from panels located at 21560 W. 56th Ave. in Golden. The city purchased 40 percent of the energy of the panels for $957,162 and will use the money saved to pay back the expenditure. “We’re purchasing 20 years of power and it should only take us nine to 10 years to pay off that sum,” said Travis Parker,
director of the planning department. “It’s a high up front cost, but a high financial gain.” Finance director Larry Dorr spoke about the costs and benefits of the purchase, noting that this kind of thing has been done by the city before when it invested in LED lights for signal lights and saved a lot of money in energy. He said there are variables like how much sunlight the state will be getting in the coming years and the changing electricity prices, but overall said it was a very favorable investment. A few residents like Randy Little spoke against the purchase, saying the technology is not where it needs to be yet, and that the cost of maintenance and upkeep would negate any benefits. Kellen said that technology has been greatly improved on and is a proven benefit to both the community and taxpayers. The next council meeting is a study session at 7 p.m. on Aug. 4 at Civic Center South, 480 S. Allison Parkway. — Compiled by Clarke Reader