Welcome! We’re celebrating Earth Day by launching this joint newsletter to provide a regional source of information on: Clean energy Sustainable transportation Climate protection Smart growth Energy independence Our region is already making exciting strides in these areas, but many challenges remain. Working together, as a region and across organizational boundaries, will be one of the keys to creating a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable environment, now and in the future. Please join us! We intend to publish this newsletter at least every two months, and hope that it, and the collaborative efforts it is intended to inspire, will grow over time. We welcome your comments, ideas and suggestions. Send them to newsletter editor Russ Arensman at: arensman@rof.net. You are receiving this newsletter because you attended an event, you are on a mailing list, or someone thought you would be interested. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter simply click on the remove option below. Aspen inventories its greenhouse gas emissions As part of its Canary Initiative, the city recently released a comprehensive study of Aspen's greenhouse gas emissions to create a baseline from which to measure progress.The results were surprising. Over the past 10 years Aspen Municipal Utility and CORE have shifted Aspen's power supply to 57% renewable sources. The City is now examining even more ways to reduce carbon emissions Weaning ourselves from natural gas Natural gas, almost all of it domestically produced, heats 60% of American homes and feeds our agriculture, paper, chemical, plastic, and cement industries. But U.S. gas production peaked in 1993. Meanwhile, the alternatives, such as imported liquefied natural gas, may be costly, and risky. And despite western Colorado's natural gas boom, we’re not immune to the impending shortage.Unnatural dependency

SAVE MONEY: Solar Deals and Appliance Rebates An unprecedented combination of federal tax credits, utility rebates, and  local incentives has made 2006 the best year ever to buy a solar hot water or solar electric system. The federal tax credit is $2,000 for residential systems, some businesses eligible for even larger credits. In addition, Holy Cross Energy, Xcel Energy, Aspen Municipal Electric, and CORE all have aggressive rebate programs that refund up to $10,000, depending on system size. Call CORE for details, and additional appliance rebates: 963 5657 CORE and Holy Cross   Upcoming events of interest:   April 22, 3 p.m., Too Hot Not to Handle, special premiere of an HBO documentary on global warming written by Basalt resident Susan Hassol. At the Given Institute, Aspen.Find out more.   May 5: HMC State of the Valley Symposium, Glenwood Springs. Join civic, business, and elected leaders from throughout our region in Understanding and Shaping the Future. Speakers include Luther Probst, Sonoran Institute; Tim Watkins, Envision Utah; and David Chrislip.  More info and to register.   May 13, 14: Innovative Ideas for a New West. Sopris Foundation brings in stellar line-up of international speakers, incl. Bruce Babbit, Dr. Tim Beatley and many more. More info and to register.

What you can do Use public transportation If Americans used public transportation at the same rate as Europeans – for 10 percent of their daily travel needs – the U.S. would use 40 percent less imported oil, or nearly the amount of oil we import from Saudi Arabia each year.RFTA Schedule   Find out your household carbon footprint A typical American household adds about 44,380 lbs of carbon dioxide (the primary contributor to global warming) into the air every year. Replacing just one incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb can keep 1,500 lbs of carbon dioxide out of the air. Calculate your impact.   Sign up for renewable energy If you get electricity from Holy Cross or Xcel Energy, you can choose to buy renewable energy. This will eliminate 4,800 lbs of carbon dioxide production yearly. Xcel Renewable Energy Options  Holy Cross Green Programs   Buying a new car? Find out which cars are the most fuel efficient here.   Tell a friend about this newsletter! Click here

Good News! NCTF Regional Safe Routes proposal recommended for funding. Stay tuned for more on this program in valley schools.   Colorado has a new funding source for transit. An estimated $21 million will go to transit in 2006. Find out more. Glenwood Springs has doubled its purchases of wind-generated power from 4% to 8%.Read more. RFTA will increase bus frequency to every half hour this summer throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, from early morning until 7 p.m., starting around June 10.

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