Westminster, Colorado Oct 25, 2022 (Issuewire.com) - A broad array of Colorado's electric utilities, cities, building industry experts, and other public and private sector energy stakeholders will meet Thursday, October 27, 2022, in Westminster at the "Colorado Electrification Leadership Summit," a forum designed to advance cost-effective electrification measures that save consumers money, reduce emissions, and improve the efficiency and resiliency of the electric grid.

"We greatly appreciate the leaders joining with us to bring Coloradoans the latest information on new federal grant programs,  tax incentives, other financial opportunities, and case studies on electric technologies that benefit both the environment and economy," said Keith Dennis, President of the Beneficial Electrification League (BEL), a non-profit organization working across the country to expand the cost-effective use of electricity in transportation, buildings, and industry.

"We're pleased to host this event," said Duane Highley, CEO of Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Inc.  "Electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and other industry leaders and innovators are coming together to share ideas, information, and resources to help consumers save money on their overall energy costs, reduce emissions and enhance the reliability of the electric grid."

"This is the ideal time to convene energy stakeholders and the building industry," noted Neil Kolwey of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), also Director of the Beneficial Electrification League's Colorado Chapter (BELCO) and the summit's moderator.  "The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides significant new tax credits to add  heat pumps and other efficient electric appliances to new and existing homes; heat pumps reduce carbon emissions, improve indoor air quality and health, and reduce energy costs."

"Rural Coloradoans can benefit from these new programs as well as those living in urban communities," said Kent Singer, Executive Director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA), a sponsor of the summit. "In addition to the tax credits coming available to rural consumers for heat pumps, electric vehicles, and other upgrades, there are exciting new programs such as grants that will facilitate co-ops' expansion of clean energy technologies including renewable energy and energy storage systems.  I'm pleased that more than twenty electric cooperatives and public power organizations will be participating in this summit."

"There are other new grant and funding opportunities that we'll highlight in addition to those found in the Inflation Reduction Act," said Dennis. "For example, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), signed into law in late 2021, has funding directed to local governments and $3.1 billion available nationally to accelerate and optimize the weatherization and electrification of the homes of low- and middle-income consumers, making these houses healthier while saving owners and renters energy and money."

"One of our goals for bringing key stakeholders together at this summit is to encourage more collaboration on building electrification efforts, including obtaining federal grant funding. The timing is good to really move the market for heat pumps forward!" Kolwey added.

Other featured presentations part of the day-long event includes: "Colorado's Electrification Policy Highlights," presented by Will Toor, Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office, and "The Business Case for Building Electric New Homes," presented by Nick Jacobs, President of Diverge Homes. There will also be a demonstration of electric induction cooking at lunch made by renowned Chef Andrew Forlines.

The  Colorado Electrification Leadership Summit is organized by the Beneficial Electrification League of Colorado (BELCO), a chapter of the non-profit Beneficial Electrification League, and is sponsored by Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Inc., Daikin Comfort Technologies,  the Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA), Armada Power, and Waterfurnace.

The agenda and registration for the summit are found at https://be-league.org/events/electrify-co/. 

For more information about the summit or sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities at future events, please contact Tom Polikalas at 775-386-7411 or tpolikalas@be-league.org.

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Photo: A high-speed Freewire EV charger in the service territory of Tri-State member Highline Electric Association in northeast Colorado exemplifies progress being made on transportation electrification infrastructure in rural Colorado. Photo courtesy Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Inc. and Highline Electric Association

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