The Nederland Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) met on Monday, December 18, 2023, at 6:45 p.m. to look ahead to the new year.

The Town’s partnership with Partners in Energy and Xcel is on pause for the next few months. However, the two organizations will continue to help the town with a few projects: going out to businesses to promote the Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) program; dealing with Xcel rebates, and promoting the plastic bag ban, which officially goes into effect on July 1, 2024. They also provided SAB with an energy audit for the water treatment facility so the team could look at renewable energy opportunities and efficiency upgrades.

The Denver Regional Council of Governments and the Colorado Energy Office are currently finalizing their application strategies for their Climate Pollution Reduction grant. The focus will likely be on electrification for low-income and disadvantaged communities, as well as workforce development.

Nederland is still recruiting residents to participate in the Community Solar Garden (CSG), in partnership with Pivot Energy. CSG helps provide fossil fuel-free electricity to all nearby subscribers. More information will be relayed through outreach in the upcoming months to attract more residents to sign up.

Nederland still expects to get the vessel composter in the first quarter of 2024, including the LED screen and reuse barn. Once the vessel is installed, programs for businesses to make the best use of the vessel will be organized.

PACE came to town for a walk-through earlier this month and declared the Community Center’s kitchen stove is eligible for a rebate. It will be upgraded from gas to electric in the coming years.

TEENS, Inc. is looking to expand its building to create a childcare facility. While still in the beginning process, they are very conscious of the potential impact it might have on the creek. They want to keep the walking path and ensure that traffic does not interfere with accessibility to the creek. They are thinking about passive solar, natural plants, composting, recycling, bike racks, and conscious nighttime lighting for the new facility.

The Nederland Sustainability Advisory Board meets on the fourth Thursday of every month. January’s meeting will likely be on Thursday, January 25, 2024. For more information, go to: townofnederland.colorado.gov/ sustainability-advisory-board.