Customer-Focused Clean Energy Policy Guidance
Founded in 1997, the Colorado Energy Group (CEG) is a customer-focused strategic energy planning advisor to governments, utilities, homebuilders, developers and energy efficiency and renewable energy providers and suppliers. George Burmeister is the President of CEG. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, CEG has satellite offices in Stockton, CA, Dallas, TX and Washington, DC.
CEG is hired primarily for our energy efficiency and solar Best Practice implementation experience with industry and local and state governments, our writing skills, relationship-building and facilitation services, stakeholder engagement strategies, codes and standards knowledge, balanced Community Choice Energy (CCE) expertise, survey capabilities and our comprehensive clean energy technology policy expertise. We place a strong emphasis on voluntary, market-based solutions in the energy efficiency, renewable energy and natural gas areas.
Notable Projects
CEG Wins Major RFP to Prepare Long-term Solar and Storage Strategy for Boulder, Colorado
The City of Boulder wants to get from the 20 Megawatts (MW) of solar it has now to 50 MW by 2020, and 100 MW by 2030, and they hired CEG to help them figure out how to do it--both as a current customer of Xcel energy, and as a municipal utility if their efforts to municipalize move forward. CEG shared more than 53 solar Best Practices with City staff and local leaders, ranging from new PPAs for city buildings, on-bill financing, utilizing parking lot structures, establishing new Community Solar program(s), and starting aggressive new solar programs for the C & I sectors which comprise ~75-percent of the electricity load. A final report from CEG and our partner Optony with recommendations is expected soon. Click here for a Boulder Daily Camera article on the project.
The Sustainable Energy Roadmap Project: San Joaquin Valley, California
California’s San Joaquin Valley is ground-zero for large scale solar project encroachment on America’s most prized agricultural land. The stakes are high not only for the Valley but for the more than 50-percent of Americans that rely on this food source. CEG provided technical assistance to Valley local governments over two years, and CEG was the lead author on a highly-acclaimed 70-page White Paper which documents the major public policy issues related to this important topic. For the formal press release on the White Paper, please click here: Press Release
South Texas – Sustainability and Green Building Consulting
CEG partnered with Don Ferrier of Ferrier Performance Homes to consult for the H.E. Butt Family Foundation (HEBFF) as they pursue sustainability and stewardship goals with new and existing construction on five different camps within their 1,900 acres nestled along the Frio River Canyon in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. CEG helps the HEBFF improve sustainability and green building practices as they renovate and protect one of the most outstanding locations in the southwest.
Los Angeles – Southern California Gas Company – Codes and Standards Support
CEG prassists the Southern California Gas Company with codes and standards and Zero Net Energy (ZNE) issues in 2016-2017. CEG provides codes and standards analysis and guidance to the Company.
Palm Springs – Community Energy Efficiency Partnerships: A Guidebook for Creating Local Energy Efficiency Competitions
Neighborhood competitions, prizes and community rewards offered to those who change their energy-related behaviors are relatively new approaches in the energy efficiency field. What motivates people to contribute to, or participate in, an energy efficiency competition, and how should new programs be designed? CEG wrote this timely document for Palm Springs, California-based AZENTIVE.
Denver – Facilitating a Discussion on the “True Value” of Solar Energy
CEG was hired as a facilitator by the State of Colorado Energy Office to negotiate common ground and agreement between the solar industry and Xcel Energy, and to help discover the “true value” of solar. To read press related to this project, please see the articles in the Denver Business Journal , GreenTech Media and the Denver Post . CEG is at the forefront of these policy discussions as dozens of states wrestle with this issue.
CEG Authors Innovative, New Comprehensive Renewable Energy Plan (CREP) for San Diego County
CEG and a team of colleagues recently completed a Comprehensive Renewable Energy Plan (CREP) for the County of San Diego. Purposes of the CREP include identifying opportunities for increased renewable energy production while protecting habitat-sensitive land, and identifying investment patterns needed for four future planning scenarios involving an increasing State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that goes from 33% to 50%, to 75% and 100%. CEG led a year-long review of national Best Practices for this innovative project.
