Newsletter
NEWS RELEASE
Clean Air Settlement Brings Clean Energy to North Denver Neighborhoods
Lawsuits at Soon-to-be-Retired Coal-fired Power Plant Turned into Opportunity
For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2013
For More Information Contact:
Jeremy Nichols, WildEarth Guardians’ Climate and Energy Program Director, (303) 437-7663
Mike Harris, University of Denver Sturm College of Law Environmental Law Clinic Director, (303) 871-7870
Denver—WildEarth Guardians and Xcel Energy today announced a settlement of a lawsuit asserting clean air violations at the Cherokee coal-fired power plant in North Denver that will direct nearly $450,000 to clean energy and green space projects for the neighborhoods most impacted by the plant’s air pollution.
“This is a victory for clean air, for the community, and for Colorado’s clean energy future,” said Nichols. “As we power past coal, it’s critical that we lay the groundwork for solar and energy efficiency to take root. That’s exactly what this settlement does.”
The agreement resolves a lawsuit filed in federal court in 2009 by WildEarth Guardians against Xcel Energy over the company’s alleged failure to monitor and limit emissions from the smokestacks of the 800 megawatt Cherokee coal-fired power plant. The suit was filed on behalf of Guardians by the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Environmental Law Clinic.
Since the suit was filed, Xcel Energy agreed to stop burning coal permanently at Cherokee by the end of 2017. The company has already retired two of the four units at the power plant and demolished one of the plant’s three smokestacks.
“To Xcel Energy’s credit, we are moving away from coal by leaps and bounds, but it’s critical that we make equal strides toward clean energy,” said Nichols. “Today’s agreement acknowledges the significant progress that Xcel Energy has made in retiring coal-fired power plants and the promise that clean energy holds for powering our communities and our State.”
In light of the progress made at Cherokee, WildEarth Guardians and Xcel Energy agreed to resolve their differences by directing resources to the North Denver neighborhoods of Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea. A legacy of mixed industrial development, much of it toxic, has presented challenges for these neighborhoods.
As part of the Settlement, Xcel Energy has agreed to provide $447,000 to Groundwork Denver, a third-party nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing about the sustained improvement of the physical environment through community-based partnerships and action.
Groundwork Denver will use the funds to complete energy efficiency projects for 142 homes in the North Denver neighborhoods of Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea and install solar panels on one or more public buildings in the neighborhoods. Additional funds will also be used to support the development of the 5.5 acre Platte Farm Open Space, a community natural area, including solar powered lighting on picnic shelters and along paths.
It is anticipated the projects will eliminate more than 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and save or produce nearly a megawatt-hour of electricity. The energy efficiency projects will save families nearly $200 annually while solar panel installation will generate more than $3,400 every year in savings.
“We are honored that WildEarth Guardians and Xcel Energy have chosen Groundwork Denver to manage these real, on-the-ground neighborhood improvements in North Denver, ” said Wendy Hawthorne, Executive Director of Groundwork Denver.
“This isn’t about whether or not Xcel Energy violated clean air laws, this is about moving Colorado and its communities forward,” said Mike Harris, Director of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Environmental Law Clinic. “It is truly a victory when two parties engaged in conflict can productively put their differences aside and put our health and environment first.”
The agreement will require review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice before it can be signed by U.S. District Court Judge, Brooke Jackson, who is presiding over the lawsuit. Once the agreement has been approved by the court, WildEarth Guardians will dismiss its lawsuit.
WildEarth Guardians is a west-wide nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to protecting and restoring wildlife, wild places, and wild rivers in the American West. As part of its Climate and Energy Program, Guardians works to advance the west away from fossil fuels to clean energy.
The University of Denver, the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region, enrolls approximately 11,409 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs.
For more information about Groundwork Denver, visit www.groundworkcolorado.org or http://www.facebook.com/GroundworkDenver, or contact Wendy Hawthorne, Executive Director, at 303-455-5600.
(END)
News at Groundwork Denver
Groundwork Denver Receives Award for
Excellence in Environmental Education
On March 2, 2013 The Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) recognized effective and inclusive environmental education programs and individuals who set a new standard for learning in their communities. Ten organizations and 2 individuals were acknowledged for their outstanding work in helping learners, in formal and non-formal settings, understand their role in the environment with an Award for Excellence in Environmental Education. The recipients of the 2012 Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education, including Groundwork Denver, were honored at an evening banquet hosted by CAEE on Saturday March 2, 2013, at the Denver Renaissance Hotel.
Groundwork Denver’s Take Charge! Student Energy Education and Action program was given the award in the Citizen/Community division. The program was honored for its ability to engage over 1,500 high school and college students across the state as “Student Energy Ambassadors” (SEA). These students reached over 35,000 other Colorado residents with information and resources about how to save energy in the home. Their work had tangible impact, with an estimated $500,000 per year in energy savings and a reduction in greenhouse gases of 3,700 tons per year.
Katie Navin, CAEE Executive Director, said, “The environment is where we live and the decisions we make about the environment impact our economy, our communities and our homes. All across the state, from Steamboat to Denver, these inclusive and innovative environmental educators and programs are helping create informed and responsible decision makers.”
Changing Bulbs to Try and Help Change Lives
Volunteers go door-to-door to provide residents the tools to conserve energy and save money.
January 2013 Denver, CO—On a wonderfully warm Monday, January 21st, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Groundwork Denver mobilized 85 volunteers in the Northeast Park Hill neighborhood. Volunteers went door-to-door offering free Compact Fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs, along with resources for home energy efficiency.
[View full press release here.]
A Partnership to Reverberate the Importance of Social Responsibility
Groundwork Denver, Denver Parks & Rec, and Vail Resorts team up for Echo Day 2012
Denver, CO, August 9, 2012—In a demonstration of corporate, non-profit and City collaboration, Vail Resorts, Groundwork Denver and Denver Parks and Recreation have joined forces for Vail Resorts Echo Day. The event on Saturday, September 8, 2012, will improve Lakewood Gulch, a multi-use park located in the West Colfax neighborhood of Denver. More than 200 volunteers will participate in Vail Resorts Echo Day to plant trees, install new benches, and give the playground a new coat of paint, among other projects.
“We are really excited to have been selected to be Vail Resorts’ Colorado Front Range Echo Day partner for the Lakewood Gulch project. The project is a win-win-win – the community gets park improvements, the City gets valuable volunteer labor and a cash donation for supplies and materials, and Vail Resorts employees get a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the community,” explained Wendy Hawthorne, Executive Director of Groundwork Denver.
The volunteer labor and cash donation from Vail Resorts is valued at $18,000, an important contribution especially in tough economic times.
“Public-private collaborations like this make a very positive difference in how we can manage Denver parks,” said Lauri Dannemiller, Manager of Denver Parks and Recreation. “We are so grateful to work with Vail Resorts and Groundwork Denver because with them we can accomplish so much more than we could on our own. To have so many people willing to give up a Saturday to come out and help improve Lakewood Gulch is awesome.”
Vail Resorts Echo Day is an all-company volunteer day where Vail Resort employees and their families are invited to come out and give back to their local communities. Visit Vail Resorts online at www.vailresorts.com
Groundwork Denver is a non-profit organization that works to improve the physical environment through community-based partnerships and action. Groundwork Denver partners with Denver Parks and Recreation to provide support in maintaining parks in lower income neighborhoods, so that all communities have access to a nature and a healthy environment. Visit Groundwork Denver online at www.groundworkdenver.org
Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) manages nearly 15,000 acres of urban parks and mountain parklands. The DPR Volunteer Office brings together Denver residents, schools,and business to work with the Department of Parksand Recreation onvolunteer projects. Visit DPR online at www.denvergov.org/parksandrecreation..
Green Team Goes Wild in Rocky Mountain National Park
The Green Team’s month long service project with the National Park Service
Estes Park, CO July 19, 2012— The Green Team is a core program of Groundwork Denver, focused on building diverse youth environmental and community leaders and providing employment and education for Denver youth in their late teens to early 20’s.
This summer, the Green Team will be working alongside staff at Rocky Mountain National Park, here in Colorado. The team will be working with the Facilities Management and Resource Stewardship Divisions of the park. With these two divisions of the park the Green Team will be working on maintaining various hiking trails throughout the park, removing invasive vegetation and planting natural vegetation to help replenish and beautify Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Green Team’s work in Rocky Mountain National Park is not only a summer employment opportunity but also a unique chance to gain firsthand experience in various careers offered by the National Park Service. The youth gain exposure and networking opportunities to help build relationships with members of the National Park Service and discover prospects for future work opportunities for our team members.
Team members will camp in the park for four days each week, working with Rocky Mountain National Park staff for 10 hour days. At the end of the work day, the youth enjoy the company of their peers and discover the joys and benefits of the state’s natural environments.
When the Green Team works on projects, they are building cross-cultural bridges by uniting a group of diverse youth to work as a team and transcend the goals and mission of Groundwork Denver to the communities where they work.
Local Nonprofit, Groundwork Denver & International Corporation, Deloitte
Partner for BIG Environmental Impacts
Denver, CO, June 5, 2012—Over 100 Deloitte employees will be volunteering on three different projects throughout the Denver Metro area on Friday, June 8. Deloitte will give their time and energy to help give back to the community and aid Groundwork Denver in achieving our environmental goals.
 Imagine an empty parking lot in Jefferson Park transformed into a funky bike repair station for the day. The bike tune-up clinic is going to be set up by Groundwork staff and our Deloitte volunteers who will be repairing and cleaning up donated bikes that will help Groundwork Denver’s high school and college youth employees get access to affordable and clean transportation. Groundwork Denver encourages youth to use their bikes more often to improve their physical fitness and health while at the same time helping to reduce CO2 emissions.
Now, envision volunteers going door-to-door in the Platt Park Neighborhood, getting residents to save energy and reduce their losses from their energy bills. Deloitte will partner with Groundwork Denver to canvass Denver neighborhoods and distribute compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs for residents. Residents can also sign up for free home energy assessments to further reduce the amount of money lost by homeowners due to paying towering energy bills every month.
A third group of volunteers will be building trails at Red Rocks Park with Groundwork Denver and Denver Parks and Recreation.
Groundwork Denver is very excited about the continuation and expansion of our partnership with Deloitte and we hope to see others becoming excited about helping improve the urban environment.
Green Team at Jefferson Park Day
Spring Sprucing Up with the Green Team
Denver, CO May 31st, 2012—on Saturday May 12th,Groundwork Denver’s very own youth Green Team was on location to help community volunteers with the Jefferson Park neighborhood clean up on Saturday morning putting their hands and feet to use by collecting trash from the alleyways and along the public sidewalk and tree lawns, helping to make the neighborhood a cleaner place for its inhabitants.
The Green Team is Groundwork Denver’s team of youth environmentalists with team member’s ranging from age 14 to 22. These youth environmentalists are employed primarily during the summer months to work on an array projects including but not limited to maintaining community gardens and local parks, landscaping, and repairing bicycles for neighborhood residents. The youth team members are dedicated to helping make Denver communities a better place and making a difference in environmental improvement.
The clean up was part of Jefferson Park Day. Despite the gloomy weather that Saturday morning, carrying over from the night before, there were still many eager hands ready to make Jefferson Park Day a success.
The neighborhood cleanup went from 8 to 11:30am at which point the Riverside Baptist Church showed its gratitude to neighborhood volunteers and the Green Team with a splendid hamburger and hotdog cookout at Jefferson Park to conclude the volunteer cleanup and move on to rest of the Jefferson Park Day festivities which included a piñata breaking and other games and activities for residents to enjoy.
Rain or Shine, Groundwork Denver Gets the Community Playing
Play at the Platte 2012
Denver, CO May 31, 2012—It may have been cloudy on Saturday May 19th but that didn’t stop Globeville residents and Groundwork Denver from having a good time out at Northside Park in Denver . The park is located at the northeastern edge of the Globeville neighborhood in north Denver.
Groundwork Denver hosted the event Play at the Platte which was coordinated by Community Planner Tangier Barnes with support from other key staff and Green Team members. The event was held as part of the Key Connections initiative which is funded by the Colorado Health Foundation. Play at the Platte had a number of fun activities for families and people of all ages. Activities included a bicycle powered smoothie machine, a nature walk to nearby Heron Pond, elaborate face painting, a fix-your-flat bicycle station, and oven loads of pizza baked on-site in a wood fired stove.
The threat of rain did not discourage Globeville families from attending the event. Total turnout was 72 people; 32 adults and 40 children. The primary goal of Play at the Platte was to connect residents to the South Platte River walking/biking path and to connect them to Northside Park which is largely underutilized. Groundwork Denver works with residents to determine why these spaces are underutilized and to then identify potential improvements to the built environment that will make it easier and safer to access the river and the park.
 The most popular station at the entire event was the bike smoothie station. At the bike smoothie station event attendees had the opportunity to make their very own fruit smoothie using a stationary bicycle combined with a blending machine. There was a variety of fresh fruits for participants to choose from, after choosing and chopping their ingredients the participant would combine them with ice inside the pitcher, connect it to the bike and pedal their way to a healthy tasty smoothie. Multiple residents commented that they hadn’t pedaled a bike in years. The bike smoothie machine provided the opportunity to have fun while being physically active.
Another popular area of the event was a Face painting station giving children a chance to dive into their imagination at the event. A nature walk to the nearby Heron Pond Natural Area was a great way for attendees to get a little exercise and observe the beautiful area that once was a sewage treatment plant. There was also a fix-a-flat station set up at the event to help get people back on their bikes after struggling with flat tires and other basic maintenance issues. The repairs were primarily wheel related, pumping or patching of tire inner tubes, or complete replacement of the tire inner tubes. Bike repairs totaled 15 fixes and were made possible by Groundwork Denver staff.
September 20, 2011 – Groundwork Denver Swaps its 10,000th Porch Bulb
 On September 20th, a team of 15 volunteers participating in the annual E Source Forum swapped out our 10,000th porch light bulb from an incandescent to a CFL! If you've volunteered for the Porch Bulb Project, you know what a huge milestone this is. Each team of two volunteers might knock on 40 doors and change 5 to 10 bulbs. Over 2,000 volunteers have helped us reach the 10,000th bulb! This achievement demonstrates that even small actions can have big impacts when we all get involved.
10,000 bulbs = $400,000 saved = 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions reduced = 10,000 conversations about how to help people and the planet at the same time!
September 14, 2011 – The Changing Face of America’s Environmental Stewards:
Young, Urban and Culturally Diverse
Denver, Colo —This week over 60 youth, most from distressed inner city neighborhoods across the United States, will convene for the Groundwork USA Youth Summit hosted by Groundwork Denver and the National Park Service at Rocky Mountain National Park. While most of these high-school aged ambassadors come from communities struggling with the challenges of high unemployment rates, gang-related violence, and failing schools, this event will allow the youth to explore and talk about something different, and something important to them: environmental stewardship, National Parks, and the future of public lands.
Participating youth are members of Groundwork Green Teams operating in economically and environmentally distressed neighborhoods of communities like Lawrence, Massachusetts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Richmond, California, and Denver. The Green Team program is a youth development and employment model that engages low-income young people in building their environmental awareness and leadership skills, along with preparing them for a variety of green careers from urban planning and environmental engineering to public health, green landscaping, environmental justice, and more.
Green Team youth take on a variety of projects—from building community gardens, planting trees, cultivating gardens, to fixing and giving away bikes—that connect the youth with their neighborhood and with the environment surrounding it.
 “Environmental stewardship takes on a very different meaning in the context of a distressed urban setting. Planting a tree or a small garden, cleaning up trash or removing graffiti is often a first and most powerful experience many of our young people have with improving their local environment and making positive community change,” explained Wendy Hawthorne of Groundwork Denver.
With support from a strong partnership with the National Park Service, Groundwork USA is helping their network of affiliates broaden their Green Teams’ horizons even further: once Groundwork youth get a feel for environmental stewardship on the ground in their own communities, they travel to a nearby National Park site to conduct a service learning project, whereby they learn about stewardship of public lands and potential career paths in federal land management.
“In my experience at Santa Monica Mountains [National Recreation Area], I learned that nature in all its forms is beautiful, and that we have to protect it,” said Trevor, a member of the Groundwork San Diego Green Team.
On Thursday and Friday September 15, and 16, in Rocky Mountain National Park, Groundwork youth will participate in a daylong hike and a morning-long service-learning project. They will have hands-on opportunities to work, play and connect to the park. Groundwork youth will meet and interact with federal partners from the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management to discuss the relevancy of public lands to a rapidly urbanizing and diversifying country. “We are excited to engage the next generation of environmental stewards at Rocky. National Parks should reflect the changing demographics of this country,” says Ben Baldwin, Research Learning Specialist at Rocky Mountain National Park, “and Groundwork is helping us take a big step toward that goal.”
September 11, 2011 – Local Businesses Support Earth Day Strive to Not Drive Events
Sixteen businesses in the Tennyson St Berkeley business district supported Strive to Not Drive by offering discounts to patrons who walked or biked to their shops September 3 through 11. Discounts ranged from $5 off a haircut to free cookies to 50% off prescription lenses. Participating businesses included:
Berkeley Community Acupuncture http://www.bcaclinic.com/
Bookery Nook & Ice Cream Parlour http://www.thebookerynook.com/
Botticelli Hair Design http://www.facebook.com/pages/Botticelli-Hair-Design/113243175381225
Brush & Comb http://kmgh.cityvoter.com/the-brush-and-comb/biz/619610
Cake http://www.cakedenver.com/
MODesTEA http://www.modesteaco.com/
Mouthfuls http://www.mouthfuls.net/
My Sweet Bakery http://mysweetbakery.com/
Ooh! Aah! Jewelry http://oohaahjewelry.com/
Organic Pizza Company http://organicpizzacompany.net/
Planet Pet http://planetpethoodplus.com/
Sports Optical http://www.sportsoptical.com/
Tenn Street Coffee http://www.tennstreetcoffee.com/
Thunderstorm Computers http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thunderstorm-Computers/125265220861498
Trenchtown MMJ http://www.trenchtownmmj.com/
Yankee Trader http://www.yankeetraderantiques.com/
May 20, 2011 – Lt Gov. Joseph A. Garcia Presents 2011 Governor’s Service Awards
DENVER —Friday, May 20, 2011 —Lt. Gov. Joseph A. Garcia along with representatives from Serve Colorado - the Governor’s Commission on Community Service presented the 2011 Governor’s Service Awards during a special awards ceremony Friday, May 20 at the State Capitol.
The Governor’s Service Awards are presented in recognition and appreciation to individuals, community/civic leaders, various organizations, AmeriCorps Members, and Senior Corps, for their outstanding contribution to volunteerism and service throughout the State of Colorado.
“I would like to extend my congratulations to the many volunteers here today,” said Lt. Gov. Joseph A. Garcia. “This level of volunteerism and dedicated service helps Colorado thrive through these tough economic times.”
The 2011 list of Governor’s Service Award recipients included:
For more information on the Governor’s Service Awards, please contact Serve Colorado at 303-866-6426 or visit www.colorado.gov/gccs.
April 22, 2011 – Bike Fix-A-Flat Gets Bikes Rolling For Free
 In honor of Earth Day, Groundwork Denver volunteers set up shop next to Urbanistic Tea and Bike Shop in the West Highlands neighborhood to fix bike flat tires for free. Despite a cold morning, people started bringing their bikes around 11:00. Volunteers and the Groundwork Green Team fixed 18 bikes, trailers and strollers. Roll on!
April 22, 2011 - Local Businesses Support Earth Day Strive to Not Drive events
Thirteen businesses in the West Highland business district supported Strive to Not Drive by offering discounts to patrons who walked or biked to their shops on April 22nd and 23rd. Discounts ranged from a free ice cream cone at Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli to a free chiropractic exam at Iselin Chiropractic. Participating businesses included:
Garnet Gecko
Mondo Vino
Mead St. Station
The Uncommon Thread
Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli
El Camino Tavern
Seafood Landing
Pizza Alley
Iselin Chiropractic
Highlands Cork and Coffee
Kismet
Urbanistic Tea & Bike Shop
Sushi Hai
In addition to the business incentives. The following three businesses were sponsors of the event:
 
February 15, 2011 — Youth Program Director Wins LiveWell Award for Excellence
 Youth Program Director, Shane Wright, was presented with an Award for Excellence by LiveWell and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for all of his efforts to bring healthy eating and active living to Southwest Denver. Congratulations Shane!
February 7, 2011—Groundwork Lawrence Talks about “ActFresh” on All Things Considered
Did you know that Groundwork Denver is part of a national network called Groundwork USA? Listen in to Heather McMann, Executive Director of Groundwork Lawrence, on All Things Considered on WBUR. Heather is helping to lead a statewide advocacy campaign called "ActFresh" that is supporting a variety of policy measures aimed at creating healthier neighborhoods, especially in low-income communities. Thanks to Heather, and Groundwork Lawrence, for their leadership on this important issue!
[Read article and listen:
http://www.wbur.org/2011/02/07/act-fresh-campaign]
February 5, 2011— The Green Team Meets with the U.S. Surgeon General
Green Team members met with the U.S. Surgeon General today to share their solutions to combating childhood obesity.
[Read the story or watch the video here:
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/02/05/child-obesity-summit-held-in-denver/]
February 3, 2011—Student Volunteers Help Switch on Conservation
See the article about our Take Charge project in the Met.
[Read about it here:
http://themet.metrostudentmedia.com/features/2011/student-volunteers-help-switch-on-conservation/]
January 28, 2011—Julie Connor and Stephanie Fry on Go Green Radio
Tune in to Go Green Radio as Stephanie Fry and Julie Connor discuss the Take Charge: Student Energy Education and Action project!
[Listen here:
http://www.voiceamerica.com/Show/Episode/51539]
January 23, 2011—Groundwork Colorado (!) Goes to Pueblo
 Groundwork Colorado hosted Pueblo's first Porch Bulb Community Outreach Event as part of the Take Charge program funded by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. As many as 40 students from Districts 60 and 70 high schools participated, earning community service credit required by school programs."
The Pueblo Chieftan covered it here:
http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_a5095458-26b5-11e0-976c-001cc4c002e0.html
January 1, 2011—Groundwork Denver Goes Statewide!
Groundwork Denver, now Groundwork Colorado, is taking the Porch Bulb Project statewide! We will be training “Student Energy Ambassadors” around the state to implement the Porch Bulb Project and educate their own communities about energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. We are looking for high school and college students, as well as teachers and youth group leaders, who are interested in participating in the project. The project is funded by ARRA 2009 grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration and is sponsored by Colorado's Department of Labor and Employment, Workforce Development Council and State Energy Sector Partnership. Contact Stephanie@groundworkdenver.org for more information or to find out how to participate.
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