(Pueblo, CO) -- Southeast Colorado Power Association participated in an Energy Summit in Pueblo on Friday, June 14th. Action Colorado hosted the event, featuring speakers from the energy sector in solar, nuclear, and more areas. Tri-State's Brian Thompson presented on reliability planning, while Sara Carlisle, also of Tri-State moderated a Clean Heat Plan Panel. On the subject of nuclear energy, Dr. Rita Baranwal, Senior Vice President of Westinghouse, shared information on nuclear energy with the crowd of nearly 150. Baranwal explained the efficiency of the energy source using the example of a soda to be large enough to supply the energy that a family of four would need in their lifetime. The safety of nuclear plants was also discussed. Other presenters included Adam Frisch, Robert Ellis of TriStar Energy Solutions, Danielle Garcia of Farm-to-Power, Frances Koncilja, Yasir Arafat of Alao Atomics, Katrina McMurrian of Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition, Jeff Shaw, Executive Director of the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation, CSU Pueblo President Armando Valdez, Carbon Capture America's Kathleen Nelson Romans, Shawn Martini from Chevron speaking on the true cost of electrification, President and CEO PAC/West Strategies Mark Truax, Christine King, Director of Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear, GAIN, and Canon Bryan of Terrestrial Energy spoke on the transition of coal to nuclear. Pueblo County Commissioner Eppie Griego gave a welcome to Pueblo after Action Colorado President Sara Blackhurst welcomed the crowd back following lunch. State Representative Ty Winter and State Senator Rod Pelton also attended the summit. Labor workers from the IBEW spoke from the heart with stories of their careers in the energy sector and stressed the importance of continuing to encourage students to seek careers in the trade industries.
Action Colorado is a non-partisan group that represents and addresses the needs of people who live outside of the Denver area. Members represent mostly rural and southern Colorado. Earlier this year, the group decided to change the name from Action 22 (representing 22 counties in Southern Colorado) to Action Colorado to better represent other rural areas of the state.
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Anne Boswell, anneb@secpa.com