Colorado Sun

 I remember hiking the trails and trying to keep my feet dry.  I plotted footfalls across the stream. This article reminds me of the way of the hike.  Once you begin to stride across the creek, it is hard to stop, change directions or alter your foot placement.  Today, you'll read about how the rocks popped up just as they are needed.

Back-story

To get across, I must supply some back story:   Last weekend, one of our die-hard supporters and my mentor and life coach to me, forwarded the information about the duplicity of HH being on the Planning and Zoning.  It seemed like the key piece of the puzzle. Placing the letter from SDCEA and the quote “we must remain unbiased” alongside the appointment of HH to the P&Z committee, the pressure began to build.  It was like we had enough ingredients to make the cake.  (I hate writing like this because this struggle is far from over, but we should ALWAYS increase the pressure till the W is clear.)   I was wondering how this piece of information was going to fall into place.  Then, the very next DAY, Tracy from the Colorado Sun emailed me for an interview and photo!  Jayne remembered her from the July 21 meeting. I thought about the stepping stones necessary to cross the river.  The P&Z revelation seemed to be one of those steps.  

The Interview

Tracy and I talked for an hour and I was able to share with her the big pictures as well as minutia. I had the sense that she would write an accurate article. Much of that showed up accurately in the article.Kudos.  I did text her to thank her for accurate reporting.  She attended our meeting on July 21 at Mtn Hts BC. Many of those same emails and articles we’ve shared were in that “34 page” document she mentions.  I tried to purge any reference to those of you wishing to remain behind the scene but I could tell, she looked at many of our sources. She did an excellent job assembling all the recent history.  For our article to reach this type of statewide audience, we are on the right path, still.  Directly over the target.  Good work, Team. I speculated she would get this article published this weekend but when I first heard mention of it from another true believer, I was thoroughly excited to jump to that page.  It was the TOP headline article listed!  https://coloradosun.com/category/news/  Another link shares the completed post. https://coloradosun.com/2023/09/03/geothermal-plant-chaffee-county-opposition/ 

“Five minutes early is ten minutes late!”

Additionally, the photographer, Hugh, met me at the sign at 323 and 321 that next morning before school.  I was worried he’d be late but as I arrived at 6:55 am, he was just landing his drone after some early morning aerial work. Even though I was early, I felt like I was late. He was a true professional. We went over to the proposed site, walked through the two gates to the State ground and discussed the details.  By the time our visit was over, I could tell he saw the vision and understood our true objections.  He seemed like a convert to our cause. 

Unbiased?

As you all read Tracy's article, you will undoubtedly see duplicity in the official narrative, concerns about the future monies involved, who might really benefit from this project in the long run and lack of real impartiality. You will also recognize our synergistic efforts coming through. I saw many parts from many of you all that shared your insights, thoughts, resources and passion with me throughout this process.  Thank you!

While I was reading the article, I was relieved to see the effects of the impacts we ARE making.  Many of Tracy's quotes of our officials and appointed representatives and by those comments, we have their attention.  They are aware of our position.  It will become even more difficult to hide things as pressure is maintained for disclosures, accountability and unbiased performance of their duties.  (Zoom in and listen to Jayne on Tuesday.  She is passionately crafting her Public Comments right now.)  Planning Commission and Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and public packets can be linked to in the Civic Clerk frame below the calendar, or visit Chaffee County's Civic Clerk page at  https://chaffeecoco.portal.civicclerk.com/. . County Commissioner Board meetings are available via ZOOM.  For Board of Commissioner Meetings you may join meetings at Join Meeting (ID# 109 079 543).  For other County Board meetings you may join meetings at 

q=https://zoom.us/j/4328290633&source=gmail&ust=1693929100164000&usg=AOvVaw2nCZlfuGToNSOOvbAeayXB" href="https://zoom.us/j/4328290633" mcafee_aps="true" style="color: #5d2915;" target="_blank">Join Meeting (ID# 423 829 0633) or as posted in the calendar link. For dial-in information you may click here.

One thought that came to mind as I was reading Tracy's article about their potential financial source from Iceland… 

During our July 21 meeting, I was told, hush hush like, that our nemesis was down in the front row.  We played it cool and he did not engage throughout the presentation.  I was very impressed with his composure.  It is not his first rodeo and I felt him sizing up his competition.  However, after folks left, Held and I did get a chance to meet and speak, ever so briefly and he introduced me to his possible money source from Iceland. This is likely the money source Tracy listed in the article. I stepped out and passed the baton to another ally, who I knew just happened to recently see with her own eyes this exact Geothermal power plant in ICELAND.  (Another stepping stone, just when we needed it)  She did a great job engaging from experience and was not willing to back away from the confrontation. 

BUT TODAY,

After reading the article about the possible international funding source, I realized we MUST keep up the pressure.  This outfit in Iceland does NOT want to invest in a project around the world where they must contend with a local group against their project.  They want to DRILL, DRILL, DRILL.  That’s it.  They do not want to jump into a political or social conflict with an uncertain geothermal outcome. If they had guarantees the well project would work, they may be more willing to fund buy into the financing.  But with local pressure, possible poorly performing wells and the distant location, Iceland may hold off on the financing till things are a bit more settled. “...no money on the table, yet.” Again, we are over the target.  Let’s keep up the pressure. 

What’s next?  Letters and Letters.  BoCC and SDCEA meetings. 

Can somebody else attend the Tuesday BoCC meeting with Jayne? She is sharing on the SDCEA letter requesting funds for the project, the earmark request, HH on the Planning and Zoning and anything else she can passionately put in front of them.  

Letters:

Any of us (or you) could author an article by combining any of the ideas from our emails and articles and send the piece to our State Representatives. Feel free to forward it beforehand if you'd like but not necessarily.   We may need to get the supervision of this potential geothermal request moved to another venue due to the ex parte conversations and clearly biased perspectives of our elected and appointed officials. Our P&Z and BoCC are no longer unbiased and too deeply entrenched for any of them to recuse themselves from this project.  Your letters will help that cause.

How To:

Remember these earlier suggestions on letter writing:  

If you live in Chaffee, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Park, and Summit your House Representative is Julie McCluskie, a Democrat, and she is Speaker of the House.  Here is the link for her contact information:   https://leg.colorado.gov/node/1474731.   If you live in Chaffee, Custer, Douglas, Fremont, Jefferson, Lake, Park, and Teller, your Senator is Mark Baisley, a Republican.  Here is the link for his contact information:  https://leg.colorado.gov/node/1474776.  The Colorado General Assembly ended its formal session on May 8, 2023, and will not reconvene until January 2024, or unless a special session(s) is called by the Governor or by the General Assembly.  I contacted the General Assembly this date 8/15/2023 and spoke with an individual responsible for responding to general questions of the Colorado General Assembly who stated that the best way to reach your Senator and your House of Representatives elected official was to email them your letter and they would respond either themselves or through one of their intern staff members.  Therefore, if you would like to write an advocacy letter(s) to your specific elected officials in the Colorado General Assembly in the county where you have your home/cabin, it would be important to follow some basic tips for writing such letters… be polite!  Tips include:  Date, individuals address, brief salutation, introduce yourself by name, address and that you are a constituent, why are you writing this individual, be personal, be factual, support your position, request a response, thank the individual for their time, and closing using your name, and keep it to only one page.  Writing a letter and emailing it to your two duly elected officials does make a big statement if enough people do it.

Parenthetical note: 

A few of us had a coffee with Mark Baisley, our state rep, and brought him up to speed on the scope of this project. We did not ask for a specific commitment or action step but wanted to make him aware of the situation.  YOUR LETTER WILL HELP HIM GRASP THE DEPTH AND REACH OF THIS PROJECT. Please send one.  I know he and his office NEED to hear from us.  The opposition already has players involved.  We need to get some official political support as well.  You may also forward this and our other emails to those potential allies in this battle for a Pristine Princeton. 

Celebration? NOT YET!

But for today, soak in the details of this article and the effects of all the efforts we’ve made in just this short period, then write a letter. Go another round. Get back in the ring. Make another phone call.  Share the Colorado Sun Article on your social media. Embrace this battle and feel the pain of setbacks and the joy of successes.  We are making an impact and are nearing a tipping point.  

https://coloradosun.com/2023/09/03/geothermal-plant-chaffee-county-opposition/

Near the end of our interview, Tracy asked me what we wanted.  I replied, “A new location for this Geothermal Power Plant.”

WELL DONE. We are on that path but not there, YET!