August 2024 | Climate Events across Colorado

Monthly climate events, jobs, and news in the Colorado front range

There’s a lot going on in Colorado, and it shouldn’t be a secret! It’s not the biggest tech scene, but Colorado’s unique mix of research, policy, companies, mountains, and people work together to make it a major climate hub. This newsletter is an independent roundup of community-submitted climate events in the Colorado Front Range area and is not associated with any specific company or group.

Out of town on a road trip this month? Check out events this month across the state in Fort Collins, Durango, and Aspen. In Denver/Boulder, we’ve got the regular meetups plus conferences on Water and Transportation.

We are continuing our new section from

Hannah Davis

, but this time we are shifting from some existing superstars to some of Colorado’s rising stars with her spotlight on Liz Voss, who is in the ‘Master of the Environment’ program at CU Boulder and a key team member at the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center. Check out the full interview here.

Events This Month

• 💧 Confluence: Colorado Water Summit & Net Zero Cities: Aug 1, Thu

• 🌻 Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden 3x: Aug 3, Sat + Aug 17, Sat + Aug 31, Sat

• 🎉 Climate Initiative Launch Party: Aug 5, Mon

• ⛺️ Camp Cleantech: Aug 13, Tue

• 🌻 Agrivoltaic Development Workshop: Aug 15, Thu

• 🍻 Solardarity: Aug 15, Thu

• ⚡️ 1-2-3 Electrify Series, Step 3: Perfect: Aug 15, Thu

• 🏡 Monthly Green Home Tour: Aug 17, Sat

• 🤝 West Slope Startup Week: Aug 19, Mon

• 🍺 B.S. & BEER Denver Metro Monthly Gathering : Aug 21, Wed

• 🍻 Boulder Climate Happy Hour: Aug 21, Wed

• ⛰️ Energizing Climate Solutions: Rural, Resort & Energy Transition Communities: Aug 22, Thu

• 🚌 Transportation Symposium on Environment, Energy, and Livable Economies : Aug 25, Sun

• 📜 Climate Action Hour: Aug 28, Wed

• ☀️ CANCELED - Colorado Climatetech with Sandbox Solar - Aug meetup: Aug 29, Thu

• 👩‍🌾 Composting Business Solutions and Tour: Aug 30, Fri

Read on for more details about this month’s upcoming events.

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Sneak Peak at the Following Month

• 🌻 Volunteer Day at Jack's Solar Garden: Sep 7, Sat

• ✈️ Houston Climate Week: Sep 9, Mon

• 🏡 CGBG Green Home Tour: Sep 14, Sat

• 🌻 Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden: Sep 14, Sat + Sep 28, Sat

• ✈️ Chicago Climatetech Week (TBD): Sep 16, Mon

• 🤝 Denver Startup Week: Sep 17, Tues

• 🍻 Boulder Climate Happy Hour: Sep 19, Thu

• ✈️ New York Climate Week: Sep 22, Sun

• 🧺 NoCo Climate Meetup: Sep 22, Sun

• 🍻 4WARD Global Climate & Sustainability Networking Meetups Boulder & Denver: Sep 27, Fri

There will be more! These are just a few that I know about if you like to plan ahead.

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Spotlight of the Month: Liz Voss

“After graduation, it was tough to get a job with a nontraditional background and no network. I was looking for a space to meet people, find my community, and address some significant social and environmental issues weighing on me. When I saw this program, I knew it was perfect for me!”

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Event Details

Confluence: Colorado Water Summit & Net Zero Cities

🕔 WHEN: Thursday, August 1, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

📍WHERE: Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder, Boulder, CO

Confluence – Colorado Water Summit is the only water conference in the region to examine the economic issues surrounding the scarcity of water affecting the growing numbers of residents of the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado. Confluence will take a deep dive into issues surrounding rising water prices, and will explore the many facets of water availability, cost, conservation, development and supply, with a luncheon panel leading into:
Net Zero Cities will explore critical issues of climate change and sustainability, including a look at the future of the Colorado River, and key takeaways from the Inflation Reduction Act for the public and private sectors.

Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden

🕔 WHEN: Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

ALSO ON: Saturday, August 17 and Saturday, August 31, same time

📍WHERE: Jack's Solar Garden, Longmont, CO

During this family friendly tour, attendees will be introduced to agrivoltaics, the combination of solar and agriculture, and learn about its potential benefits to farmers, biodiversity and local communities. 

Attendees will walk among solar panels and observe different plots dedicated to agrivoltaic research. When you leave we hope you have an understanding of the benefits of agrivoltaics and become an advocate for agrivoltaic practices.

Climate Initiative Launch Party

🕔 WHEN: Monday, August 5, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

📍WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO

The CSU Climate Initiative aligns CSU’s extensive expertise and assets to address the grand challenge of building a climate-resilient future in Colorado and beyond through research, innovation, urban and rural community-based partnerships, and the education of a new generation of climate leaders. Join us to celebrate and shape the future of sustainability and climate change at CSU!

Camp Cleantech

🕔 WHEN: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

📍WHERE: CSU Spur, Denver, CO

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Wells Fargo present Camp Cleantech -- a hands-on experience for cleantech and climate tech startups to gain strength and knowledge from the ecosystem's leading experts in entrepreneurial support specialized in climate tech. Befriend fellow founders and learn together how to navigate and overcome the complexities of startup life. Join us at CSU Spur, a new innovation campus in Colorado, and customize your two-day experience with workshops and community building to solve your immediate needs and work on the next critical steps in your commercialization journey.

Agrivoltaic Development Workshop

🕔 WHEN: Thursday, August 15, 2024 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

📍WHERE: Jack's Solar Garden, Longmont, CO

We are thrilled to host our 4th Agrivoltaic Development Workshop at Jack's Solar Garden, on August 15th & 16th, 2024. 
There will be presentations from Byron Kominek, owner and operator of Jack's Solar Garden, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Colorado State University (CSU), CALC staff, solar grazing professionals and other individuals and businesses within the industries. 
Expect to learn about agrivoltaic design, construction practices, agrivoltaic science, operations & management and research methods. Experience working with in solar array and connect with fellow industry professionals and other interested parties and participate in engaging discussions. 
The workshop is open to members of the public and tickets are limited and available on a first-come-first-served-basis. Please contact info@coagrivoltaic.org if you have any other questions.

Solardarity

🕔 WHEN: Thursday, August 15, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

📍WHERE: 14er Brewing Denver, Denver, CO

Solardarity is a happy hour for the commercial, community, and utility-scale solar industry. In 2019, Pivot Energy created the event in Denver as a way to connect and network without any agenda. At Solardarity there are no speeches, presentations, or sales pitches -- just great people. 
Join us as we strengthen the commercial and utility solar community and ride the "solar coaster" together at our next event. Fill out the form to join the invite list at https://go.pivotenergy.net/solardarity

1-2-3 Electrify Series, Step 3: Perfect

🕔 WHEN: Thursday, August 15, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

📍WHERE: Louisville Recreation & Senior Center, Louisville, CO

The Town of Superior and Cities of Louisville and Lafayette are excited to help you navigate your electrification journey – whether it’s improving your home’s efficiency, investing in electric technology, or powering your equipment renewably. We’ll help you along your journey, every step of the way. Electrifying is as easy as 1-2-3, just follow the roadmap...
Step 3 Perfect: Create a maintenance plan and periodically revisit your goals.

Monthly Green Home Tour

🕔 WHEN: Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

📍WHERE: Bear Mountain Drive & Green Circle, Boulder, CO

Home in Boulder, CO. This months event is partnering with Rewiring America and Climate Citizens Lobby for something extra special.
NOTE: Exact location will be sent via a followup email.

West Slope Startup Week

🕔 WHEN: Monday, August 19, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

📍WHERE: Durango, CO

West Slope Startup Week is a celebration of everything entrepreneurial in rural Colorado! We’re part of a global movement: Techstars Startup Weeks are five-day, entrepreneur-led, community events held in cities across the world to showcase the local startup ecosystem through meetups, lectures, discussions, and celebrations. In-person, no-cost, inspirational, and radically inclusive.

B.S. & BEER Denver Metro Monthly Gathering

🕔 WHEN: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

📍WHERE: Tradecraft Industries, Denver, CO

Topic: All Things Insurance
with Former Bronco Tim Stuber of Farmers Insurance
He will be discussing Insurance after the Marshall Fire and answering all insurance questions you may have.

Energizing Climate Solutions: Rural, Resort & Energy Transition Communities

🕔 WHEN: Thursday, August 22, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

📍WHERE: Aspen Meadows Resort, Aspen, CO

A collaborative forum focused on climate solutions and economic resilience in rural, resort & energy transition communities in Colorado and beyond. The forum will consist of keynote speakers, expert panels, and afternoon workshops all asking the question - how do we accelerate solutions and innovation, while creating greater economic opportunity and resilience for all?

Boulder Climate Happy Hour

🕔 WHEN: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

📍WHERE: Rayback Collective, Boulder, CO

​Boulder is full of interesting people working on solutions to the climate crisis. Our goal is to bring people with diverse backgrounds together to share ideas, connect, and learn from one another. Join us for a drink and casual gathering.

Transportation Symposium on Environment, Energy, and Livable Economies

🕔 WHEN: Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

📍WHERE: Hilton Denver City Center, Denver, CO

Participants and speakers will evaluate the latest developments in transportation issues related to:
- Air quality and greenhouse gas mitigation
- Resource conservation and recovery
- Transportation energy
- Alternative fuels and technologies
- Economic development and land use

Climate Action Hour

🕔 WHEN: Wednesday, August 28, 2024 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM

📍WHERE: Sanitas Brewing Company, Boulder, CO

In collaboration with Climate Changemakers, Boulder Progressives hosts a monthly Hour of Climate Action.
This event is your opportunity to step into the world of civic engagement and advocate for bold, science-based, equitable climate solutions. With help from Climate Changemakers, we make it easy to take action. All you have to do is bring a laptop and show up, and we’ll help you with the rest. If you need access to a laptop, email us ahead of time, and we can help coordinate!
Join us at Sanitas Brewing to enjoy a beer, meet other people who care about the climate, and make an impact. 

Composting Business Solutions and Tour

🕔 WHEN: Friday, August 30, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM

📍WHERE: Back Gate Farm, Fort Collins, CO

Welcome to the Composting Business Solutions and Tour event! Come learn from the Queen herself! Join us at the Compost Queen Farm for an exciting morning filled with learning and networking opportunities. This in-person event will provide you with valuable insights and strategies to enhance your composting practices or how to get started. Take a tour of the farm and see firsthand how organic waste is turned into nutrient-rich compost. Don't miss this chance to connect with industry experts and fellow composting enthusiasts.

CANCELED: Colorado Climatetech with Sandbox Solar - Aug '24 meetup

🕔 WHEN: Thursday, August 29, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM

📍WHERE: CSU Agrivoltaics Testing Ground, Fort Collins, CO

​​Come learn from one of Colorado's premier solar installers about everything solar. From residential to commercial, from new batteries to dead panels. The Sandbox Solar team will give us a tour of the CSU agrivoltaics testing ground where they are studying transparent solar arrays, bifacial solar arrays, and agricultural impacts. Afterwards we'll meet back at their office for a NoCo climate potluck and happy hour - open to all even if you cannot make the tour.

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Planning an Event?

To avoid conflicts in the future and help your event stand out, we’ve got a special planner’s guide and dashboard with the data behind this newsletter. Contact me via email to request access using subject ‘New Planner Application’.

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Climate News in CO

I’m looking for a collaborator to work on the news portion. If you’re interested, email me!

Federal politics is… complicated.

But locally, Colorado is one of a few states with bipartisan efforts to support the environment and the climate. Shout out to Michelle Rosinski for working to find common ground with conservatives who care about the environment. Check out her blog or her list of organizations that span the political spectrum.

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Job Openings in CO

🤝 Looking to connect with professionals working in climate?

#OpenDoorClimate runs a directory of climate professionals willing to chat with green jobseekers and maintains a great list of resources for job seekers.

🔍 Looking for a climate tech job?

Our friends at ClimateTechList have created a live Colorado-specific job openings tracker. Check out the Colorado list!

There were 205+ Colorado postings in July 2024. 🔺 25% from June

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Want to make sure you don’t miss anything? There are a few ways to stay in the loop.

1. Follow Colorado Climatetech on LinkedIn to see the latest on new events

2. Subscribe to this newsletter for monthly summary emails

For now, I hope you can join a local upcoming event!

Cheers,
William Greenbohl