May 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.
This month comes with a new section from
, a veteran in the Boulder climate community. Check out her spotlight on Brady Seals, a manager at RMI's Carbon-Free Buildings Program.Events This Month
👩🔬 NREL Industry Growth Forum: May 1, Wed
🚧 After IGF: FOAK Roundtable: May 2, Thu
🌻 Volunteer Day at Jack's Solar Garden: May 4, Sat
👩💼 Women and Climate Denver Dinner: May 7, Tue
🚛 FleetPros | Colorado Chapter Spring Meeting & Expo: May 8, Wed
🏞 Denver INC: Neighborhood Connection~ Parks and Climate: May 11, Sat
🌻 CALC Volunteer Training Day: May 11, Sat
🌻 Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden: May 11, Sat
📉 Carbon Finance Bootcamp: May 13, Mon
🍻 Boulder Climate Happy Hour: May 15, Wed
🌻 Webinar: Agrivoltaics in the Just Transition: May 16, Thu
🍻 Solardarity: May 16, Thu
🍻 Climate Techies Boulder / Denver Members Happy Hour: May 24, Fri
🌻 Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden: May 25, Sat
🆒 U.S. Heat Pump Summit 2024: May 28, Tue
🌻 Solar Developer Agrivoltaics Workshop: May 30, Thu
🌎 [NEW DATE] ClimateCon! Boulder: May 31, Fri
Read on for more details about this month’s upcoming events.
Do you know about a cool event that’s missing? To submit events, use this form.
Sneak Peak at the Following Month
🌻 Volunteer Day at Jack's Solar Garden: Jun 1, Sat
🌻 Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden: Jun 8, Sat
🐑 AgriVoltaics World Conference: Jun 11, Tue
⚡️ EEBC Quarterly Members Meeting: Jun 13, Thu
🏘️ Community Solar Innovation Summit: Jun 13, Thu
🌻 Post-World Agrivoltaic Conference Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden: Jun 15, Sat
🍻 Boulder Climate Happy Hour: Jun 19, Wed
🧑💼 Green Career Expo: Jun 22, Sat
🌻 Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden: Jun 22, Sat
🌻 [NEW DATE] Colorado Climatetech with Jack's Solar Garden - Jun '24 meetup: Jun 22, Sat
There will be more! These are just a few that I know about if you like to plan ahead.
Event Details
NREL Industry Growth Forum
🕔 WHEN: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 2:00 PM
📍WHERE: Hyatt Regency Denver, Denver, CO
In its 29th year, the Industry Growth Forum (IGF) is the premier event for climate tech and cleantech entrepreneurs, investors, and experts from industry and the public sector to build relationships, showcase innovative technologies, and identify disruptive business solutions. The IGF builds on decades of technical expertise and market analysis accumulated at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the nation’s only federal lab dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency research. We are strongly committed to our mission of connecting cutting-edge startups with motivated investors. These connections are critical to drive innovation to market for impact and we are dedicated to making that a reality.
After IGF: FOAK Roundtable
🕔 WHEN: Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
📍WHERE: The Denver Athletic Club, Denver, CO
Join us for a unique roundtable event focused on discussing successful First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) pathways for climate tech, featuring speakers Will Evans, Trevor Best, and Walker Dimmig to talk about their journeys building companies through FOAK. We'll delve into their groundbreaking journeys and explore how their experiences can guide companies and investors venturing into FOAK territory. We'll then invite the rest of the room to answer a few questions on FOAK and problem solve in real time.
Volunteer Day at Jack's Solar Garden
🕔 WHEN: Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM
📍WHERE: Jack's Solar Garden, Longmont, CO
Come and join us for a day, volunteering around Jack's Solar Garden! Tasks could include seeding, weeding or mulching - it will depend on the day, weather and seasonal needs. Tools will be provided - but please wear appropriate clothing and closed-toed shoes, and bring water with you. We will provide a light lunch as well. This is not a 'rain or shine' event - and if weather is bad, we will cancel this. Please see below for more information regarding weather.
Women and Climate Denver Dinner
🕔 WHEN: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
📍WHERE: Edgewater Public Market, Edgewater, CO
If you are looking for an opportunity to talk climate with professionals identifying as women, you are in the right place! No climate experience necessary. Our gatherings are a fun way to make new friends and chat about all topics with the backdrop of climate. See a summary of our past events here For alerts on future events and access to our free Slack Community, head over to our main site here Host: Dinner will be organized by WAC Denver City Lead, Sara Woods
FleetPros | Colorado Chapter Spring Meeting & Expo
🕔 WHEN: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
📍WHERE: Adams County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall Building, 9755 Henderson Rd, Brighton, CO
Colorado Chapter of FleetPros member, associate members, and anyone involved in fleet operations are invited to join the Annual Spring Meeing & Expo! Join together with fleet professionals on Wednesday May 8 from 8 am – 3 pm at the Adams County Fairgrounds. The expo will offeran atmposhere beneficial to the exchange of ideas, problem solving, education, and networking. Drive Clean Colorado’s Executive Director, Bonnie Trowbridge, will be giving a presentation titled: “Building your Capacity: Funding, Resources and Partners for Sustainable Fleets”. Be sure to stop in to hear from and network with our team.
Denver INC: May 2024 Neighborhood Connection~ Parks and Climate
🕔 WHEN: Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM
📍WHERE: Table Public House, Denver, CO
Meet and connect with new leaders of the Parks and Rec and the Climate Action Sustainability and Resiliency Offices! Hear about INC's RNO 101 and Summer Artfest on June 22nd in Five Points! Come to connect with community members from across the city. Bring your concerns, questions & news from your neighborhood to share!!! Come join the conversation.... all are welcome!
Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden
🕔 WHEN: Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
📍WHERE: Jack's Solar Garden, Longmont, CO
Join a guide from the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center on an interpretive tour of Jack's Solar Garden, the premier agrivoltaic research site in the nation. 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.
CALC Volunteer Training Day
🕔 WHEN: Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
📍WHERE: Jack's Solar Garden, Longmont, CO
Are you interested in a long-term volunteer commitment with the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center? This could look like leading public tours, helping us at events, participating in on-farm activities or even providing support with fundraising activities. If so, please join us for this volunteer training day where you can learn about the history of Jack's Solar Garden, what agrivoltaics even are, and what exciting research activities we have onsite. This is a great opportunity to join the team and meet fellow volunteers. Lunch will be provided.
Carbon Finance Bootcamp
🕔 WHEN: Monday, May 13, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
📍WHERE: CSU Spur, Denver, CO
The Carbon Finance Bootcamp hosted by CSU’s Soil Carbon Solutions Center combines university resources and expertise with connections to industry and philanthropy, in order to provide a world-class educational experience at the nexus of climate change, finance, technology, and society. The bootcamp is designed to up-skill a new generation of climate and sustainability leaders. Participants include land managers, investors, industry professionals, government officials, consultants, and other stakeholders interested in gaining of-the-moment knowledge on the complex landscape of carbon finance and carbon management. The in-person bootcamp welcomes 30 participants for three days of learning, with an optional fourth day to workshop personal carbon projects and investment initiatives with expert support.
Boulder Climate Happy Hour
🕔 WHEN: Wednesday, May 15, 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.
Webinar: Agrivoltaics in the Just Transition
🕔 WHEN: Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
📍WHERE: Jack's Solar Garden, Longmont, CO
Agrivoltaics is the co-location of agricultural activities within a solar array whereby the microclimates of the solar panels impact the growth, health, and production of crops and livestock. The Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center is providing a series of discussions about agrivoltaics highlighting various professionals engaged in or adjacent to the field of agrivoltaics. We center our discussions on the outlook for agrivoltaics specifically in Colorado, though certain aspects of agrivoltaic designs or operations can be extrapolated to other areas of the country. In this discussion we will discuss the role of agrivoltaics in the Just Transition. Each of our guests will speak for around 10-15 minutes before we open up for questions from the attendees. Total run time of this webinar will be no more than 90 minutes.
Solardarity
🕔 WHEN: Thursday, May 16, 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
Climate Techies Boulder / Denver Members Networking Happy Hour
🕔 WHEN: Friday, May 24, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
📍WHERE: Monolith Brewing, Denver, CO
Join us for the Climate Techies Denver/Boulder Member Networking Happy Hour to meet other climate professionals and like-minded individuals passionate about combatting climate change and using technology and innovate to fight for Team Planet.
Public Tour of Jack's Solar Garden
🕔 WHEN: Saturday, May 25, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
📍WHERE: Jack's Solar Garden, Longmont, CO
Join a guide from the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center on an interpretive tour of Jack's Solar Garden, the premier agrivoltaic research site in the nation. 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.
U.S. Heat Pump Summit 2024
🕔 WHEN: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
📍WHERE: CSU Spur, Denver, CO
Join us for a groundbreaking event designed exclusively for contractors working with heat pumps. The U.S. Heat Pump Summit is the ultimate gathering to level up your sales, designs, and installations to high performance building standards! Unlock the secrets to maximizing comfort for your customers while simultaneously growing your business with training on overlooked heat pump and airflow fundamentals, coupled with heat pump focused sales approaches and more.
Solar Developer Agrivoltaics Workshop
🕔 WHEN: Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
📍WHERE: Jack's Solar Garden, Longmont, CO
This popular 2-day workshop is hosted on site at Jack's Solar Garden and is open to the public. Now in it's second year, this workshop will feature guest speakers and interactive sessions on all aspects of agrivoltaic systems including design, construction, integration, working with communities and much, much more! Come and be a part of the conversation on how to improve land stewardship through agrivoltaics.
[NEW DATE] ClimateCon! Boulder
🕔 WHEN: Friday, May 31, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
📍WHERE: Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder, Boulder, CO
ClimateCon! is a dynamic platform dedicated to driving action and fostering collaboration to address climate change. Through its conference series and year-round initiatives, ClimateCon! brings together thought leaders, experts, innovators, and change-makers from various sectors to accelerate the transition to a regenerative and resilient future. By showcasing actionable solutions and facilitating meaningful partnerships, ClimateCon! empowers individuals and organizations to make a tangible impact in the fight against climate change. Visit www.climatecon.world to learn more.
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’.
🆕 Spotlight of the Month: Brady Seals
“Let's be honest; working in climate right now can feel very hard and daunting, especially with the election coming up. I love that many like-minded people in Colorado work hard on these issues but then also get out and enjoy the earth, the trails, and all the things and realize why it's so important to protect this for us and future generations.”
Spotlight on Brady Seals
Several years ago, very few people—even the most obsessed climate activists—thought much about their stove. Since then, stoves have become one of the most controversial and consequential appliances, thanks in large part, to the work of Brady Seals.
Climate News in CO
I’m looking for a collaborator to work on the news portion. If you’re interested, email me!
Have you heard about the aluminum mill outside of Denver? They just got a big grant as part of the $6 billion heavy industry investments last month. Closer to home, Google, Rewiring America, and the Colorado Energy Office just released a new Colorado-specific home incentive calculator. If you really want to dig into savings, pair it with this revamped green upgrade tool from RMI.
Job Openings in CO
🔍 Looking for a climate tech job? Our friends at ClimateTechList have created a live Colorado-specific job openings tracker. Check out the Colorado list!
Want to make sure you don’t miss anything? There are a few ways to stay in the loop.
Follow Colorado Climatetech on LinkedIn to see the latest on new events
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For now, I hope you can join a local upcoming event!
Cheers,
William Greenbohl