2011
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2011
The Institute conducted a Government Field Program in August 2011 for selected audiences from the federal and state government. While the resource emphasis was on energy, addressing a wide range of energy resources and their potential contributions to the Nation's energy supply, attention was given to identifying the critical interrelationships that exist between energy and other mineral resources, such as rare earth elements.
The Field Program began on Monday, August 8th, at the Hotel Monaco in downtown Denver, Colorado. The Program concluded on Saturday, August 13th.
At each site, participants were introduced to the geologic, technical, economic, environmental, social, institutional, and political aspects of energy and mineral production. Meetings were arranged with community groups, and others impacted by current or proposed resource development.
Participants
Participants in the 2011 Field Program included 23 individuals, each representing a federal or state government entity directly related to energy development and policy making. The benefits of attendance included gaining fundamental knowledge, networking with other professionals in the field, establishing contacts with corporate representatives, and sharing insights and points of view with other policy makers.
Participants were invited from selected agencies and organizations which have specific responsibilities for energy-related policies, including:
- Federal Executive Departments
- Federal Agencies and Offices (e.g. OMB, OSTP)
- Congressional Agencies (e.g. CBO, CRS, GAO)
- Congressional Committees (selected)
- Congressional Delegations of the States Visited (selected)
- Governors Offices of the States Visited
- Appropriate Government Entities in the States Visited
Preliminary Reading Material
Participants in the Program were provided with selected reading material prior to commencement of the Program.
Tight Gas Sands
Xcel Energy
Mountain Pine Beetle
Natural Gas
Coal Mining Methods
Rare Earth Elements
U.S. Shale Gas - John Curtis (video)
Itinerary
| Day 1: Monday, August 8 | |
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast briefing, Denver Introductions, equipment, rules of the road Presentation on energy production and use in Colorado |
| 9:30 | Tour Xcel Energy Dispatch Center |
| 11:30 | Tour Vestas Wind Systems factory, Brighton |
| 1:30 PM | Bus to Glenwood Springs |
| 5:00 | Overnight at Hot Springs Lodge, Glenwood Springs |
| Day 2: Tuesday, August 9 | |
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast briefing and presentation on natural gas technology and trends, Glenwood Springs |
| 8:40 | Tour Bill Barrett Corp. gas drilling rig, Silt |
| 11:30 |
Battlement Mesa Activity Center- Panel Discussion and lunch Surviving the booms and busts Oil shale development |
| 1:30 PM | Tour Rifle Generating Station, Rifle |
| 3:30 | Tour biofuel processing center, Colorado Mountain College, Rifle |
| Dinner on your own with EMFI funds Overnight lodging at Hot Springs Lodge, Glenwood Springs |
|
| Day 3: Wednesday, August 10 | |
| 6:00 AM | Breakfast briefing |
| 6:30 | Bus to Somerset, Colorado |
| 8:00 | Tour West Elk, Elk Creek, Bowie #2 underground coal mines |
| 11:30 | Lunch and discussion, West Elk Mine |
| 1:00 PM | Bus to Rifle via the Grand Mesa |
| 6:00 | Group dinner and overnight at La Quinta Inn & Suites, Rifle |
| Day 4: Thursday, August 11 | |
| 6:45 AM | Breakfast briefing |
| 7:30 | Bus to Trapper Coal Mine, Craig, Colorado |
| 9:00 | Tour Trapper Surface Coal mine |
| 11:30 | Lunch and discussion, Craig Generating Station, Craig |
| 1:00 PM | Tour Craig Generating Station, Craig |
| 3:00 | Bus to Steamboat Springs, Colorado |
| 6:00 | Group dinner and overnight at Steamboat Grand Hotel |
| Day 5: Friday, August 12 | |
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast briefing |
| 8:00 | Bus to Kremmling, Colorado |
| 9:00 | Tour Confluence Energy's wood pellet fuel plant |
| 10:30 | Bus to Rocky Mountain National Park |
| 11:30 | Bus tour through Rocky Mountain National Park: Grand Lake to Estes Park |
| 1:30 PM | Tour USBuRec Estes dam and hydroelectric power plant, Estes Park |
| 6:00 | Group dinner and overnight at Stanley Hotel, Estes Park |
| Day 6: Saturday, August 21 | |
| 8:00 AM | Group breakfast at Stanley Hotel. EMFI Wrap-up |
| 10:00 | Bus to Denver International Airport |
| 12:00 PM | Bus from DIA to downtown Denver & Golden |
Click map for larger view
Further Information
For additional information concerning the Energy and Minerals Field Institute, please contact:
Energy and Minerals Field Institute
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado 80401 USA
Phone: 303.279.5563
Fax: 303.277.8683
Email: emfi@mines.edu