A year ago, the CoorsTek facility at 4414 Table Mountain Drive was a simple warehouse.

Today, it’s a training center.

And, in the coming months and years, CoorsTek leaders hope it’ll become a regional epicenter for advanced manufacturing workforce development.

On July 16, the company celebrated opening its new CoorsTek Academy Advanced Manufacturing Training Center with its industry and education partners, as well as state and local government officials.

The CoorsTek Academy started in 2021 to train internal hires and employees.

However, this new training center in northeastern Golden was made to be used by outside entities.

According to CoorsTek Workforce Development Manager Elizabeth Pittman, workforce development centers, local school districts, community colleges and other companies will use it to train people in universally applied manufacturing skills.

“This is really what opportunity looks like,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Pittman and other CoorsTek officials explained how the state-of-the-art facility will be ideal for advanced manufacturing personnel, covering everything from a half-day recertification course to a multiyear apprenticeship.

CoorsTek employees are also using the training center for apprenticeships, recertification and other endeavors.

In fact, Pittman said the first apprenticeship cohort — composed of six recent high school graduates from Jefferson and Denver counties — started on June 30 for an 18-month program.

The facility is composed of two training bays. One is specific to CoorsTek employees, with proprietary technology and machinery. The second is open to community colleges, workforce development centers and others, Pittman said.

Both feature innovative technologies, such as a forklift simulator, to help participants learn.

Opportunity Now Colorado

Last year, CoorsTek received a $4.5 million Opportunity Now Colorado grant to help establish the academy. From now until late 2026, the academy must serve at least 1,200 Coloradans as part of the grant requirements.

Polis said that overall, $55 million in Opportunity Now grants will help at least 20,000 Coloradans with job training and placement. The CoorsTek Academy’s training center specifically will be a major boost for the 6,000 companies that comprise Colorado’s advanced manufacturing sector, he said.

CoorsTek leaders thanked the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade and the Governor’s Office for investing in the training center, saying it will become a model for public-private collaboration.

Chief Executive Officer Michael Coors also anticipated it’d be a major asset to Colorado’s advanced manufacturing sector, and help boost local companies, employees and economic development.

Irma Lockridge, chief people & systems officer, encouraged Polis and other officials to check back on the training center in a year to see just how much it had grown and how significant of an impact it’s had.

Click through additional photos from the July 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony:

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Four Front Range electrical utilities — Colorado Springs Utilities, CORE Electric Cooperative, Platte River Power Authority, and United Power — are teaming up in an effort to modernize in-state electricity transmission.

“We expect our growth to continue, so addressing transmission congestion is critical,” said Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power, in a July 15 statement. “United Power serves an area that is growing quickly, attracting large residential developments and new businesses alike. A more reliable transmission route would help to stabilize costs and increase reliability for current and future members in the cooperative’s service territory.

“A new transmission solution could also benefit the utilities by allowing them to better access generation and share transmission resources, helping to meet Colorado’s clean energy goals,” he said.

CORE Electric Cooperative serves customers in Douglas, Clear Creek, Park and Jefferson counties. The Platte River Power Authority includes customers in Loveland, Fort Collins, Longmont and Estes Park. United Power serves Adams, Weld, Clear Creek and Jefferson counties.

The three rural Metro Denver power companies and the Colorado Springs Utilities aim to reduce electric transmission congestion, improve system reliability, expand access to renewable energy sources, and support Colorado’s goal for carbon reduction, according to officials. 

According to officials, the transmission lines are part of the electric grid that supplies power within their area, from power plants to local utilities and substations. 

The population growth in the Colorado Front Range presents challenges due to the resilience of transmission congestion limits. The four utility power companies serve more than 1.5 million Coloradans in the state’s fastest-growing regions. 

“We are committed to decarbonizing our portfolio for our four owner communities while supporting our neighboring utilities as we all make this energy transition,” says Jason Frisbie, CEO of Platte River Power Authority. “All options are on the table to help improve reliability and reduce costs, including opportunities to enhance transmission capabilities as we move into an organized market.”

Additionally, according to officials, Springs Utilities, Platte River Power Authority, and United Power will join the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional Transmission Organization on April 1, 2026, to help manage costs and maintain reliability. Also, CORE would determine market presence alongside the South Power Pool. 

“This is a positive first step in exploring alternative ways for our four utilities to support growth and resiliency across our service territories,” stated Pam Feuerstein, CORE CEO. “Additional transmission would enable CORE to continue providing affordable and reliable power to our members, now and into the future.”

“The four utilities have agreed to continue to evaluate future transmission options that can best support each utility’s needs while advancing shared goals for reliability, affordability, and sustainability.”

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Christina Zygielbaum has always dreamed of opening a coffee and tea shop, with plans to include a shelf with books her customers could browse.

Her dream became a reality – books and all – and she opened “7 a.m. Somewhere” coffee shop in the heart of Brighton at 119 N. Main Street with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 16. 

Johna Garrison, president of the Brighton Chamber of Commerce, congratulated Zygielbaum saying she did a fantastic job with the place and made it unique. Brighton had no coffee shops, and now it have several, all at once.

“This coffee shop is special because it offers a space for moms to gather, a place for you to work or meet a friend, and a spot for kids to play — this combination is unique among all other shops. It also features a beautiful patio out back and amazing murals,” Garrison said. “It’s amazing to see Brighton growing like this and creating spaces where people can come together to build a stronger community, which is exactly what is needed.”

In addition to coffee, Zygielbaum’s coffee shop boasts handcrafted beverages, artisanal pastries and delectable dishes. They also provide gluten-free options. 

“This is my dream for the future to bring the community together and offer great drinks,” said Christina Zygielbaum. 

She said that before buying her coffee shop five years ago, she had been a stay-at-home mom taking care of her children. 

 “I have also worked at American Express and in project management. This business makes sense,” Ziglebaum said. 

Her husband Josh Zygielbaum is the Adams County Clerk and Recorder, said that owning a coffee and tea shop and a bookstore has been Christina’s lifelong dream, and she had the opportunity to purchase the building. 

“She took this and ran with it; it has taken on with her personality, its design and atmosphere are entirely hers. And it’s just wonderful,” he said. 

The building itself was about 120 years old, so it needed some additional tender loving care, he said. 

“There were some original wood floors here, and severely damaged floors had to be replaced, along with various items that generally needed upgrades. It turned out beautifully,” he said. 

Brighton Chamber board member Rachel Munoz said the shop is the shot in the arm the area needs.

“It’s great to see more businesses coming in, and see more people that are traveling, to come in and sit down and enjoy our city and go shopping downtown,” Munoz said.

Former Chamber board member Brian Engle agreed.

“It’s cool to get as many businesses as we can down here,” Engle said. “It’s great to see downtown revitalized for the people at night and during the day. It’s huge, awesome.” 

Charles Morgan, a Business Account Executive with Allo Fiber and a member of the Brighton Economic Development Board, said is a natural fits for the area and gives the community a new place to meet. Chamber secretary Ernadette Burarin said she loves the space and the decor. And Brighton City Council member Ann Taddeo was on board as well.

“It was my first time here, but I will be back,” Taddeo said. “It’s wonderful.” 

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The recent tariffs, taxes imposed on imported goods, are already affecting three North Denver businesses.

Steve Pribyl, owner of SloHi Bike and Coffee Company, said tariffs are affecting his pricing and inventory. Much of the product sold at his bike shop at the corner of West 29th Avenue and Tennyson Street is manufactured in Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia. Some of his suppliers have already seen aluminum tariffs affect pricing and he has had to increase his own prices on chains and some bicycle locks.

He said he’s been getting emails from some of his suppliers that are preemptively raising prices.

“Some of my suppliers are like … we know the tariffs are coming. We are going to raise prices now,” Pribyl said. Getting inventory is also becoming an issue for the shop. Pribyl, who was an employee at SloHi up until two years ago when he bought the shop, has traditionally tried to run a lean-inventory management strategy because he is just starting out on the ownership side of the business.

“I had a plan going into the year of how I wanted to do purchasing, and it mainly affects my inventory values,” he said. “I want to keep my inventory low to have more cash on hand so I can react to things. Instead, I have to spend more money, get more products, some of it on credit, just so I have stuff for the year.” Pribyl would like to buy more bikes to stock up before the tariffs hit, but there are a lot of bikes that have been snapped up by larger bike shops because of the fear of tariffs.

“It’s getting harder to replenish inventory,” he said, adding lead times on products are getting longer. “Things I thought I would get in a month might take two, three months. Everything is on backorder. Something I might have been expecting in May now might come in June.”

Pribyl also had to cancel a demo program. He was supposed to get a set of demo bikes from one manufacturer so that he could have a bunch of bikes for his customers to test drive. That program was canceled by the manufacturer as they are starting to stockpile all of the bikes they have in the U.S. before the tariffs take effect. So he canceled that demo program for the rest of the year.

He has been talking to other bike shops around the country and said “they are nervous.”

Jacque Killian, owner of the Beyond the Blackboard toy shop at West 32nd Avenue and Perry Street, said she is already feeling the effects of tariffs and has some serious concerns.

“Eighty percent of the toys that are sold in the United States come from China,” Killian said.

With U.S. tariffs on Chinese imported goods currently at 104% to 125% as of May 1, it’s having a major effect on the cost of toys. She noted that the vast majority of toy manufacturers are small and mid-size businesses and that tariffs are causing major problems for her suppliers and they are increasing prices.

“Every day we get emails from our vendors. We have one vendor that emailed and said the price is going up by 10% in two weeks,” Killian said. “A week later, they replied back and said, ‘I know we told you 10%, but … it’s a 30% increase now.’ ”

Killian said she has even had manufacturers cancel orders from months ago for one price and are requiring her to reorder those toys for a much higher price if she wants them to be shipped to her later this year. She also said inventory of toys is going to become an issue in the coming months, and what is happening now may slow the inventory of toys to come during the winter holidays.

She noted that some overseas manufacturers have stopped selling their product to the U.S. altogether because of the tariffs and are going to focus on the European and Asian markets for the near term.

“The manufacturers are notifying us that they no longer can afford to bring those products to the U.S. because they feel customers are not going to pay for these items,” she said.

Killian also got a notification from The Toy Association. They surveyed their member base and estimated that nearly half of small and mid-size manufacturers run the risk of going out of business in the next six months.

“That’s staggering. That is very scary,” she said.

Faced with a dilemma on how to manage her inventory, Killian is debating on how much to stock up right now before there isn’t much inventory left to buy.

“I don’t want to create a huge cash-flow issue. How deep do I go? How much money do I risk? Do I hire the graphic designer across the street? Can I run events in my store? These are the questions that everybody has to be asking themselves,” she said. “It’s pretty stressful. You don’t want to be the bringer of bad news as a toy store. We want to be hopeful. How did toys become a political thing?”

Killian’s hope for the neighborhood is, “We would love for people to keep coming in, checking things out, shop small, shop local. It’s your local businesses that are going to be impacted first. They are what make our neighborhoods unique. We need to rally.”

Jimmy Funkhouser is the owner/founder of FERAL, an outdoor gear and clothing store that sells new and used goods, located on Tennyson Street near West 41st Avenue. Funkhouser said doesn’t think most people understand the headache that tariffs are going to have if they are not dropped.

“I can tell you it is not going to be insignificant,” he said.

He said that if the tariffs stick, there will be a price increase of 10-25% on the new clothing and outdoor gear that he sells, and that will be the first wave of price increases in May.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize retailers don’t really have a lot of control over price,” Funkhouser said. “Every brand that we work with, they tell us what we have to sell new items for, and the brands set the price.”

Funkhouser said that it will be the small-clothing and outdoor brands, especially the local ones, as well as the small retailers that will be affected the most. Because they conduct a much lower volume of business, they will have less leverage to negotiate on the impacts of tariffs.

FERAL is unique in that about 60% of their inventory is used. Funkhouser says their plan is to not increase their prices on used outdoor clothing and used gear. He said he thinks that “recommerce” will have an opportunity for consumers that might be seeking value if price increases do come to tariffs.

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Adams County drivers are being asked for their opinions regarding electronic vehicle charging stations and where they should be located.

“More and more people are turning to electric vehicles for a variety of reasons, including environmental concerns, financial viability, and more,” said Commissioner Lynn Baca, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners.

As part of Adams County’s Sustainability program, the county has partnered with the cities of Brighton, Commerce City, Thornton, Northglenn, and Westminster to form a regional cohort to hear from the community about where newchargers would best serve residents.

The group, led by the county, has established a short community survey along with an interactive map where residents can drop pins in locations where they would like to see future EV charging stations with an explanation why those spots would be useful.

With this data and information from the community, Adams County and partner cities will work together to better understand where residents want to see expanded EV infrastructure to help inform grant applications, future partnerships, and next steps to make their requests a reality.

“It’s our responsibility as their county government to make sure we are planning and then building the infrastructure, like additional EV chargers, needed to serve this growing trend,” Baca said. “I’m very grateful Adams County has forward-thinking staff and partners like our municipalities thinking about how best to expand our EV charging network to accommodate future demand.”

The five-question survey and the interactive map work together to let residents and businesses submit their opinions on making EV infrastructure more accessible in Adams County. The survey is available on the county’s website.

“We would love to hear from EV owners about what already works well for them and what gaps we still need to fill to make charging stations more accessible,” said Baca. “And if you don’t yet own an EV but are considering one in the future, we’d love to hear from you to see what we can do to help you make an informed decision on your next vehicle.”

In addition to the survey and map, Adams County has established a page on adcogov.org called Electric Vehicle Charging 101, which offers information and tips for people who own, lease, or are considering an EV. This resource includes information on charging, permitting, financial resources, and a listing of current EV charging stations offered by Adams County.

Earth Day celebration

The coalition of local governments will also be holding an Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Ave. in Commerce City.

In addition to music, food, kids’ activities, and exhibitors, there will be an Electric Vehicle Ride & Drive station where those interested in buying or leasing an electric vehicle can test drive one during the event. For more information about the Earth Day Celebration, visit adcogov.org/earthday.

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Southwest Airlines held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with officials from Colorado Aerotropolis, Adams County, the City and County of Denver, Jag Logistics, and Denver International Airport to inaugurate Southwest Airlines University on April 2. 

“Equipping our employees to do their jobs safely while delivering world-class hospitality is our top priority,” said Bobby Loeb, Vice President, Southwest Airlines University at Southwest Airlines. “We appreciate this partnership and our new training center, which allows us to invest in our people by offering the latest tools, enhanced training environments, and functional spaces to maintain a focus on safety as we continue growing and serving the Denver community.”

The ribbon cutting was held at 23,000 square-foot new learning centers at 6611 N. Powhatan Rd. in Aurora within the JAG Logistics Center adjoining Denver International Airport.

According to officials, there is additional room to expand 12,000 square feet. 

It’s part of the expansion around Denver International Aiport.

The Colorado Aerotropolis was developed as a vision in collaboration with industry leaders between Adams County; the cities of Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, and Thornton; the City and County of Denver; and Denver International Airport (DEN), according to officials.

Denver International Airport, North America’s third-busiest airport, brings economic growth to the region, according to Adams County officials.

“The Colorado Aerotropolis was born from the philosophy that when partners come together to collaborate, we are greater than the sum of our parts. When we work together, we can accomplish great things for the future of our region,” said Commissioner Lynn Baca, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners and Airport Coordinating Committee. “Celebrating Southwest Airlines’ training facility in Adams County is a commitment to regional collaboration to drive and sustain economic growth in the region.”

The Corporate Campus training facility in Dallas will still remain as a training center for airline pilots, according to officials. The new Southwest Airlines University is designed to be a hub to train employees in other types of airport jobs.

According to officials, JAG Logistics is a privately owned industrial expansion close to Denver International Airport. Its 260 acres are still under development under Industrial Zoned, Opportunity Zoned, and Enterprises Zoned with opportunities to expand into a commercial economic mecca. 

With the partnership of JAG, DEN, and the City of Aurora, the plans of development in this area would stimulate the communities, tenants, and businesses and create jobs within the neighborhoods that surround it.

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Amid so much change with federal government policies and international markets, City of Golden officials have said they’re moving forward with the programs and projects budgeted for 2025, albeit cautiously.

“There’s a lot of turmoil taking place right now,” City Manager Scott Vargo said. “We’re in a wait-and-see approach for the most part.”

Vargo told the Transcript on April 4 that the city’s being “deliberate and conscious of the changing environment that we’re operating within,” emphasizing how the City of Golden will continue to provide all its services and programs as planned.

As Mayor Laura Weinberg said at last month’s State of the City event, the City of Golden has strong revenue streams, well-thought-out expenses and deep reserves.

However, as Vargo confirmed, a few ripple effects from President Donald Trump’s policy decisions have already been felt at the city level.

Lena Gulch project

The first was how federal funding has been frozen or re-evaluated.

Vargo said there are several planned or ongoing city projects receiving federal dollars, describing how there’s a spectrum of vulnerability based on the federal funding source and the project status.

Vargo explained how several city projects are waiting on confirmation of previously-awarded federal funds, including a utility project at U.S. Highway 6 and Heritage Road. Of these, he said the most vulnerable project was flood mitigation work along Lena Gulch/West Colfax Avenue.

Public Works Director Anne Beierle confirmed work is nearly complete on Lena Gulch’s Phase I — replacing a culvert underneath Heritage Road at the intersection with West Colfax Avenue/U.S. Highway 40.

Beierle said the intersection should reopen by the end of April. (Click here for more information.)

Lena Gulch’s Phases II and III, which involves improving culverts both upstream and downstream of Heritage Road, were slated to start later this year. They are now on hold as Golden awaits federal funds.

The city and its partners received a $23.8 million PROTECT Grant for that work, as confirmed last year by President Joe Biden’s administration. Golden and its partners were set to match it with $6 million of their own.

Beierle said improving drainage along these sections of Lena Gulch is crucial to protect the people and property along West Colfax Avenue, remarking how it’s a “potentially scary place for a flood.”

Across Golden, there are typically properties in a 100- or 500-year flood plain; but along Lena Gulch, there are properties in the floodway right now, which she said is unusual.

Thus, if there’s any major flooding along Lena Gulch before this project is completed, the homes and businesses in the floodway could be seriously impacted, she explained.

Vargo confirmed Golden sent the paperwork necessary for the PROTECT Grant to the Federal Highway Administration — which is responsible for executing the grant — last year. It tried to push the application through and execute an intergovernmental agreement before the change in presidential administrations, but the application was delayed, he said.

As of April 14, the FHWA still hadn’t executed an IGA with Golden; and, according to Beierle, it isn’t the only Colorado municipality that’s waiting.

The Transcript emailed the FHWA on April 7 about Golden’s situation. In its April 14 reply, the agency said the Biden administration’s “misplaced priorities” had created an unprecedented backlog of unobligated grants.

The agency also pointed to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy’s comments at an April 2 U.S. Senate hearing:

“There are 3,200 announced projects at (USDOT) that don’t have signed grant agreements — 3,200,” Duffy said. “We are going to work through those projects … and I’m committed in a bipartisan effort to make sure we get those grant agreements signed and out the door, especially as we come into the spring building season. That’s a top priority for us.”

Golden has been in touch with its Congressional representatives about the issue, and both U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen said at a March 19 town hall meeting that they were aware of the delay. They said their offices were working to ensure Golden and other communities receive these already-approved funds.

Without the PROTECT Grant funds in-hand, Vargo and Beierle said Lena Gulch’s Phases II and III are on hold indefinitely.

“It’s a mystery,” Beierle said. “We haven’t been told that we won’t get (the grant funding).”

In the interim, Golden’s moving forward with Lena Gulch’s Phase IV, which will prepare the former Bachman property for future drainage work and has separate funding, Beierle said. The work includes doing a historical evaluation of the site and possibly an archaeological excavation next year, she added.

Depending on if or when Golden does get the PROTECT Grant funds, Beierle said work on Phases II, III and IV could be simultaneous.

The new municipal center

Another ripple effect the City of Golden has experienced is the Trump administration’s tariffs impacting the cost of construction materials.

Vargo said the biggest example thus far was the mass-timber costs for the forthcoming municipal center and police headquarters.

The city is set to break ground on the $60 million building at 311 10th St. sometime this spring or early summer. Vargo said preliminary site work is slated for this month, while the city and its consultants finalize design elements and costs.

Before the Trump administration announced tariffs against Canada this winter, Vargo said the city’s lowest bid for timber was from a Canadian company. Afterward, the company bumped up its prices so that it was no longer the lowest bid.

Thus, Golden switched its mass-timber vendor to an American company, which Vargo said was the new lowest bid, and the city’s now locking in its pricing.

The difference in price between the pre-tariff Canadian vendor and the post-tariff American vendor was about $100,000, Vargo said.

While he remarked that “every dollar counts” and that Golden must be a good steward of taxpayer funds, Vargo confirmed the city has built-in contingencies for a project of this size and scale. Thus, the $100,000 difference “isn’t enough to negatively impact our project overall,” he said.

Golden has additional contingencies built into the project for escalation and other economic factors, he added, but this tariff-timber situation was “one instance where we have to use that contingency.”

Vargo confirmed via email April 8 that the mass-timber vendor was “the only significant part of the (municipal center’s) building construction/supplies that is being locked-in at this time.”

Impacts for 2025, budgeting for 2026

As for other materials and other projects that might be impacted by the tariffs and the fluctuating markets, Vargo stated Golden was trying to anticipate where it might see challenges, and remain “flexible and adaptable as those changes come our way.”

For those who want to stay up-to-date on other potential impacts, Vargo said staff will be updating the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee and City Council on any significant developments.

Vargo reiterated that no city projects or programs have been canceled, but if there are any significant delays or cancellations, Golden will share that through its “standard channels,” including social media, he said.

Because most city projects are funded internally, Vargo said most 2025 items should be completed on time and on budget. For those that receive federal or outside funding, he said, “We’re continuing to push those forward where we can. … That’s all we can do right now.”

The city will start its 2026 budgeting process in June.

Vargo said there could be major financial impacts in 2026 and/or 2027, as grant-funding sources award less money and/or the city feels other economic pressures.

“We’re trying to be optimistic wherever we can be,” he said, “but it’s so full of uncertainty.”

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With wide-scale layoffs, budget cuts and more, the past three months haven’t been easy for federal government employees and contractors.

However, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright looked to provide some encouragement April 3 as he visited the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Golden campus.

In addressing NREL’s 4,000 employees — whether in Golden, at another campus or in the field — Wright told them how much he enjoyed his visit, saying, “Not all my days have been as awesome as today.”

Wright, who’s from the Denver area, has a background in oil and natural gas as well as solar, geothermal and nuclear energy. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 3 and sworn in later that day.

Wright told NREL employees how they’re doing critical work, saying he wants to help them however he can so that NREL and other U.S. Department of Energy employees can “unleash all of your energies and talents” and “focus on science and technology, and not on bureaucracy.”

To that end, he said he signed secretarial orders to ensure work could get done faster and cheaper.

As an example, Wright and NREL Director Martin Keller explained how, after Wright assumed office, Keller asked Wright to help accelerate construction of the Golden campus’ Energy Materials and Processing at Scale, or EMAPS, facility. NREL broke ground on it last year and it’s expected to be completed in 2027.

As Keller and other NREL officials later explained, Wright did help accelerate the project by reducing permit processing and approval times for contracting and executing the construction work.

After addressing the NREL employees, Wright and Keller hosted a small press conference in the Energy Systems Integration Facility.

When asked about federal employee layoffs and whether the public should expect any more, Wright didn’t give a definitive answer.

President Donald Trump’s administration has previously stated it wants to eliminate government employee positions through reductions in force. Then, on April 1, the DOE announced it was preparing for a “restructuring” but didn’t say more, according to Politico.

Wright said the DOE’s headcount has grown about 20% over the last four years, but he felt that Americans only got “a little bit more restrictions in energy production” in return. He continued by comparing it to how he ran his business, saying he wants to make “government services as good as they are today, or better, but at lower cost.”

He then said the U.S. Department of Energy is evaluating how to “get better and smarter at what we’re doing” within the overall department and each subdivision.

“So, that is an ongoing process; we are midstream on that,” Wright said. “But frankly, it would be downright irresponsible if we weren’t doing this (evaluation).”

‘We have to move fast’

During both his meeting with NREL employees and the press conference, Wright announced a DOE plan to lease land to AI data centers in a public-private partnership. One possible site is NREL’s Flatirons campus.

This plan builds on a Jan. 14 order issued by then-President Joe Biden’s administration.

Wright said he believes this public-private partnership would help both sides, as the data centers would have land to build on and the DOE would get money and maybe additional computing power for its national labs. It would also help the United States stay competitive in the international AI race, Wright added.

Keller agreed that integrating data centers into the community is a very important discussion for the country, and he said he believes there’s great potential for collaboration between national labs and data centers, particularly regarding energy efficiency.

Overall, Keller said, he and his NREL colleagues are excited at the prospect of partnering with a data center.

“Thank you for pushing us, to ask us, ‘How can we go faster?’” Keller said to Wright about how his work has affected NREL thus far. “Because, here at NREL, we love to go fast, because we want to create a better planet, so we have to move fast.”

During the April 3 press conference, Wright also fielded questions about his stance on climate change and “climate alarmism,” as he described it, as well as Trump’s tariffs that were announced the previous day.

In addressing both NREL employees and the media, Wright championed advancing the United States’ electric grid by “increasing supply without impacting costs.” He said the country’s demand for electricity has been relatively flat for at least 20 years while costs have gone up, making consumers angry.

“We need to produce more electricity and stop the price rises that are making life tougher for consumers and making it harder for businesses to locate in the United States,” he said.

Wright said he believes NREL employees and others across the DOE would be critical components in reaching that goal.

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David Sevcik knows all about the Mac ‘Noodles, Mile High Cheeseteak and Walking Tacos as well as other culinary delights he serves up in his 10 food trucks that circulate in the metro area. His menu aside, Sevcik also has to keep track of which city and county requires him to get new health and fire safety permits to allow his truck grills to operate.

The new permits are necessary in many Colorado cities and counties, even though he may have already earned the same permit from a different jurisdiction.

New fees for health and fire inspections for each truck can quickly add up, Sevcik said. The Westminster resident said last year he paid nearly $10,000 in fees to local jurisdictions to stay in local compliance.

“I am not trying to fail, I want to stay in business and make everyone safe,” Sevcik said. “But this can get expensive.”

Sevcik Tuesday was prepared to testify in the State Legislature or HB25-1295, which would require local governments to grant reciprocal business licenses, health permits, and fire safety permits to food truck operators that hold active licenses and permits from another local jurisdiction.

The measure is sponsored by Rep. Manny Rutinel, an Adams County Democrat, who says food truck operators now must pay for health and fire safety permits in different jurisdictions even though they have met the exact requirements in another locale. “Food trucks are a growing part of Colorado’s economy, and they are inherently mobile and meant to operate across multiple jurisdictions,” Rutinel said in Capitol Watch, which breaks down each proposed bill. “Local government licensing and permitting requirements create unnecessary burdens on food truck businesses.”

The measure would require food trucks to be granted reciprocal business licenses and permits if the food truck owners provide a valid business license from another local government, a valid health department permit from another local government and a valid fire safety permit, according to the bill.

Consistency or local concerns

The current system of permitting food trucks discourages people looking to break into the business because of the weight of red tape, said Maria Gonzalez, founder and CEO of Adelante Community Development. The Commerce City-based non-profit works to help Spanish-speaking  entrepreneurs succeed in the business world.

“We just need more statewide consistency in the permitting process,” Gonzalez said. “That would help those just starting out.”

The legislation is opposed by the Colorado Municipal League, which says in part that “The bill overrides local decisions about where and how often food trucks operate.”

“The bill also overrides local public health, fire, and licensing regulations by requiring jurisdictions to accept health and fire safety permits from other jurisdictions with potentially less stringent rules,” according to the Colorado Municipal League.

The post Bill would cut red tape for food truck operators in the state appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Coloradans’ passion, worries and frustrations came to a head at a March 19 town hall meeting, as they asked U.S. Senator Michael Bennet what they can do to fight President Donald Trump’s policy decisions.

Almost 1,000 people packed the main auditorium on the Colorado School of Mines campus to ask questions of Bennet, D-Colorado, and U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, during a joint event. Bennet hosted other town halls solo in Greeley and Colorado Springs the same week.

While discussion was mostly civil and orderly, about a half-dozen people were escorted out of the auditorium for talking over other attendees and the elected officials. They protested Bennet approving Trump cabinet picks and ongoing violence against Palestinians, among other items.

Meanwhile, other attendees — who hailed from all across the Denver metro — expressed concerns about federal funding freezes, proposed cuts to critical government services, forthcoming tariffs, wide-scale layoffs of federal employees and more.

“Is there a plan?” Denver-area teacher Amanda Arlington asked. “… I feel like you’re talking pretty. It’s frustrating that it just doesn’t seem like there’s a plan.”

Bennet and Pettersen encouraged Coloradans — especially federal employees who have been laid off — to share their stories. They told everyone to attend future town hall meetings, contact their local officials on both sides of the aisle, and keep fighting.

“(This is) a moment that’s calling all of us to recommit ourselves to our democracy and to our society,” Bennet said.

Even though Democrats are the minority in both the House and Senate, Pettersen said, “Just because we’re not in power doesn’t mean we’re powerless. … It’s on all of us.”

Bennet said much of the fight must be via the court system, as part of the country’s checks and balances. Thus far, he said, the judicial branch seems to be holding as the Supreme Court and federal judges have ruled against many of Trump’s executive orders.

Bennet said he and his colleagues in Congress would continue pushing back as well, describing how there would be another opportunity soon with “the fight around Medicaid.”

Pettersen and Bennet said there are crucial federal court cases moving through the judicial system, and Arlington told her fellow attendees about upcoming special elections for U.S. House of Representative seats in Arizona, Florida, New York and Texas. They encouraged people to support these efforts and stay informed.

Still, many attendees shared their frustrations — civilly or otherwise — about a lack of leadership both within and from the Democratic Party. One person who has a background in lobbying at the state level said many people believe neither the Republican nor the Democratic parties represent them anymore.

Bennet agreed Democrats can’t use “the same old playbook,” adding how they might need new people in leadership positions as well.

Pettersen added how the Trump administration has been moving very quickly during these first two months, supported by Republicans’ majority in Congress, making it difficult for Democrats to respond to so many actions.

She said it’s important for people of all political backgrounds — not just Democrats — to work together at all levels of society and push back as the Trump administration tries to undermine or dismantle crucial government programs.

Pettersen emphasized how Coloradans cannot afford to sit by silently when there’s “so much at stake,” and believed even more people would start “fighting back.”

She thanked everyone for coming to the town hall, saying, “You give me hope … It can feel quite lonely in our fight for our democracy, our future. We’re going to be alongside all of you.”

‘A government that is working for the people’

Afterward, Bennet told members of the media how he believed the Golden town hall meeting had gone well, saying the attendees were able to share “their concerns about our democracy with Donald Trump in charge.” He was thrilled about the turnout in Golden, as well as in Greeley the previous day.

Regarding the March 19 protesters, Bennet commented how they were expressing their points of view, as allowed by the First Amendment, but that it was also important to “have the conversation that we (attendees) needed to have tonight.”

He encouraged everyone to continue engaging with their elected officials.

When asked plainly whether Democrats have a plan for combating Trump’s policies, Bennet said, “We need to develop a better plan, and anybody who’s (been) following the news last week would’ve seen that that’s what I’ve been saying. Conversations like this (town hall) are going to help us build that.”

For Coloradans worried about cuts to the National Weather Service and its parent agency, Bennet said he and his colleagues would keep fighting for NWS unceasingly. He said Congress has already approved funding for these agencies, and if the Trump administration fails to follow through, it may have to be decided in the courts.

He emphasized how, whether in the mountains or on the plains, Coloradans rely on weather reports, saying, “They are life and death.”

Bennet also listed how Jefferson County, Colorado School of Mines, the City of Golden and other local entities should be receiving millions of dollars in previously approved federal funds for their projects and programs.

One such example is Golden’s multiyear Lena Gulch/West Colfax Avenue project. City Manager Scott Vargo said it’s the most vulnerable city project that’s supposed to receive federal funds.

While the project’s first phase is underway, Vargo said later phases are now on hold. Golden has been keeping both Bennet and Pettersen’s offices in the loop about these funding issues, he confirmed.

Bennet encouraged other government entities, universities, nonprofits and communities to do likewise if they haven’t already.

“It’s really important for them to communicate with their elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, and remind them how hard these communities have fought for the projects that you’re talking about,” Bennet said. “ … It’s what (the Department of Government Efficiency) and Trump are trying to cut all across our country.”

Regarding local projects like Lena Gulch being put on hold, Pettersen echoed Bennet’s comments, saying, “It’s devastating. This is why we pay taxes: To come together, to invest back in our communities. We need a government that is working for people. Right now, it is completely falling apart.”

Click through additional photos from the March 19 town hall meeting:

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