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Politicians visit Minturn-based energy company

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State senators Pat Steadman, center, and Rollie Heath, center left, talk with employees of Active Energies who highlight recent solar energy upgrades the town of Vail has been using in the sunny summer months at the Lionshead parking structure. The senators were on a tour visiting small businesses in Eagle and Garfield counties that have been active in their use of renewable energy.
Justin Q. McCarty | Special to the Daily |

MINTURN — Colorado state senators Rollie Heath and Pat Steadman and their staffs visited Active Energies on July 16. The senators were on a listening tour of small businesses located in Eagle County and made the Vail-area solar company the last stop on their tour. Heath and Steadman toured the Active Energies offices, meeting the owners and staff to discuss the challenges and opportunities for small businesses in Colorado.

Following a tour of the company’s office in Minturn, the Active Energies staff accompanied the senators to the town of Vail’s Lionshead parking structure, where 10.6-kilowatt solar panels provide renewable energy for the town’s transit and welcome centers. The solar project was completed by Active Energies in early 2012 and provides an attractive and well-situated display of the town’s environmental initiatives.

In addition to the roof-mounted solar panels, the town of Vail’s environmental sustainability coordinator, Kristen Bertuglia, was on hand to show the senators a portable solar generator, which was also built by Active Energies. The solar generator, named the VoltsWagon, is a self-contained unit with solar panels and batteries, which can be towed by car or truck to provide power to any location. The power for many of the town’s events can now be served without the noise and pollution of a conventional generator. Jason Weingast, the vice president of Active Energies, provided an in-depth explanation of the equipment and function of both solar projects.

“It was great to see elected officials from around the state visiting our community and asking for our feedback,” said Megan Gilman, president of Active Energies. “They were very interested and engaged in discussing issues that are important to small local businesses. Active Energies was thrilled to host the senators and show them the exciting projects we are working on within Colorado and in seven other countries throughout the world.”

For more information, call Gilman at 970-306-4233 or email megan@active energies.com.

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