Fort Collins, Colorado
Located in northern Colorado 5o miles north of Denver, Fort Collins offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural and recreation opportunities, a strong economic base and diverse employment opportunities. Situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins is home to world-famous micro-breweries, 300 miles of bike trails, and a brand new museum and science center. Fort Collins will entertain you and make you feel right at home. Learn more about area attractions and historically rich places to visit at ftcollins.com.
The event will take place at the newly renovated Lincoln Center in downtown, just minutes from breweries, restaurants, and entertainment.
Here are a few other facts:
- Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly Community: League of American Bicyclists – May 2013
- Gold Level Certification: Solar Friendly Communities – April 2013
- Ranked 3rd in the nation on Best Places to Do Business list: Forbes.com – June 2012
- One of the Top 10 Cities Adopting Smart Grid Technology: U.S. News and World Report – May 2011
- Ranked 3rd, Best-Performing Cities 2011, Where America’s Jobs are Created and Sustained: Milken Institute – Dec. 2011
- One of America’s 20 Most Economically Vibrant College Towns: TheAtlanticCities.com – September 2011
Technology and Innovation Stops
The City of Fort Collins established a zero energy district, in 2009. The FortZED initiative encompasses the downtown district of Fort Collins and the Colorado State University campus. Both Fort Collins and Colorado State University share a strong vision of sustainable practices, conservation, and land stewardship. From 2010-2011 FortZED hosted a Department of Energy pilot project called the Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration demonstration. With strong results and lessons learned, the community is ready to take FortZED to the next level.
Colorado State University is one of our nation’s leading research universities with world-class research in infectious disease, atmospheric science, clean energy technologies, and environmental science. It was founded in 1870 as the Colorado Agricultural College, six years before the Colorado Territory became a state.
Engines and Energy Conversion Lab
The global demand for energy is rising, even as global production of petroleum will soon decline. Pollution from fossil-fuel combustion has a worldwide impact on health, and the buildup of greenhouse gasses is forcing global climate change. Colorado State University’s Engines & Energy Conversion Laboratory (EECL) is confronting the global energy challenge through innovative research. EECL’s mission is to create innovative energy solutions and entrepreneurial models which benefit the human condition and achieve global impact.
The Rocky Mountain Innosphere (RMI) is a 501c3 non-profit corporation formed to accelerate the success of high-impact scientific and technology startup companies and promote the development of a regional entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northern Colorado. RMI provides entrepreneurial startup companies with resources such as assistance with raising capital, access and connections with academic and government institutions, a network of advisors and mentors including several who are in residence, discounted professional service providers and educational and networking opportunities for realizing business success.
The InteGrid Laboratory ranks among the world’s most advanced centers for test and development related to renewable energy, distributed generation, and power system management. InteGrid enables utility, industrial, and commercial power system managers to develop control applications and grid management strategies with extraordinary confidence. For renewable and distributed technology developers, InteGrid provides all the support necessary to accelerate development, optimize performance, and go to market with a decisive advantage.