CEC is a new idea in power generation that is building, operating and maintaining community-shared clean energy facilities. CEC is pioneering the model of delivering clean power-generation through medium-scale facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers. CEC's proprietary software automatically calculates monthly credits for members and integrates with the utilities' existing billing system. Our Mission
RooflessSolar™
RooflessSolar (community solar) is an optimally located off-site solar facility that enables any resident or business to take advantage of solar power, even those who rent or lease. Customers receive the benefits of going solar, without the worry of installation or maintenance.
CEC has developed proven software and services that allow for on-time market community solar deployments. For utilities seeking to offer their own community solar program, but are unsure where to begin, CEC is the solution.
What is clean energy, and why is it important? Clean energy comes from resources that never run out and whose byproducts have minimal or no effect on the environment. Sun, wind, and hydropower are the main examples. This energy is considered clean because it doesn’t produce the carbon dioxide and air pollution that come from fossil fuel consumption, which contribute to global warming.
Currently, oil, gas, coal, and other nonrenewable energy sources are deeply entrenched in the world economy and infrastructure. Shifting to clean energy will take time, technological development, and political will. The good news is that shift is underway. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, almost 20% of the country’s electricity generation came from renewable energy in 2020 — up from a mere 1% in 2000.
Environmental engineers are leading the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy to meet demand and to protect our air, water, health, and food.
Defining Clean Energy and Energy’s Impact on the Environment
To understand the impact of energy on the environment, it’s important to consider how energy use has evolved throughout human history. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, humans used renewable energy. They heated their homes and cooked their food by burning wood or other biomass (peat, for example). They also harnessed hydropower to spin waterwheels that crushed grains or used windmills.
While not all energy sources were clean — woodsmoke, for example, is highly polluting — they were renewable, meaning they were derived from resources that would not be depleted.
In the 1700s, the Industrial Age dawned with the discovery of how to burn coal to smelt iron. Coal, which is mostly made up of carbonized plant matter (aka a fossil fuel), was the beginning. It was used to power machinery and used in transportation (trains and steamships). Burning coal introduced carbon into the atmosphere, a direct contributor to a warming planet. Unlike wood or water, coal is nonrenewable; when all the coal is mined, there is no more.
Over the next 200-plus years, fossil fuels in the form of oil and gas also took hold, and there was an explosion in the use and exploitation of natural resources. As with coal, fossil fuels like oil and gas consist of carbon and hydrocarbons, which burn easily and produce a great deal of energy. They also produce carbon byproducts, which cause air pollution and contribute to acid rain and smog.
This shift had an enormous impact on the world economy, as well as the environment. While Europe, Asia, and North America largely benefited from the exploitation of fossil fuel resources, the global south has lagged behind.
With growing concerns about climate change and global warming, nonrenewable energy may no longer be the economic driver it once was. So what about clean energy? Can renewables take the place of fossil fuels? Some experts say that’s already happening.
Economic Growth and Development
One straightforward measurement of this complex economic problem is the financial cost of producing renewable and nonrenewable energy. The difference has changed over time.
Technological Development
Just a decade ago, wind and solar energy were far more expensive to produce than energy derived from fossil fuels. Now, that landscape is changing. Advances in wind turbines and solar panels have made these renewables comparable to oil and gas in cost — and, in some locations, even less expensive. With further advances in transmission lines and energy storage, the price for clean energy becomes even more competitive, although the complexities of oil production and demand make direct comparisons difficult.
Fossil Fuel Production
In the 1970s, “peak oil” entered the lexicon. The term refers to the idea that the easily found oil had already been drilled, and any that remained would be difficult and costly to extract. Peak oil has been declared many times over the past 50 years. However, evolving technology has kept the oil flowing. Natural gas, a byproduct of oil extraction, is no longer burned off but has become another common energy source. Have we reached peak oil? As with everything to do with energy, the answer is not so simple.
Demand and Use
As gas prices rise, demand falls. More people travel less, and more buy gas-efficient vehicles, hybrids, or electric cars. When gas prices fall, people tend to buy larger cars. Nations that are net importers of oil are moving toward reducing their dependence on foreign oil. This will mean moving toward more use of renewable energy, which will impact the economies of oil-producing nations.
Air Quality
Fossil fuels produce nitrogen oxides that cause smog and acid rain. Cars, coal-fired power plants, manufacturing, and airplanes are the biggest producers of nitrogen oxides, which have negatively impacted the health of millions of people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The cause of these health effects is particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller — small enough to travel into the lungs and cause disease. The impact of particulate matter is stark:
Disease. Poor air quality has been linked to stroke, heart disease, cancer, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
Deaths. WHO estimates that 4.2 million people died prematurely from air quality-related illnesses in 2016.
Indoor air pollution. Around 2.6 billion people use biomass, kerosene, or coal to cook and heat their homes. WHO attributes 3.8 million premature deaths to indoor air pollution.
Water Quality
Nonrenewable energy has had a sizable impact on water quality as well.
Acid rain. Acid rain is caused by nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, which are produced by burning fossil fuels. Acid rain harms plants and wildlife, including fish.
Ocean acidification. As with freshwater, the oceans are increasingly acidified by fossil fuel emissions, killing off the rich biodiversity of coral reefs, among other impacts.
Sea level rise. Climate change has caused glaciers to melt and the sea to rise. This causes flooding inland and saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
Livability and Sustainability
The world recently got a glimpse of what a clean energy-focused future might look like. In 2020, with most of the world on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of fossil fuels declined dramatically. According to a study reported in the journal Heliyon, this led to significant environmental effects:
Greenhouse gas emissions. In New York City, air pollution levels were cut in half in 2020. Levels of nitrogen oxide and carbon fell 50% in China as heavy industry shut down. Similar results were seen in major cities and countries around the world.
Water pollution. The levels of water pollution in major rivers fell, including in the Ganges in India (one of the 10 most polluted rivers in the world, according to Indian news site Ground Report).
Noise pollution. Noise pollution can have a deleterious effect on human health and can cause interrupted sleep, among other problems. Noise pollution levels fell so drastically during the pandemic that city residents could hear the chirping of birds.
Ecological restoration. Ecotourism has been both a blessing and a curse for some countries. Popular tourist sites experienced recovery of land and water as tourism came to a stop.
Climate Change
According to NASA, the average global temperature has increased by 1 degree Celsius since 1880. Warming has increased the fastest since 1975. Since the start of the 21st century, several years have earned the title of hottest year on record. Melting glaciers contribute to rising seas. Warming temperatures cause drought and wildfires. Greenhouse gas emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels are the reason for these rising temperatures, according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.
What Is a Renewable Energy Source?
A renewable energy source is one that’s never depleted. Renewable energy and clean energy are often used synonymously; however, some renewables are not ecologically friendly. Burning wood for heat and cooking causes indoor air pollution. Hydroelectric power changes ecosystems.
The following are some of the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy:
Advantages of Renewable Energy
How can renewable energy reduce pollution and slow or reverse climate change? Although the impact of renewable energy won’t be felt for decades, these sources are attractive alternatives to traditional fossil fuels.
Sustainability
Certain renewable energy sources are sustainable in that they will never run out. The most obvious of these is power from the sun. Some hydropower projects can be considered to be sustainable, if they’re designed to have low environmental impact.
Less Pollution
Clean, sustainable energy sources have few to no emissions that impact environmental quality. As the clean energy sector grows, experts believe that it can help offset fossil fuel emissions. But due to manufacturing and other inputs, no energy source can ever be completely free of environmental impact.
Job Creation
During the pandemic and despite a global lockdown, jobs in the global renewable energy sector grew from 11.5 million in 2019 to 12 million in 2020, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency and the International Labour Organization. A third of those jobs were in solar energy. Both organizations estimated that if governments were to commit to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, job outlook for the sector could rise to 38 million jobs by 2030.
Lower Maintenance Costs
Wind turbine maintenance costs are lower than comparable renewable energy technology, according to a report by research firm UnivDatos Market Insights. Lower maintenance requirements save time and money and increase uptime. This can help offset issues with reliable flow of power.
Less Waste
Renewable energy is less wasteful than fossil fuel by its nature: It depletes fewer natural resources, and it helps to preserve air and water quality. Some renewable energy sources solve waste issues. For example, energy can be derived from biomass sources such as corn, soybeans, and other used organic products. By converting biomass into energy, renewable energy keeps waste out of landfills.
Growing Affordability
Renewables are becoming more affordable. Wind and solar energy plants are cheaper than running a coal or gas-fired generator, according to research reported by Bloomberg. Even as materials costs rise, such as steel for wind turbines and polysilicon for solar panels, the trend continues.
Disadvantages of Renewable Energy
There are also downsides to renewable energy — some more significant than others. Reliability has long been an issue, along with storage and overall costs of shifting to a different system with differing infrastructure needs. The transition from fossil fuels to renewables is as complex as it is because of these disadvantages.
Variability and Reliability
A cloudy day or a calm one can interrupt power generation from solar panels or wind turbines. Likewise, gale-force winds don’t necessarily mean wind turbines produce more energy. For many power grids that get their energy in part from renewables, they still have to rely on coal, natural gas, or oil to keep the lights, heat, and air conditioning on.
Higher Cost and Economic Impact
The fossil fuel industry is entrenched in the energy sector, with power plants, transmission lines, and other elements all geared toward delivering natural gas, oil, and coal. Building infrastructure for solar and wind will continue to come at a higher cost. However, as more infrastructure is put in place, and demand grows, these costs have already started to come down.
Storage
Oil and gas are stored in tanks and are ready to be burned when needed. Renewable energy lacks the same storage capacity, generating electricity as it collects it. Storage is one of the main drawbacks of wind and solar energy production. While advances in battery technology have improved, the fact that solar output drops at night will continue to be a disadvantage.
Geographic Limitations
Not all renewable energy works for every location, unlike energy from fossil fuel. A shaded house won’t be a good candidate for solar panels. Wind turbines won’t help in areas where there’s no wind. Transmission lines are critical to bring power from wind farms in rural areas to cities and suburbs.
Environmental Impact
Renewables and clean energy can also have an environmental impact. Wind turbines can affect birds and bats. Manufacturing solar panels is resource-intensive. Environmental engineers and other experts focus on these challenges and seek to solve these problems at the design stage.
What Is a Nonrenewable Energy Source?
Nonrenewable energy is extracted from natural resources and burned as a source of power. For well over 200 years, nonrenewable energy has been the dominant source of power in the world. There are reasons for its longevity.
Advantages of Nonrenewable Energy
For the many disadvantages of fossil fuels, there are also many powerful advantages.
Established Infrastructure
Mass transportation, industry, and agriculture all have been designed and built around the use of fossil fuels. Until something goes wrong, such as the 2021 power grid failure in Texas, one of the biggest advantages of nonrenewable energy is that people don’t have to think about it.
Reliability/Consistency
Nonrenewable energy is highly reliable and consistent. Natural gas, coal, and oil can be stored efficiently until power plants need to burn them. It’s easily transported via rail or pipeline to a refinery or generating plant.
Affordability
Even as renewables encroach on the traditional affordability of nonrenewable energy, cost remains an advantage. This is in part because of the existing infrastructure, which reduces the need for new construction of transmission lines and other essential components of the energy delivery system. How long this will remain an advantage is unclear.
High Energy Efficiency
Fossil fuels wouldn’t be so entrenched in modern civilization if they weren’t so energy efficient. Coal and oil are the product of millions of years of deposits of organic matter, which when burned produce energy at a very high level. Compared with solar and wind, fossil fuels produce much more energy.
Disadvantages of Nonrenewable Energy
There are arguments for fossil fuels and other nonrenewable energy sources, but the downsides are equally compelling. While fossil fuels have shaped the modern world and led to global economic development, these benefits don’t necessarily outweigh the disadvantages.
Pollution
Burning fossil fuels produces nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide. All of these are elements of air and water pollution, causing harmful health effects to humans and the environment. Although technological advances have reduced these effects, the byproducts of nonrenewable energy can never be eliminated completely.
Difficulty of Extraction
As resources become depleted, energy companies have to go to even greater depths to extract fossil fuels, increasing the costs and the environmental impact.
Nonrenewable Energy Is Nonrenewable
Eventually, fossil fuels and other nonrenewable resources will run out. Over the next several decades, the wells will run dry, and we’ll have to find new sources for the energy that drives society.
Types of Renewable Energy
Not all renewable energy is created equal. Different types of renewable energy offer specific advantages and disadvantages.
Solar. The sun has a lifespan of billions of years, but solar panels can’t generate electricity at night or on cloudy days.
Wind. Wind is clean, efficient, and affordable; however, wind farms tend to be in remote areas or offshore, requiring transmission and storage capability.
Biomass. Recycled biomaterial can be used in homes to heat and cook, thereby keeping it out of landfills. Unfortunately, burning biomass is highly polluting.
Geothermal. Geothermal energy systems use heat from within the earth to generate power, but this type of energy isn’t available everywhere.
Hydropower. Hydropower uses fast-moving rivers to generate energy. It also stores energy in the form of water behind a dam. A disadvantage is the heavy environmental impact hydropower has on wildlife habitats, which can cause loss of animal and plant life.
Types of Nonrenewable Energy
Coal. Infrastructure and industry are already in place for extracting and burning coal, but the disadvantages are many. Coal is highly polluting, contributing to climate change, and is becoming more expensive than renewables.
Oil. Oil is efficient for use in mass transportation, easy to store, and refinable into gas, diesel, and heating fuel. Nevertheless, oil is highly polluting and a contributor to climate change.
Natural gas. Natural gas is less expensive than renewables depending on supply and demand; plus, it’s efficient for heating and cooking. Still, this kind of energy is highly polluting and a significant contributor to climate change.
Nuclear. Nuclear energy is clean and efficient but also potentially dangerous. It’s vulnerable to natural disasters and shifting political agendas, and uranium is hard to extract and can’t be renewed.
Build a Career in Clean Energy
Many scientists and world leaders agree: Shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy is necessary to combat climate change and build a sustainable and healthy world economy. As the global demand for renewable energy continues to grow, environmental engineers are deciding how we will face the future.
Explore how University of California, Riverside’s online Master of Science in Engineering with a specialization in Environmental Engineering can help you build a career in the exciting field of renewable energy.
About CEC
Clean Energy Collective is a new idea in power generation that is building, operating and maintaining community-based clean energy facilities. Based in Carbondale, Colorado, CEC is pioneering the model of delivering clean power-generation through medium-scale facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers. CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter™ system automatically calculates monthly credits for members and integrates with utilities' existing billing system.
Customers
Utilities
Services
Power is more than the outlet on your wall or the light from your window.
Power enables us to look at the road ahead, and to see into dark places. It warms our homes and keeps our families safe. It fuels our technology, tools and our imaginations. Power connects us to one another and liberates us to make what was impossible yesterday, a reality today.
But not all power is created equally, nor is it available to everyone. At CEC we know there is a better way. We believe that knowledge and inspiration have the power to transform skeptics into advocates. We understand that we exist as a part of something bigger and at our core, we empower others to achieve their visions.
We look to the future and see not only the path less traveled, but the path no one has discovered. We improve the world we all live in by providing affordable, community-shared, clean energy solutions that allow utilities and consumers alike to turn great ideas into tangible results.
Constantly evolving products and services to deliver exceptional value to our customers can be exhausting. So we attract people who are driven by the desire to do what others have deemed impossible. We are a collection of inspired people looking at the future, providing the power to shift from what can be, to what is.
1600 South 66th Street
Boulder, CO 80304
39.952725, -105.19687 | Map LocationSign Up
Paul Spencer
CEO / Founder
In addition to inventing CEC’s community solar concept, Mr. Spencer leads the company’s ongoing vision and execution. He is a serial entrepreneur, having built 10 companies in the last 22 years within various industries including energy, software, systems engineering, medical, brokerage and real estate development. He has also held management positions for Qwest as the Director of Business Development for a 14-state southeast region and a VP of Sales for First Consulting Group (now CSC). Mr. Spencer has received a patent for past designs and hundreds of copyrights. He lives off the grid in a self-sustaining home with his wife, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and is the president of the board of Tom's Door, a local non-profit. He enjoys the outdoors, skiing and playing basketball.
Bart Rupert
Chief Information Officer
Bart Rupert brings his solid track record of creating growth and success to CEC through managing and growing the many Information Technology and platform needs. Prior to joining CEC, he served as the COO of Plexis Healthcare Systems where the company grew through strategic alliances with large companies such as Accenture, CSC, Cognizant, and Noridian, and became one of Microsoft’s HHS Strategic Alliance partners. He also served as the COO of Crib Notes Software, a niche EMR company, cultivating the organization into an internationally-recognized market leader, and has worked with large industry players including HBOC, McKesson, and FCG in various leadership roles.
Tom Sweeney
Chief Strategic Markets Officer
Tom Sweeney brings a wealth of experience to CEC in the development and management of high growth businesses with ground breaking products and services. Most recently, Tom was the founder, Chairman and CEO of Incentra Solutions, a $200 million IT Systems Integrator for mid-tier enterprise clients in the US and Western Europe. Prior to Incentra, Tom lead a series of IT services and software companies in the US, Europe and Asia/Pac. Sweeney started his career in the Telecommunications industry and worked as a senior executive at Level 3, Worldcom, MFS, Centex and MCI. Outside of work Tom enjoys golf, blue water sailing and spending time with his wife and two sons.
JW Postal
Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Postal oversees the day-to-day operations and overall execution of the sales, marketing, business development and delivery departments. Prior to joining CEC Mr. Postal served as Chief Development Officer of SunShare, Renewable Energy Executive with Milender White Construction and was a co-founder of Main Street Power. Prior to his career in solar, he was a fiduciary investment advisor for both A.G. Edwards and as a partner in an independent advisory firm based in Denver. Mr. Postal received his BA in History from University of Colorado and a Master in Public Policy from Georgetown University. He lives in Denver with his wife and three kids.
Vilia Valentine
Chief Financial Officer
Vilia Valentine has extensive experience in increasing investor value and driving financial growth through IPO’s, secondary offerings, and strategic acquisitions. Prior to joining CEC, Vilia served as CFO of Inspirato LLC, a private luxury vacation club. Previously, she was the principal financial officer of MDC Holdings, a $1 billion public homebuilding and financial services company, and CFO of Gaiam Inc., a leading producer of lifestyle media and fitness accessories. In 2008, she took Gaiam’s solar operations public, and in 2009, she was named "CFO of the Year" in the public company category by the Denver Business Journal. Vilia is a Colorado native and earned her BS in Accounting and Business Law.
Sam Cunningham
Chief Legal Officer
With over 20 years business and legal experience is the sustainable energy field, Mr. Cunningham is responsible for overseeing the legal aspects of the company. His background is diverse, also including significant energy services, real estate, engineering & construction, lending, acquisitions and sales experience. He has also owned and operated several successful start-up and high-growth businesses, and successfully combines an entrepreneurial mindset with sound legal practices. Mr. Cunningham enjoys exploring the Colorado mountains, and has been known to head to sunny beaches in the winter for a scuba break.
Christopher Hunter
Chief Capital Officer
Mr. Hunter is responsible for originating and securing all required capital for CEC, including corporate equity, tax equity, construction financing, term debt and mezzanine financing. Prior to CEC, he created and led a number of successful energy development companies, each of which was acquired by institutional investors. Mr. Hunter studied Mechanical Engineering at Rutgers University, and is a graduate of the EMBA-Global program, a joint MBA degree offered by Columbia and London Business Schools.
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Terms of Use
Clean Energy Collective Terms of Use for Websites and MyOwnCleanEnergy Online Portal
Last Updated: May 2015 Thank you for choosing Clean Energy Collective!
Please Note: the following Terms of Use overview refers to software services related to enrolling in a Clean Energy Collective (CEC) program. These Terms of Use do NOT describe the terms of your participation in a Community Solar Array and the benefits of your solar system. For more information regarding benefits, terms and conditions of participating in a CEC Community Solar Array, please refer to the website, proposal, customer agreement and Solar Specialist for your market.
1. What These Terms of Use Cover.
These Terms of Use apply to any RemoteMeter, MyCleanEnergy or other CEC software or services, including but not limited to updates, that display or link to the Terms of Use and that you use while these Terms of Use are in force. All of the software or services are referred to as the "service" or "services". Sections 1 through 21 of these Terms of Use apply across the service. The term ("term") of these Terms of Use for the service shall be for the lifetime of the customer agreement and/or system purchase so long as the panels continue to be located in a CEC licensed facility.
Please note that we do not provide warranties for the service. The Terms of Use also limits our liability. The Terms of Use are in sections 11 and 12, and we ask you to read them carefully.
2. When You May Use the Service.
You may start using the service as soon as you have finished the sign-up process. No withdrawal right or other 'cooling off' period applies to the service and you waive any applicable 'cooling off' period, except if the law requires a 'cooling off' period despite your waiver and even when a service starts right away.
3. How You May Use the Service.
In using the service, you will:
obey the law;
obey any codes of conduct or other notices we provide;
keep your service account password secret; and
promptly notify us if you learn of a security breach related to the service.
4. How You May Not Use the Service.
In using the service, you may not:
engage in, facilitate or further unlawful conduct;
use the service in a way that harms us or our advertisers, affiliates, resellers, distributors, partners and/or vendors, or any customer of ours or our advertisers, affiliates, resellers, distributors, partners and/or vendors;
use any portion of the service as a destination linked from any unsolicited bulk messages or unsolicited commercial messages ("spam");
use any automated process or service to access and/or use the service (such as a BOT, a spider, periodic caching of information stored by CEC, or "meta-searching");
use any unauthorized means to modify or reroute, or attempt to modify or reroute, the service;
damage, disable, overburden, or impair the service (or the network(s) connected to the service) or interfere with anyone's use and enjoyment of the service; or
resell or redistribute the service, or any part of the service.
5. You Are Responsible For Your Service Account.
Only you may use your service account. For some parts of the service, we may notify you that you may set up additional member accounts that are dependent on your account (an 'associated account'). You are responsible for all activity that takes place with your service account or an associated account. You may not authorize any third party to access and/or use the service on your behalf except where CEC provides a mechanism for third parties to access the service on your behalf.
6. Associated Accounts; Accounts From Third Parties.
If you are the user of an associated account, the holder of the service account has full control over your associated account. This includes the right to end the service, close or alter your associated account at any time and, in some cases, request and receive machine and service use information related to your associated account. If a third party, such as a utility, employer or school, gave you your account, the third party has rights to your account. The third party may manage your account, reset your password, or suspend or terminate your account; view your account's usage and profile data, including how and when your account is used; and read or store the content in your account, including electronic communications and other information.
7. Your Content.
You may be able to submit content for use in connection with the service. You understand that CEC does not control or endorse the content that you and others post or provide on the service. Except for material that we license to you, we do not claim ownership of the content you post or provide on the service.
The service includes public areas available to the general public, shared areas available to others you have selected and personal areas where you have not granted access to others. If you share content with others on the service, in either public or shared areas, then you understand and agree that others with whom you have shared content may use that content. You grant to those members of the public to whom you have permitted access free, nonexclusive permission to use, copy, distribute and display the content solely in connection with the service and other CEC products and services. If you do not want others to have those rights, please do not share your content with them.
You understand that CEC may need and you hereby authorize CEC to use, modify, copy, distribute and display content posted on the service to the extent necessary to provide the service. This includes:
storing and retrieving the content;
making the content available to you and to those members of the public to whom you have granted access or to the general public (for content posted on public areas of the service);
conforming to connecting networks' technical requirements; and
conforming to the limitations and terms of the service.
You understand that sharing content that violates others' copyrights and other intellectual property rights violates these Terms of Use. You represent and warrant that you have all the rights necessary for you to grant the rights in this section 7 and that the use and publication of the content does not breach any law. We will not pay you for your content. We may refuse to publish your content and may remove your content from the service at any time.
8. Privacy.
In order to operate and provide the service, we collect certain information about you. We use and protect that information as described in the CEC Online Privacy Statement, http://www.easycleanenergy.com/privacy. In particular, we may access or disclose information about you, including the content of your communications, in order to: (a) comply with the law or respond to lawful requests or legal process; (b) protect the rights or property of CEC or our customers, including the enforcement of our agreements or policies governing your use of the service; or (c) act on a good faith belief that such access or disclosure is necessary to protect the personal safety of CEC employees, customers or the public.
The service is a private computer network that CEC operates for the benefit of itself and its customers. CEC retains the right to block or otherwise prevent delivery of any type of email or other communication to or from the service as part of our efforts to protect the service, protect our customers or stop you from breaching these Terms of Use. The technology or other means we use may hinder or break your use of the service.
In order to provide you the service, we may collect certain information about service performance, your machine and your service use. We may automatically upload this information from your machine. This data will not be used to personally identify you. You may read about this information collection in more detail in the privacy statement at http://www.easycleanenergy.com/privacy.
9. Software.
If you receive software from us as part of the service, your use of that software is under the terms of the license or subscription that is presented to you for acceptance for that software. We reserve all other rights to the software.
We may automatically check your version of the software. We may automatically download upgrades to the software to your computer to update, enhance and further develop the service.
Unless we notify you otherwise, your license to use the software will end on the date your service ends, and you must promptly uninstall the software. We may disable the software after the date the service ends.
You will not disassemble, decompile, or reverse engineer any software included in the service, except and only to the extent that the law expressly permits this activity.
10. How We May Change the Terms of Use.
If we change this Terms of Use, we will tell you prior to your continued use. If you do not agree to these changes, then you must cancel and stop using the service before the change takes place. If you do not stop using the service, then your continued use of the service will constitute acceptance to the changed Terms of Use.
11. WE MAKE NO WARRANTY.
We provide the service 'as-is,' 'with all faults' and 'as available.' We do not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of information available from the service. We and our affiliates, resellers, distributors, partners and vendors (collectively, the 'CEC parties') give no express warranties, guarantees or conditions. You may have additional consumer rights under your local laws that this Terms of Use cannot change. We exclude any implied warranties including those of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, workmanlike effort and non-infringement.
12. LIABILITY LIMITATION.
You can recover from the CEC parties only direct damages up to an amount equal to any amounts, if any, you have paid for the service during the prior 30 days. You cannot recover any other damages, including consequential, lost profits, special, indirect, incidental or punitive damages.
This limitation applies to anything related to:
the service,
content (including code) on third-party Internet sites, third-party programs or third-party conduct,
viruses or other disabling features that affect your access to or use of the service,
incompatibility between the service and other services, software and hardware,
delays or failures you may have in initiating, conducting or completing any transmissions or transactions in connection with the service in an accurate or timely manner, and
claims for breach of Terms of Use, breach of warranty, guarantee or condition, strict liability, negligence or other tort.
It also applies even if:
this remedy does not fully compensate you for any losses, or fails of its essential purpose; or
CEC knew or should have known about the possibility of the damages.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. They also may not apply to you because your province or country may not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental, consequential or other damages.
13. Suggestions.
The CEC shall have a royalty-free, worldwide, transferable, sublicenseable, irrevocable, perpetual license to the use to incorporate into the services any suggestions, enhancement requests, recommendations or other feedback provided by you, relating to the operation of the services.
14. Changes to the Service; If We Cancel the Service; Pre-Release.
We may change the service or delete features at any time and for any reason. We may cancel or suspend your service at any time. Our cancellation or suspension may be without cause and/or without notice. Upon service cancellation, your right to use the service stops right away. Once the service is cancelled or suspended, any data you have stored on the service may not be retrieved later. Our cancellation of the service will not alter your obligation to pay all charges made to your billing account. If we cancel the service in its entirety without cause within the first six years of service, then we will refund to you on a pro-rata basis the amount of any payments that you have made corresponding to the portion of the six years of service. A particular service may be a pre-release version and may not work correctly or in the way a final version might work. There may be interruptions or extended downtimes. We may significantly change the final version or decide not to release a final version at all.
15. Interpreting the Terms of Use.
All parts of this Terms of Use apply to the maximum extent permitted by law. A court may hold that we cannot enforce a part of this Terms of Use as written. If this happens, then you and we will replace that part with terms that most closely match the intent of the part that we cannot enforce. The rest of this Terms of Use will not change. This is the entire Terms of Use between you and us regarding your use of the service. It supersedes any prior Terms of Use or statements regarding your use of the service. If you have confidentiality obligations related to the service, those obligations remain in force (for example, you may have been a beta tester). The section titles in the Terms of Use do not limit the other terms of this Terms of Use.
16. Assignment.
We may assign this Terms of Use, in whole or in part, at any time with or without notice to you. You may not assign this Terms of Use, or any part of it, to any other person without the prior written consent of the CEC. Any attempt by you to do so is void. You may not transfer to anyone else, either temporarily or permanently, any rights to use the service or any part of the service.
17. No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Terms of Use is solely for your and our benefit. It is not for the benefit of any other person, except for permitted successors and assigns under this Terms of Use.
18. Claim Must Be Filed Within One Year.
Any claim related to this Terms of Use or the service may not be brought unless brought within one year. The one-year period begins on the date when the claim first could be filed. If it is not filed in time, then that claim is permanently barred. This applies to you and your successors. It also applies to us and our successors and assigns.
19. Your Notices to Us.
You may notify us as stated in the customer support or 'Contact' area for the service or our web site at www.easycleanenergy.com. We do not accept e-mail notices.
20. Notices We Send You; Consent Regarding Electronic Information.
This Terms of Use is in electronic form. We have promised to send you certain information in connection with the service and have the right to send you certain additional information. There may be other information regarding the service that the law requires us to send you. We may send you this information in electronic form. You have the right to withdraw this consent, but if you do, we may cancel your service. We may provide required information to you:
by e-mail at the e-mail address you specified when you signed up for your service;
by access to a CEC web site that will be designated in an e-mail notice sent to you at the time the information is available; or
by access to a CEC web site that will be generally designated in advance for this purpose.
Notices provided to you via e-mail will be deemed given and received on the transmission date of the e-mail. If you do not consent to receive any notices electronically, you must stop using the service.
21. Choice of Law and Location for Resolving Disputes.
Colorado state law governs the interpretation of this Terms of Use and applies to claims for breach of it, regardless of conflict of laws principles. You and we irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state or federal courts in Eagle County, Colorado, U.S.A., for all disputes arising out of or relating to this Terms of Use.
Production and Consumption information (including, without limitation, facility values) appearing on the service are delayed. Consumption information is routinely provided by your electric utility. Information indicated as "real-time" may be affected by delays in transmission over the Internet and by other causes. Production information is owned by the CEC. You are permitted to store, manipulate, analyze, reformat, print and display the information only for your personal use. In no event shall you publish, retransmit, redistribute or otherwise reproduce any CEC or utility information in any format to anyone, and you shall not use any CEC or utility information in or in connection with any business or commercial enterprise, including, without limitation, any securities, investment, accounting, banking, legal or media business or enterprise. Neither CEC, the utility nor its affiliates or their respective licensors make any express or implied warranties (including, without limitation, any warranty or merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use) regarding the CEC or utility information. Neither CEC nor its affiliates or their respective licensors will be liable to any user or anyone else for any interruption, inaccuracy, delays, error or omission, regardless of cause, in the CEC information or for any damages (whether direct or indirect, consequential, punitive or exemplary) resulting therefrom.
Support
Customer support is not offered for the service, unless provided otherwise in this Terms of Use or the materials we publish in connection with a particular service specify that it includes customer support.
Privacy Policy
Clean Energy Collective Privacy Statement
What information do we collect?
We collect information from you when you register on our site, fill out a form or become a Clean Energy Collective (CEC) customer.
When ordering or registering on our site, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your: name, e-mail address, mailing address or phone number. You may, however, visit our site anonymously.
What do we use your information for?
Any of the information we collect from you may be used in one of the following ways:
To personalize your experience (your information helps us to better respond to your individual needs)
To improve our website we continually strive to improve our website offerings based on the information and feedback we receive from you.
To improve customer service your information helps us to more effectively respond to your customer service requests and support needs.
To process transactions your information, whether public or private, will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, or given to any other company for any reason whatsoever, without your consent, other than for the express purpose of delivering the purchased product or service requested.
To administer a contest, promotion, survey or other site feature
To send periodic emails. The email address you provide for order processing, will only be used to send you information and updates pertaining to your order.
Note: If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, we include detailed unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of each email.
How do we protect your information?
We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information when you place an order or enter, submit, or access your personal information.
We offer the use of a secure server. All supplied sensitive/credit information is transmitted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and then encrypted into our Payment gateway providers database only to be accessible by those authorized with special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential.
After a transaction, your private information (credit cards, social security numbers, financials, etc.) will not be kept on file for more than 60 days.
Do we use cookies?
Yes (Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer’s hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the sites or service providers systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information.
We use cookies to understand and save your preferences for future visits.
If you prefer, you can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies via your browser settings. Like most websites, if you turn your cookies off, some of our services may not function properly. However, you can still place orders by contacting customer service.
Do we disclose any information to outside parties?
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others rights, property, or safety. However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.
Third party links
Occasionally, at our discretion, we may include or offer third party products or services on our website. These third party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our site and welcome any feedback about these sites.
We are in compliance with the requirements of COPPA (Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act), we do not collect any information from anyone under 13 years of age. Our website, products and services are all directed to people who are at least 13 years old or older.
Terms and Conditions
Please also visit our Terms and Conditions section establishing the use, disclaimers, and limitations of liability governing the use of our website at www.easycleanenergy.com/terms.
Changes to our Privacy Policy
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will update the Privacy Policy modification date below.
This policy was last modified on April 2011
Contacting Us
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy you may contact us using the information below.