BOULDER - After reducing their water use by more than 15 percent earlier this year, Boulder residents and businesses are dwindling those savings in the second half of 2007.

The latest report through October shows city water use down by 6.33 percent this year - 4,927,431,000 gallons in 2007 vs. 5,260,283,000 gallons in 2006.

October's water use of 569,230,000 gallons was up 7.43 percent from last year.  Since July 2007, the city has been increasing its water use compared to 2006.

The city's new water-billing structure went into effect in 2007. It sets monthly water budgets for customers and charges higher per-gallon rates if they exceed those budgets.  The goal of the new system is to reduce water use and control water budgets in times of drought.

For the first time in 2007, yearly precipitation amounts through October fell below that of 2006 - down 6 percent from a year ago, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.  After a wet winter and spring, the dry summer and fall could point to Boulder's increasing water use during the latter half of the year.

Revenues from water bills are also starting to rebound after being down more than 16 percent earlier this year.  Through October, water revenues were down 11.76 percent for the year - $16,947,627 in 2007 compared to $19,205,242 in 2006.

Despite the overall revenue decline, city officials say they are on target for their 2007 budget of $18,974,000. Boulder Public Works for Utilities Director Ned Williams has said that last year's revenue was more than expected, causing the imbalance.

The city's reported water revenues do not include wastewater and storm-water fees, which were increased by 6 percent and 3 percent, respectively, in 2007.

By sector, commercial and industrial customers continued to use less water than last year, but pay more for their water bills.  Business water use was down by 2.3 percent to 1,273,400,000 gallons, and their bills were up 12.4 percent to $4,352,521 through October.

Businesses have complained that their budgets are figured unfairly based on outdated water use histories in an ever-changing tenant market. There also are no accommodations for the drier summer months as there is with homes - business water budgets are even every month. Some businesses have asked the city to include rollover water budgets to accommodate businesses that use water unevenly throughout the year.

City Manager Frank Bruno said city council is scheduled to meet Feb. 12 to consider potential changes to the new water budget rate structure.

LOUISVILLE - Two California investors have purchased a pair of industrial buildings at Colorado Technology Center for $5.1 million.

Michael and Michelle Paskin purchased the buildings at 1797 and 1815 Boxelder St., which total about 53,500 square feet.

The buildings are fully leased to Intrex Global Solutions, a Louisville-based custom component manufacturing company.

McBride Brothers Investments LLC, which formerly owned Intrex- selling the company two years ago - sold the buildings to the Paskins.

Intrex will continue operating in the buildings.  It has committed to at least six years with an option to extend the lease.

Jeremy Kroner, Bill Thompson and Jim Bolt with CB Richard Ellis helped broker the real estate deal.

BROOMFIELD - Range Fuels Inc., a company focused on the production of cellulosic ethanol, announced today that Rick Winsor has joined the company as president and chief operating officer.

Winsor will assume responsibility for the company's efforts to develop cellulosic ethanol plants in the U.S. and around the world.

Range Fuels broke ground on the country's first cellulosic ethanol plant in November 2007, located in Soperton, Georgia. Winsor sill play a key role in managing the construction of the first 20 million gallon per year phases of the Soperton Plant, expected to be completed in 2008 and will oversee the plant's expansion to a production capacity of 100 million gallons per year.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The state of Colorado will receive more than $100 million from the U.S. government for transportation projects - including $588,000 earmarked for the exchange at Wadsworth and state Highway 128 in Broomfield.

U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, helped secure the funding as part of the Omnibus Appropriations bill, which is headed to President George Bush to be signed into law.

The $588,000 set aside for the Wadsworth exchange will be used to relieve peak hour congestion along 120th Avenue, 128 and the interchange at US 36.

"I am pleased I was able to secure these funds in the conference committee report and that they were ultimately in the Omnibus," Allard said in a statement. "Additionally, funds ... for the Wadsworth and Highway 128 interchange in Broomfield will make a big difference in Colorado."

BOULDER - AeroGrow International Inc. (NASDAQ: AERO), a Boulder-based manufacturer of plant-growing systems, had its AeroGarden line of indoor gardening products shown in "I Am Legend," a hit movie starring Oscar nominee Will Smith.

The products appearance in the film was unsolicited.

"Appearing in such a major movie is another indication of AeroGarden's growing acceptance into the mainstream consciousness," said Michael Bissonnette, founder and chief executive of AeroGrow, in a statement. "In the movie, pretty much the only things left on earth are Will Smith, his dog and his AeroGarden."

The movie opened nationwide Dec. 14 and brought in more than $76.5 million in its opening weekend - good for first place in the weekend box office rankings.

The Classical Ballet Company will perform a benefit performance to raise money for the Boulder Homeless Shelter at 7 p.m. tonight, Dec. 20 at the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. The dancers will be doing variations from the Nutcracker and also dancing to holiday music. Ages of the dancers are three years and up. Cost: $15 general, $14 students and seniors. Contact: 303-444-SEAT.

Downtown Boulder presents St. Nick on the Bricks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec 22 at the Downtown Visitors Information Center, 1301 Pearl St., Boulder. Children are invited to visit with Santa. Cost: Free. Contact: 303-449-3774.