Colorado is a
rising star in building renewable energy and using energy efficiently, according
to America’s Clean Energy, a new
report by Environment Colorado outlining the states that have taken leadership
roles in addressing global warming.
“Thanks to Gov. Ritter and the state legislature,
Colorado is
quickly becoming a national leader in renewable energy,” said Matt Baker,
Executive Director at Environment Colorado. “After last year’s success at the
capitol, we truly are a rising star.”
Colorado received
a gold star for its renewable portfolio standard and a silver star for its
efficiency programs, making it one of the fastest rising stars in the country.
The report assigns stars to each of the fifty states based on five energy
related policy areas: having a renewable energy standard, adopting the clean
cars program, establishing energy efficiency programs and appliance efficiency
standards, and requiring building energy codes.
“Just a few years ago, Colorado would have ranked near the bottom of
this list,” said House Majority Leader Alice Madden. “But today, we have moved
the ball farther and faster than any other state.”
In 2004, Colorado became the first state where voters
passed a Renewable Energy Standard, Amendment 37. This past session, with the
commitment of the Governor as well as the Senate and House leadership,
Colorado was
able to make even more groundbreaking strides.
In addition to building the new energy economy through
H.B. 1281, which doubled the original Amendment 37 renewable energy standard,
the legislature passed over a dozen bills that moved Colorado to the forefront
including:
- H.B. 1037 – which
requires energy efficiency standards for utilities.
- H.B. 1146 – which
set strong standards for building efficiency
- S.B. 100 – which
helped determine transmission needs in the state
- S.B. 91 – which
mapped the state’s renewable resources
- SB.246-- which
established a renewable energy fund
“It’s great to be recognized for the work that we have
done in making Colorado a leader in building
America’s renewable energy economy,”
said former Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald. “Citizens all across Colorado made it known
that they wanted action, and we were happy to deliver.”
While there are only seven gold star states cited in the
report, Colorado could soon join them if key pieces of
Governor Ritter’s newly announced Climate Action Plan are implemented, such as
the adoption of Clean Car standards.
“Governor Ritter’s executive order greening state
government set a strong example of what can be accomplished with bold
leadership,” said Tom Plant, Executive Director of the Governor’s Energy
Office.
