The following is the press statement of Pam Kiely,
legislative program director of Environment Colorado, that she delivered at the
Governor’s signing of House Bill 1164 New Solar Energy Technologies outside the
SunEdison solar power plant in the San Luis Valley.
“It’s time to be aggressive
about the New Energy Economy and create a framework to ensure solar power
plants are part of Colorado’s
future and our solution to global warming. House Bill 1164, the New Solar
Energy Technologies Act, does just that.
“By authorizing the Public
Utilities Commission (PUC) to consider specific environmental and economic
benefits of large-scale solar projects as a way to meet the state's energy
needs, this legislation sets the stage
for harnessing this unique solar resource in places like here in the San Luis
Valley and across south eastern Colorado.
Our solar fields in rural Colorado
can reap the economic benefits of the New Energy Economy powering our state and
beyond.
“Today’s bill signing is a
turning point for Colorado
in our efforts to cut global warming pollution. For the first time, state
legislators took a step forward in taking decisive action to cut global warming
pollution.
“Colorado can now follow the lead business
leaders such as Bank of America to effectively plan for the future costs of
global warming pollution. By authorizing the PUC to consider these costs, we
can decide whether to purchase energy from coal plants, wind farms or solar
power plants.
“The New Solar Energy
Technologies Act is about solar power and the role the New Energy Economy plays
in Colorado’s solution to global warming.
“While this legislation
generated strong ideological opposition and the debate was long and fierce, our
environment and the future of Colorado
prevailed.
“Environment Colorado applauds Rep. Judy Solano (D-Brighton) and Sen. Gail
Schwartz (D-Snowmass
Village) for their strong
leadership this year and last on clean energy and global warming. Environment Colorado also commends
Governor Bill Ritter, his policy office, the Governor’s Energy Office, and the
Colorado Public Utilities Commission as well as our industry partners Ausra,
Ascent Solar, and Sun Edison for moving this important policy forward.”
-Pam Kiely, legislative program director of Environment
Colorado
