Clean Energy Agenda Set For Colorado

Environment Colorado

DENVER – Today, Environment Colorado joined leaders of labor, agriculture, and the energy industry to stand with Governor Bill Ritter and legislative leadership to layout energy priorities for the 2007 legislative session.

 “Today, our state leaders have set an incredible plan in motion,” said Will Coyne, Program Director for Environment Colorado. “We’re doubling the amount of clean energy we use, moving wind power on the wires from our farms to our homes, and eliminating barriers for individuals to use renewable energy on their property.”

 The agenda, announced by Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and House Majority Leader Alice Madden, begins to fulfill their commitment to create a New Energy Economy for Colorado.

 “This energy agenda creates thousands of good, high-paying, high-skilled jobs for Coloradans,” said Neal Hall, Business Manager for the Colorado Building and Constructions Trade Council. “We look forward to putting in the hard work to make Colorado the nation’s leader in clean energy solutions.”

 The energy package not only creates building and construction jobs, but will also help open up Colorado’s vast wind power potential on Colorado’s Eastern Plains.

 “We have only just begun to tap the enormous wind energy potential from Colorado’s Eastern Plains,” said Leland Swenson, Executive Director for the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. “This energy plan will create enormous economic benefits for rural Colorado.”

 The legislation includes the following: 
• Renewable Energy Development Act of 2007 – Sets a renewable energy standard where electric utilities get 20% of their electricity from renewable energy such as wind and solar power by 2020. Sponsors include Rep. Jack Pommer (D, Boulder) and Sen. Gail Schwartz (D, Snowmass Village).

• Homegrown Energy – Eliminates barriers to installing clean energy and ensure customers receive a fair value for the electricity they produce by setting state standards for interconnection and net-metering. Sponsors include Rep. Judy Solano (D, Brighton) and Sen. Brandon Shaffer (D, Longmont).

• Wind on the Wires – Creates incentives for energy companies to build or upgrade transmission lines for wind power by allowing companies to recoup costs during construction. Sponsors included Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald (D, Golden) and Rep. Buffie McFadyen (D, Pueblo West).

• Renewable Energy Mapping – Creates a 15-member task force to identify Colorado’s best renewable energy resources for electricity generation. Sponsors include Sen. Gail Schwartz (D, Snowmass Village).

• Wind for Schools – Creates funding for K-12 schools and community colleges to install wind turbines and reduce energy costs. Sponsors include Rep. Andy Kerr (D, Lakewood).