Colorado State Senate Passes Increase to Renewable Energy Standard, Legislation Aims to Repower Colorado’s Economy

Environment Colorado

Denver, CO – HB10-1001 passed 3rd reading in the Colorado State Senate today on a vote of 21-13. Sponsored by Senators Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass) and Bruce Whitehead (D-Hesperus), House Bill 1001 calls for an increase in the state’s Renewable Energy Standard from 20 percent to 30 percent by 2020.  This historic piece of legislation has now passed both chambers of the General Assembly and is headed to the Governor’s desk.
 
“We are one step closer to being the best in the West when it comes to renewable energy,” said Pam Kiely, program director of Environment Colorado. “This increase to Colorado’s renewable energy standard keeps us in the fast lane, and ensures we take advantage of the opportunity to put Coloradans back to work.”

“We know renewable energy works, and through the specific distributed generation carve out alone this legislation is expected to deploy roughly 700 MW of distributed solar, resulting in the creation of 23,450 jobs over the next 10 years.”

“It’s clear that Colorado’s leaders have the right focus- putting Colorado’s enormous renewable energy potential to work to build a new, clean, homegrown economy. We are creating jobs, boosting investment, and stabilizing our electricity prices while cleaning up our air, our water, and cutting global warming. Renewable energy just makes sense.”