DENVER, CO: Legislation to double Colorado's
renewable energy standard - the cornerstone to this year's clean energy
agenda - was introduced today by Representatives Jack Pommer (D - Boulder) and Rob Witwer (R- Genesee) and Senators Gail Schwartz (D - Snowmass Village) and Ken Kester (R – Las Animas).
The
bill, HB07-1281, increases the renewable energy standard to 20% by the
year 2020 and also includes several key provisions designed to
encourage local communities to develop clean energy development
projects, including projects initiated by municipal utilities and
electric cooperatives themselves. The bill is supported by renewable
energy advocates, conservationists, farmers, and utility companies.
The bill also sets the first renewable energy standard for all rural
electric cooperatives. Under this legislation, all electric
cooperatives would be required to get 10% of their electricity from
renewables by 2020.
"Today, the legislature introduced a bill that will become a cornerstone for Colorado’s
New Energy Economy,” said Will Coyne, Program Director of Environment
Colorado. “Doubling our use of renewable energy to 20% by 2020 will
protect our air, cut global warming pollution, and increase our energy
security.”
Colorado’s
current investment in wind power has been an enormous success. Xcel
Energy is expected to meet Amendment 37’s 10% goal by the end of 2007,
eight years ahead of schedule. The bill offers incentives for
Colorado-based renewable energy, local community clean energy projects,
and projects initiated by local utilities by offering increased credits
toward meeting the renewable energy standard for those projects.
“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 bill will create enormous economic
benefits for rural Colorado.
Proponents of the legislation have cited the economic benefits for consumers, rural communities, and Colorado jobs. Interwest Energy Alliance projects over $250 million fuel and emission cost savings by 2020 thanks to Colorado’s current wind energy investment.
Support for the measure includes Xcel Energy, Colorado's
largest electricity provider. "We are committed to renewable energy,
and to passing the environmental and economic benefits on to Colorado's consumers," said Pat Vincent, president and CEO of Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company.
Starting
in 2001, Environment Colorado identified clean energy as a priority
issue. After an unsuccessful three-year lobbying effort at the state
capitol to pass a renewable energy standard, they took the issue to the
ballot and found their first major success when Colorado
became the first state where voters passed a renewable energy standard,
Amendment 37. Then in 2006, Environment Colorado launched their New
Energy Future campaign, gaining support from over 50 soon-to-be state
legislators to double Colorado’s renewable energy standard to 20%.
"Support
for clean energy has reached a tipping point this year," said Coyne.
"Coloradan’s realize that renewable energy won’t just help protect our
environment but will be a driver for Colorado’s economic future."
