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Governor Vetoes Energy Efficiency, Signs Biofuels
Bill
June 27, 2006
Late last month, Colorado Governor Bill Owens vetoed
the Natural Gas Energy Efficiency (House Bill 1147) bill but signed
the Motor Vehicles in the Centralized Fleet Act (Senate Bill 15).
Earlier in May, CRES had called for the governor to sign both
measures.
HB-1147 would have directed the Public Utilities
Commission to come up with rules requiring natural gas distributors
to set up energy efficiency programs. Sponsors of the bill noted
that Colorado consumers have seen their natural gas costs double and
triple over the last several years. Furthermore, Colorado consumes
more natural gas per capita that most other states and has no demand
reduction program that addresses natural gas consumption. The
governor objected to the costs of the bill, about $6 a month for
residential customers.
Backers of the bill countered that it would have saved
Colorado businesses and consumers $500 million. Southwest Energy
Efficiency Project Director Howard Geller noted that most
neighboring states in the Southwest have successful demand reduction
programs. Geller said, “Consumers and businesses collectively will
pay more for natural gas as a result of the governor’s veto.” See
the June 5 Southwest Energy Project press release on the veto (PDF
32 KB).
http://www.swenergy.org/media/pr2006_0605.pdf
On the bright side, the governor did sign a bill that
makes it easier for state vehicle fleet managers to use biofuels.
SB-15 consolidated control of state vehicles, which makes it easier
for the fleet manager to use biofuels in diesel cars and trucks.
The day after Owens signed the biofuels bill, the
Colorado Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC)
announced it had formed a business coalition to promote awareness
and use of ethanol E85. E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15
percent conventional gasoline that can be used in flexible fuel
vehicles. OEMC estimates there are more than 300,000 flexible fuel
vehicles on the road in Colorado. The coalition will seek to double
the number of E85 pumps in the state to 20 over the next year. See
the OEMC May 26 press release (PDF 32 KB).
http://www.state.co.us/oemc/press/2006-05-26.pdf |
