March 22, 2010
Denver Post Writer Lynn Bartels wrote the following
story about this historic event, which can be found at
" 'The Spot' for Politics & Policy" Blog
blogs.denverpost.com
[CRES comments on this story appear between
brackets]
Colorado, already viewed as a renewable energy
leader, took another step today when Gov. Bill Ritter signed
into law a bill that will give Colorado the highest renewable
energy standard in the Rocky Mountain West.
The measure requires that 30 percent of electricity
be generated from renewable sources by 2020.
“This is a commitment to clean energy that is
unparalleled in the country,” Ritter said. “There
is no place in the world that compares to Colorado in research
and technological innovation around renewable energy.”
The bill-signing ceremony was held at [long-time
CRES Business Member] SolSource, a solar business in north Denver
that [CRES 2008 President] Jeff Scott started six years ago
in his garage. He now has contracts with businesses, homeowners
and the military.
Current and former lawmakers looked on, including
the bill’s Democratic sponsors, Rep. Max Tyler of Lakewood and
Sens. Gail Schwartz of Snowmass Village and Bruce Whitehead
of Hesperus.
Pam Kiely, program director for Environment
Colorado, said that when she was young people tried to predict
the “amazingly cool” things that would happen in the future.
(Think Jetsons.)
“While we aren't yet flying around in personal
spacecrafts and don’t have robots making us eggs and bacon in
the morning, we are actually repowering our lives,” she said.
Under House Bill 1001, Xcel Energy and other
investor-owned utilities serving Coloradans would have to draw
30 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, rather
than the current 20 percent. Only California, at 33 percent,
has a higher standard.
The bill also emphasizes small-scale, home-based
energy production. The Governor’s Energy Office has predicted
the program could result in as many as 100,000 homes with solar
panels, small wind turbines or other energy-producing devices.
A provision in the bill requires that solar-panel
installers be certified, a move Republicans said was intended
to drive business to union members.
Ritter said Colorado’s reputation for being
renewable energy friendly has helped it attract companies. Oklahoma
made Vestas’ short list, but because it did not have a renewable
energy standard, the company walked away from Oklahoma and became
“one of the new energy economy pioneers” in Colorado, he said.
Thanks and Congratulations to Governor Ritter and
the Colorado State Legislature for making this historic event
a reality, and to SolSource for hosting it and showing that
more Renewable Energy means more JOBS!
