Proposed
Energy-Related Legislation
Colorado
Renewable Energy Legislation Introduced
28 January 2004
A bipartisan group of Colorado State Representatives and Senators introduced
legislation today calling for a renewable energy standard of 500 megawatts (MW)
of renewable energy capacity by 2006, 900 MW by 2010 and 1,800 MW by 2020. This
bill, HB 1273, includes a 150% “multiplier” for renewable energy generated in
Colorado’s rural enterprise zones (meaning that 100 MW of renewable power
generated in a rural area would count as 150 MW toward meeting the bill’s
goals). Only the two investor-owned utilities in Colorado (Xcel Energy and
Aquila) are covered by this legislation: rural co-ops and municipal utilities
are exempted.
In a press release issued today, House Speaker Lola Spradley (R-Beulah) said
that “renewable energy is smart for Colorado consumers and it’s smart for our
rural communities…families are being faced with skyrocketing electricity bills
while cheap sources of renewable energy go untapped. This bill changes that.”
Spradley’s press release notes that HB 1273 has been endorsed by a broad
coalition of more than 20 cities and counties, over 120 business and
agricultural interests and environmental groups, and that supporters include
Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Oil & Gas Association, Xcel Energy, Environment
Colorado and others.
HB 1273 is likely to be heard by the House Transportation & Energy Committee
as early as next week. More details will be provided as this bill moves through
the legislative process. To download a copy of the bill and follow its progress,
visit
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2004a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont2/4B7F48918852C7B387256DE10069D7D2?Open
A statement issued today by the Colorado Coalition for New Energy
Technologies on HB 1273 is included below this message.
Thank you. Best regards.
Craig Cox
Executive Director
Colorado Coalition for New Energy Technologies
303-679-9331
www.newenergytechnologies.org
www.coenergy.info
Statement by Craig Cox, Executive Director of the Colorado Coalition for New
Energy Technologies, on Colorado Renewable Energy Legislation, HB 04-1273
H.B. 04-1273, the renewable energy legislation introduced today in the
Colorado House of Representatives, opens the door to tremendous new economic
development opportunities throughout rural Colorado. It will provide affordable,
fixed-cost electric power to all customers of Colorado's investor-owned
utilities. This legislation will leverage our state's leadership in this dynamic
industry of the future and will provide new economic opportunities statewide. I
congratulate the bill's sponsors ---Reps. Lola Spradley and Alice Madden, and
Senators Ken Kester and Terry Phillips--- for their leadership on this most
important issue. |
