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| 3/4/2010 6:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Renewable energy bill passes first vote
Joe Hanel
Journal Denver Bureau
DENVER - Sen. Bruce Whitehead's renewable energy bill passed its first test in the Senate on Tuesday.
House Bill 1001 would require the state's largest utilities to get 30 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. That is triple what the standard was in 2007, when Gov. Bill Ritter took office.
Whitehead, D-Hesperus, is co-sponsoring the bill with Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village.
"It will help create jobs in the state - green jobs for solar installations," Whitehead said.
The bill applies only to Colorado's two investor-owned utilities - Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy. The rural electric cooperatives that serve Southwest Colorado will remain at their 10 percent renewable power standard.
The Senate Local Government and Energy Committee passed the HB 1001 on a 4-3 vote. Its next stop is the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Republicans opposed the bill, saying it interferes in the market and could increase costs for consumers.
"We drive that which makes the least economic sense," said Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud. "We end up with choices that are less effective than if we would let the marketplace drive it."
Lundberg lives in a solar-powered, off-the-grid house, but he said the government shouldn't force people to pick one source of energy over another.
Tuesday's hearing highlighted a recent shift in the national energy debate - natural gas companies are allying with renewable power advocates and opposing coal power.
Two natural gas trade associations showed up Tuesday not to oppose the bill but to call for the shutdown of coal power plants in Colorado in favor of natural gas plants.
"The natural gas industry can contribute significantly to reducing air pollution in Colorado," said Tisha Conoly Schuller, president of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association.
In the past, COGA has butted heads with Ritter. But the group stayed neutral on HB 1001, which is one of Ritter's top priorities for his last year in office.
Peter Dea of the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain states said natural gas produces less pollution than coal. Also gas plants can start up and shut down faster, which makes them a good compliment to windmills and solar panels that cannot produce electricity at a constant rate.
The Colorado Mining Association, which includes coal mining companies, opposes HB 1001. Coal accounts for the majority of Colorado's electricity, and Diana Orf of the Mining Association said that natural gas prices are too volatile to be a bigger part of the mix.
Orf also opposed mandates to use solar and wind power.
"Why is it necessary to guarantee them a piece of the market? No one else is guaranteed a market share," Orf said.
But environmentalists' arguments triumphed Tuesday.
Pam Kiely of Environment Colorado said solar panels and wind farms create jobs while cleaning up the air.
"We have really proven in Colorado that clean energy works," she said.
Reach Joe Hanel at joeh@cortezjournal.com
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