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| 2/9/2010 6:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Ritter shines light on solar energy
Joe Hanel
Journal Denver Bureau
DENVER - After two sunny weeks, snow returned to Denver on Thursday morning, just in time for Gov. Bill Ritter to promote his latest solar energy bill.
Ritter noted the irony when talking about House Bill 1001, which would increase Colorado's renewable energy standard to 30 percent.
"It is the next big step forward for Colorado's internationally recognized new energy economy," Ritter said.
Sen. Bruce Whitehead, D-Hesperus, will carry the bill in the Senate, along with Snowmass Village Democrat Gail Schwartz.
HB 1001 passed the House Transportation and Energy Committee on Friday afternoon on a 6-5 party-line vote, with Democrats in favor.
Ritter testified at its first hearing Thursday, but representatives delayed the vote until Friday.
The bill would apply to major utilities, not the rural electric cooperatives that serve Southwest Colorado.
"I think it still will encourage people to take a look at renewables," Whitehead said.
Rural co-ops will have to get 10 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020 under an older bill, also backed by Ritter.
Durango is already on schedule for that requirement. The Environmental Protection Agency named the city a "Green Power Community" for getting 7.3 percent of its power from renewable sources, according to the La Plata Electric Association. LPEA customers can voluntarily pay a premium for wind power.
HB 1001 would require large utilities to get 30 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. That's triple the state standard before Ritter took office and made renewable energy his main issue. Xcel Energy, the state's major utility, is on track to meet the current requirement by 2015. Xcel offered support for the new standard after negotiating with Ritter. However, the state's other investor-owned utility - Black Hills Corp. - might not be able to reach the 30 percent standard, said Jacqueline Sargent, a company executive.
Republicans on the House Transportation and Energy Committee objected to the bill, saying it would raise costs.
"I get lots of phone calls from my constituents saying, we can barely afford this now," said Rep. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan. "So I'm extremely concerned about the increase in the rates they're going to be paying."
Ritter predicted the bill would create 100,000 solar rooftops throughout the state and create thousands of jobs.
Some of those would be union jobs. The bill requires solar installations done under the bill to use certified electricians. Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, challenged Ritter during the hearing.
"Tell me why I should not call (the certification requirement) the big labor payback provision," McNulty said.
"Well," Ritter said, "because it would be wrong to do that, unfair and it would be slightly demagogic."
Vocational schools offer certification, too, along with unions, Ritter said.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has more than 4,000 certified electricians, said Mike Cerbo, head of the Colorado AFL-CIO.
Reach Joe Hanel at joeh@cortezjournal.com.
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