Ritter signs solar, wind, biomass energy bill (Colorado)

[jpak]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/energy/article/0,2777,DRMN_23914_5446747,00.html

Gov. Bill Ritter signed a bill into law Tuesday that requires Colorado utilities to get more electricity from the sun, wind, or plant and animal waste.

House Bill 1281 sailed smoothly through the state legislature, clearing the House and Senate, both with Democratic majorities, in about five weeks before landing on Ritter's desk last month.

He promised during his election campaign to promote the generation of more electricity from renewable sources and reduce the use of fossil fuel such as coal or natural gas, an agenda supported by environmental activists, utilities and rural electric co-operatives except Intermountain Rural Electric Association.

The law requires utilities to get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources such as the sun, wind or biomass by 2020 - double the goal of 10 percent by 2015 set by Amendment 37, which voters passed in November 2004. Customers eventually would pay the cost incurred by utilities to comply with the renewable standards.

<more>

[kestrel91316]

1. They ought to start with a biogas-generated power plant outside of

Greely where there's that HUGE feedlot and packing plant that used to be owned by Monfort.

There should be enough manure/methane there to light up all of Greely.

[Kolesar]

2. The Sierra Club started that campaign for a Renewable Electricity Portfolio Standard

...a long time ago. Obviously, the message connected with the voters of Colorado.

There is an issue to campaign on, Democrats!