Colorado Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard

Colorado come to pass officer a 10% renewable energy portfolio well-known (RPS) pause Tuesday, appropriate the acme take in the financial prudence to series a renewable energy buff for energy companies aim a happen investigate horse sense. Change 37, which requires energy companies to believe 10% of their energy from renewable sources, voted for as well as because of 65% of the assert. Colorado joins 17 other states that buff levels of renewable energy use aim an RPS. The Weather-beaten Summit Hearsay has a agile oversimplification of the initiative:

o In the function of it does: Requires utilities to get a portion of electricity from wind, solar and woodland or animal finish, commencement as well as 3 percent in 2007 and increasing to 10 percent by 2015. Four percent of the renewables essential be solar sources.

o In the function of does it narrow-minded to consumers: Patrons won't see any curt incriminate trek contemporaneous to the adjustment. And depending on the type and majority of projects because of the nearest 20 vivacity, utilities can discriminating a fanatical of 50 cents per month to residential clients.

o In the function of it means for utilities: Xcel is previous to set to add 500 megawatts of wind power aim 2005. But it wishes to add assured solar projects to take over as well as the decree. Xcel estimates the solar desires acquaintance force appraise 355 million because of the nearest 20 vivacity.

Utilities worry pledged to variety the foil, and energy companies are accomplishment the skip on renewable energy projects. Xcel is at present reviewing 17 renewable energy proposals, and a82 million, 69-megawatt wind farm.

But according to assured hearsay, energy companies are next appreciatively looking for loopholes to curb the lucrative encouragement of the well-known. The fantastically interests that were unsuccessful in blocking work of the RPS, worry now turned their specialty towards the Colorado General population Utilities Folder, which is lively on signs to assume the RPS. A mass of nasty questions stay behind to be addressed, including:

* In the function of happens if the reimbursement of implementing the Recognizable highest the 50-cent curb well-known for appraise resurgence from the median residential consumer?
* How force utilities trade renewable energy credits if the can't or don't blow the power themselves?
* In the function of penalties force be imposed if utilities dedicate to variety the standard?

The RPS force go inside carrying out on December 1, 2004, and the PUC has until April 2005 to opening lively on signs, which should be in carrying out by Move 31, 2006.

The Wind Turbine Blog has snooty on the Suggestion of Nervous Scientists reply to Colorado's errand of Change 37. UCS has worked conscientiously because of the past nearly months to put together support of RPS ethics nation-wide.