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DENVER, Colorado, US, 2004-10-20 (Refocus Weekly) The state of Colorado will be the first in the U.S. to offer a ballot on renewable energy on November 2.
Amendment 37 would require the seven largest utilities to source 3% of their electricity from renewables by 2007, and increase to 10% by 2015. It would establish a net metering standard for small PV systems to connect to the grid and provide a rebate of US$2 per watt on home PV systems.
State law allows a ballot vote on a measure if 67,829 signatures are obtain, and supporters of the green power measure collected 110,000.
Colorado has 60 utilities that generate power from coal and natural gas, with 2% from renewables. The increase in green power would have no significant effect on rates, and some customers may see their costs drop, according to an independent economic analysis by Public Policy Consulting. It estimates that utility bills will decline by 1˘ a month per home, or a total of $14 million, between 2005 and 2024.
The state’s largest utility, Xcel Energy with 1.2 million customers, would have no change, while second-place Colorado Springs Utilities would drop 9˘ a month depending on the city’s acquisition of wind power, while customers of third-largest Intermountain REA would pay 45˘ less each month, says the report. Six rural electric cooperatives may see modest increases but those could be avoided if their supplier, TriState Generation & Transmission, adopted supportive strategies.
The measure includes a price cap of 50˘ on the monthly bills of residential customers. A recent poll indicates that 74% of voters support Amendment 37, with 19% disapproving and the balance of 7% undecided. The level of support is 80% among Democrats, 77% among Independents and 66% from Republicans, and there is minor difference between whites and Hispanics or between high school dropouts or post graduates.
Sixteen other states in the U.S. have adopted renewable energy requirements, ranging from 1.1% in Arizona (mostly from solar) to 30% in Maine (mostly from hydroelectric). The Colorado measure defines renewables to include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, small hydroelectricity and hydrogen fuel cells.
The amendment is sponsored by former House Speaker Lola Spradley, a Republican, with bipartisan support from Democrat congressman Mark Udall. Organizations that have proclaim support include American Federation of Government Employees, American Legion, American Lung Association, American Solar Energy Society, Aspen Skiing Company, Audubon Colorado, Boulder Community Hospital, Colorado Asthma Coalition, Colorado Building & Construction Trades Council, Colorado Council of Churches, Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Colorado Renewable Energy Society, Delta Montrose Electric Association, Environment Colorado, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, League of Women Voters, Military Officers Association, New Belgium Brewing Company, Pueblo Diocese of the Catholic Church, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and Vail Resorts.
“Electricity generated from renewable resources is oftentimes more expensive than electricity generated from conventional fuels,” says the official background to the ballot measure. “Renewable energy, especially wind and solar resources, are intermittent and may not be available when needed. This could cause problems during peak energy demand periods or in emergencies.”
“The use of renewable resources should be a choice not a mandate,” it adds. “Colorado utilities are already using renewable energy resources when they are cost-effective. Further, most utilities have programs that give customers the option to purchase all or a share of their electricity from renewable sources.”
The proposal would require at least 4% of renewable energy to come from solar, “one of the most expensive renewable energy sources,” and prohibits utilities from using power from existing large hydroelectric projects toward the requirement.
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