Coalition calls for more renewable energy in Colorado
The Daily Sentinel|Gary Harmon|September 17, 2006
A coalition including union representatives, farmers and environmentalists called Thursday for boosting renewable energy resources in Colorado. The Coalition for Colorado’s New Energy Future said it was urging lawmakers to adopt its recommendations to encourage more use of solar, wind and biofuel power.
A coalition including union representatives, farmers and environmentalists called Thursday for boosting renewable energy resources in Colorado. The Coalition for Colorado’s New Energy Future said it was urging lawmakers to adopt its recommendations to encourage more use of solar, wind and biofuel power.
A coalition including union representatives, farmers and environmentalists called Thursday for boosting renewable energy resources in Colorado.
The Coalition for Colorado’s New Energy Future said it was urging lawmakers to adopt its recommendations to encourage more use of solar, wind and biofuel power.
The effort follows on the heels of Amendment 37, passed in 2004, which called on the state’s major utilities to provide 10 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2015.
That standard should be raised to 20 percent based on the success of Xcel, Kristin Saybe of Environment Colorado said during a news conference at Grand Junction City Hall.
More emphasis on renewable energy and conservation will help create 4,300 …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]A coalition including union representatives, farmers and environmentalists called Thursday for boosting renewable energy resources in Colorado.
The Coalition for Colorado’s New Energy Future said it was urging lawmakers to adopt its recommendations to encourage more use of solar, wind and biofuel power.
The effort follows on the heels of Amendment 37, passed in 2004, which called on the state’s major utilities to provide 10 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2015.
That standard should be raised to 20 percent based on the success of Xcel, Kristin Saybe of Environment Colorado said during a news conference at Grand Junction City Hall.
More emphasis on renewable energy and conservation will help create 4,300 construction and 3,700 permanent jobs across the state, said Matt Burtis, business manager for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 145 in Grand Junction.
Families also would benefit from less expensive renewable energy, as well as reduced dependence on imported oil, Burtis said,
Agriculture stands to benefit from renewable energy, said Charles Klaseen, a Crawford rancher as well as treasurer of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and a member of the Delta-Montrose Electric Association board.
High energy costs translate into higher food costs, Klaseen said, noting farmers have higher fuel costs, and fertilizer has risen from $200 to $500 a ton.
The coalition’s plan would result in reduced emissions of global-warming pollution by 2.5 million tons a year, Saybe said.
The coalition unveiled its proposal in Grand Junction along with three other locations in Colorado.
Gary Harmon can be reached via e-mail at gharmon@gjds.com.