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Energy:
New Solar Energy Technologies
Our Position: support
Bill Number: HB1164
Sponsor: Representative Solano and Senator Schwartz
Legislative Session: 2008
This bill will establish that it is in the best interest of the state to develop solar energy resources, and will encourage the Public Utilities Commission to establish a framework that makes a solar power plant cost-competitive with other energy sources.
Status
The bill has passed through the House of Representatives, and will go soon to the State Senate.01/16/08 Bill introduced in the House - assigned to the Transportation and Energy Committee.03/06/08 Bill passed the Transportation Committee03/17/08 Passed 2nd Reading in House 03/18/08 Passed Third Reading in the House by a vote of 43-21! 03/24/08 Bill introduced in Senate - assigned to the Local Government Committee 04/10/08 Passed the Senate Local Government Committee 04/22/08 Passed Senate Second Reading 04/23/08 Passed Senate Third Reading 04/25/08 House reviewed Senate amendments and repassed
Action Needed
Contact Governor Ritter and ask him to support HB1164.Mail
Bill Ritter, Governor
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792
Phone
(303) 866-2471
Fax
(303) 866-2003 Contacting the Governor is easier than ever! Write to the Governor here
To see a full copy of the bill as a PDF, go to HB 1164.
More information
Contact: Susan LeFever - 303-861-8819
Background
Electricity generation creates almost half of the state's global warming pollution. Polling shows that three-quarters of Coloradans view global warming as a problem and support action to reduce pollution. Meeting new demand with clean, solar power plants will mean decreasing the state's global warming pollution.
Utility scale solar power plants have been in use for almost twenty years in the U.S., producing over 300 MW of power. Today's systems are even more efficient and reliable. With the ability to store energy for six hours or more, these systems can dispatch power to meet Colorado's periods of high electricity use with competitively priced electricity (9 to 13 cents a kWh). Utility scale solar plants can meet Colorado's increasing energy needs. A recent report by the Colorado Energy Forum estimated that Colorado will need 4,900 MW of new electricity generation by 2025. While almost half of this should be met with energy efficiency, we would still need more than 2,000 MW of new power. According to the Governor's Energy Office, Colorado has the potential to produce over 5.5 GW of power from just 2 percent of the best resources in the San Luis Valley. This will help reach the Colorado Climate Action Plan goal of cutting pollution from electricity production by 20 percent from electricity generation by 2020.
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