Colorado Energy Policy

New Energy Economy

With Gov. Ritter's election in 2006, energy policy in Colorado changed overnight from the previous Republican governor Bill Owens' pro-fossil fuel culture. Amendment 37, establishing a state renewable portfolio standard had been passed by the voters in 2004, but the renewable energy industry was moving sluggishly.

As soon as he took office, Ritter began to put in place the elements of what he named "the New Energy Economy," a term later taken up by president Obama's campaign. Ritter, and the state's Democratically controlled legislature doubled Colorado's renewable energy requirement to call for 20% renewable energy by 2020, and created Colorado's first Climate Action Plan. In his State of the State address for 2010, Ritter proposed increasing that to 30% by 2020.

Colorado expects to gain 14,000 permanent jobs from the solar energy industry by 2016. And, in December of 2009, government officials released a new report mapping out how Colorado's electricity sector can reduce carbon dioxide emissions 20 percent over the next decade. See Renewable Energy Development Infrastructure (REDI).

Hooked on Coal

Despite its solar and wind potential, Colorado is hooked on coal, generating over 70% of its electricity from coal-fired power plants. Colorado has 13 coal plants, plus one of the few new coal plants in the country that is poised to be commissioned: The 750 MW Comanche coal plant in Pueblo has been financed by the ratepayers of Colorado, who have already sustained numerous rate increases to pay for it. The commissioning of Comanche III has been delayed because of concerns over its mercury emissions.