March 3, 2015
Colorado

Colorado House kills Senate bill to rollback renewable energy standard

By Joey Bunch | The Denver Post | Posted: 03/02/2015 | www.denverpost.com

A House committee on Monday killed legislation that would have cut in half the requirement that the state’s largest utilities get 30 percent of their power from wind, solar and other renewable sources by 2020.

Senate Bill 44 also would have reduced the standard for rural electricity associations from 20 percent to 15 percent starting in 2020.

The bill died on a party-line 6-5 vote, with Democrats in opposition to the rollback.

The Republican-led Senate passed the measure last month on a party-line 18-17 vote. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, said he was concerned the standard went too far, hurting utility ratepayers, especially those in rural areas.

The bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Dan Thurlow, R-Grand Junction, said electricity prices have been rising in comparison to other states, which also could deter companies from locating in Colorado.

Opponents to the rollback testified that Colorado is a national leader in renewable energy growth, while creating more than 22,000 jobs in clean-energy technology.

“Taking a step back now makes no sense,” Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado, said at a rally for renewable energy supporters Monday.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/03/03/colorado-house-kills-senate-bill-to-rollback-renewable-energy-standard/