Colorado Ups Renewable Energy Standards
Colorado is pushing harder and harder for renewable energy. dasolar
Last week, Colorado extended its reach into renewable energy by strengthening the state's renewable portfolio standard through 2030. In 2004, voters enacted the state's first RPS, requiring utilities to get 10% of their power from renewable sources by 2015. Two years later, that goal was doubled to 20% by 2020, and this March, Colorado lawmakers finalized a bill that will set the RPS at 30% by 2030. As soon as governor Bill Ritter signs the bill, only California will have a stronger renewable electricity standard (33% by 2030).
The new mandates also include a stipulation that 3% of utilities' renewable electricity must come via distributed generation. That should reap dividends for Colorado's photovoltaics (PV) industry, as much of that power will probably come from community, business and individually-owned rooftop solar systems.
Colorado's solar industry already employs some 2,500 people working for 230 solar companies.
According to a report by Vote Solar and Environment Colorado (via ClimateProgress), that 3% clause in the new RPS will manifest 1,000 megawatts of distributed generation and create 3,333 temporary construction jobs per year.
Colorado is already a well-known state for renewable energy, especially research and development. The state is home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and SolarTAC, the world's largest solar testing and evaluation center, the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory and a number of other institutions on the cutting edge of new solar technology and innovation. The new and improved RPS will help ensure that Colorado continues expanding its presence at both ends of the solar chain, from the laboratory to the rooftop.
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