Ritter backs doubling renewable energy standard

Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday urged lawmakers to require most utilities to increase their use of renewable energy, saying the "new energy economy" would help rural economies and the environment.

Ritter spoke before the Senate State, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, his first appearance at a Legislative committee since taking office in January. The committee voted 3-2 to back a bill that will double the current standard for renewable energy, which voters approved two years ago.

The full Senate will vote on the measure next.

The measure (House Bill 1281) would requires large utilities to get at least 20 percent of their electricity from renewable by 2020. Rural electric cooperatives and all but the smallest municipal utilities would have to get to 10 percent by then.

Ritter said the bill would "put an exclamation point" on Colorado's efforts to promote renewable energy as other states, especially in the West, look at how they can also harness wind and solar power.

"Colorado is poised in so many respects to play a leadership role," Ritter said.



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