Failed waste-to-energy bill raises ire

Feb 15 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Tracy Harmon The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.

Senate Republicans are crying foul after a wasteto- energy bill was killed Wednesday preventing a helping hand for a start-up business in La Junta.

SB63 died on a 2-3 party line vote, with Sen. Larry Crowder, an Alamosa Republican, and Sen. Ted Harvey, a Highlands Ranch Republican, being the loan supporters.

Sen. Kevin Grantham, a Canon City Republican, wrote the bill to classify the waste-to-energy process as a renewable energy. He said 26 states, the federal government and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden all consider the technology to be a renewable energy.

The bill was designed to allow the Creative Energy Systems company to be eligible for incentives. The company proposed to create 50 jobs and make a $40 million dollar investment in La Junta.

Ron Davis, director of economic development for La Junta said the bill, "Was about jobs in Colorado, not just for La Junta, but for the entire state." Bryan Bryant, Otero County Economic Development coordinator, also supported the bill.

Rep. Clarice Navarro, a Pueblo Republican, was the House sponsor for the bill.

"Rural Coloradans lost a huge economic driver today. It is a travesty that the Democrats in the Senate are more concerned about supporting the Denver-Boulder environmental movement than creating jobs in Southeastern Colorado," Navarro said.

"It is highly disappointing that Sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo and her Democrat committee members take their marching orders from people who know little to nothing about the people of Pueblo and Southeastern Colorado. Democrat special interests are the only winners today," Grantham said.

Giron said she had an issue with trying to change renewable energy standards for one project and also because she felt it would push out incentives for other jobs like wind.

"Yes that is a lot of jobs for Otero County but I had to look at the bigger picture. What happens in Southeast Colorado affects Pueblo and I am up here fighting in Denver for Pueblo," Giron said.

"I have shown that I can work for the good of Pueblo in a bipartisan manner -- I worked the last two years with (former Rep.) Keith Swerdfeger," Jiron said.

tharmon@chieftain.com

http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=27595400