Colorado doubles RPS for rural co-ops

June 7, 2013 | By Travis Mitchell

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper this week approved a controversial bill doubling the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) for the state's rural electric utilities. SB 252 targets rural co-ops with at least 100,000 meters and raises their RPS to 20 percent by 2020, up from the previous target of 10 percent.

Credit: Levan jgarkava /Wikimedia Commons

Affected utilities met with the Governor several times to voice their opposition and push for a veto. The Colorado Rural Electric Association said it was disappointed with the Governor's decision to push through legislation that did not take into account the views of rural co-ops.

"We shared with the Governor how we are meeting our obligation under the existing renewable energy mandate and how the bill introduces new risks for our existing facilities and renewable projects that were planned prior to the introduction of the bill," said Ken Anderson, general manager and executive vice president of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, in a statement.

Activist group Conservation Colorado called the Governor's actions an "important step" toward bolstering the state's renewable energy industry.

"…this is an exciting time from renewable energy in the state. Renewables are not only important for clean air and clean water, but more and more people are recognizing that wind, solar, and other resources are a strong economic investment as well," the organization said.

The Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is the wholesale power supplier for 18 co-ops in Colorado. The company previously told FierceEnergy that it was on track to meet the 10 percent RPS goal, and says it is still evaluating the steps it will take to comply with the new law.

For more:
-see the approved legislation
-see this article