Colorado’s Governor Bill Ritter last week signed into law legislation that will see the state having one the highest proportions of renewable energy in its power mix.
The bill, HB 1001, requires that 30 percent of electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2020.
The renewable energy bill calls for 3 percent of Colorado’s energy needs to be met by grid connected rooftop solar power, minimizing the need for expensive new transmission lines to be built and creating thousands of jobs for the people of Colorado. It’s predicted over 100,000 new solar rooftops will appear in Colorado over the next decade.
“With HB 1001 we will manufacture and install panels and turbines all over Colorado to capture free energy,” said Rep. Tyler after the signing. “The sun will always shine for free, the winds will always blow for free, and our energy production will be cleaner. Renewable energy, green jobs, and a cleaner future — what’s not to like?”
Colorado’s pre-existing solar friendly policies had already attracted 230 solar companies to the state. In 2004, the people of Colorado passed an amendment that set the country’s first voter-approved renewable energy requirement at 10 percent by 2015. 3 years ago, the government doubled the requirement to 20 percent by 2020.
Twenty-nine states in the USA now have renewable energy targets.
Closer to home, Australia’s Renewable Energy Target is set at 20% by 2020. Last week a discussion paper was released by the Australian government to invite public and industry comment on the existing scheme being separated into two parts – the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) and the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET).
