Ritter pushes renewable energy Colorado, Policy Issues

Bill Ritter makes good on his promise to bring greater renewable energy development to Colorado:

Raising the state’s standards for electricity produced by renewable energy will create thousands of new jobs and increase Colorado’s gross domestic product by nearly $2 billion, Gov. Bill Ritter said today.

Ritter cited a study by the Environment Colorado predicting that the state would see 4,100 new jobs, $570 million more in wages and $1.9 billion more in gross domestic product if it doubled the minimum amount of electricity its utilities generate from renewable energy — the goal of a bill now before the Legislature.

The bill, which would require utilities to generate 20 percent of their electric power from renewables by 2020, would also save 18 billion gallons of water that would otherwise be used to cool coal- and gas-fueled turbines, the environmental coalition study said.

“We have only just begun to tap the potential of a new energy economy,” Ritter said.

This type of rhetoric is essential.  By framing a renewable energy increase as positive both for the state and for jobs, Ritter neutralizes one of the principal arguments against renewable energy mandates from the outset.

Those revenue estimates are astounding.  If Western states start getting serious about using the vast renewable resources around us, imagine the immense solid revenue generating capacity we could see some of these states develop.  This could be back into the economy by private companies, to raise general quality of life.  This could be put into infrastructure development for schools, roads, other energy projects, etc.  The possibilities are staggering. 

One simple truth remains - renewable energy is the future out West.

Landon Mascareñaz | February 23, 2007 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) Permalink: Ritter pushes renewable energy Colorado, Policy Issues

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