Colorado GOP unveils environmental plans

DENVER, Colorado — Republican lawmakers unveiled a package of environmental proposals Wednesday including logging beetle-infested trees and encouraging consumers to by energy-efficient appliances.

"Republicans are committed to sound environmental policies that do not impose heavy-handed mandates on consumers and businesses," said House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker.

The GOP plans to introduce the bills in the 2008 Legislature, which starts in January.

A bill by Rep. Al White, R-Hayden, aims to reduce the impact of Colorado's beetle infestation by allowing more affected trees to be cut down.

"Our forests are a critical part of our state and a key draw for our tourism industry, yet the mountain pine beetle is having a devastating impact," White said.

A bill by Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Centennial, would allow for voluntary contributions to offset rising maintenance costs in state parks.

Two other proposals would encourage the purchase of energy-efficient appliances and another would streamline the review process for building clean-energy plants.

Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, wants to put hydroelectric power on the list of renewable-energy technologies that can be applied to meet the state's renewable-energy standard.