Colo. raises renewable energy standard
Denver, CO Colorado
DENVER – A bill requiring Colorado utilities to use more renewable energy, including smaller-scale solar projects, is now law.
Gov. Bill Ritter signed the bill Monday at a Denver-based solar installation company.
Utilities must now get 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. The bill increases that to 30 percent over the same time, a standard just below California’s 33 percent requirement. Most other states with renewable energy standards are in the 20-percent range.
The bill requires that 3 percent of a utility’s power sales be spent on power from solar installations at homes and businesses. That’s aimed at creating more business for the estimated 230 small solar installers in Colorado.
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The measure is House Bill 1001.