DENVER – The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today approved seasonal tiered electric rates for Xcel Energy in which residential customers will pay more for higher usage during peak summer months and less during other non-peak times.
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Louisville, CO, March. 3, 2010 – The future is looking bright for students at Kent Denver School, thanks to one of the largest prep school solar energy arrays in the nation. Colorado-based Bella Energy and international solar provider Conergy partnered to provide the school with a fully engineered and financed solar energy solution.
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GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES MAJOR BOOST TO RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD
Photo Credit: Colorado Governor's Office
New Energy Economy legislation will require nearly one-third of electricity come from
clean energy sources and will create thousands of good-paying jobs
Denver – Gov. Bill Ritter and lawmakers today announced legislation to significantly increase Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard, which will give Colorado the best clean-energy requirement in the Rocky Mountain West, create thousands of new jobs and lead to 100,000 solar rooftops over the next decade.
“Colorado has proven that clean energy works,” said Pam Kiely, program director for Environment Colorado. “We’ve gone from zero to 60, all fueled by clean energy, to strengthen our economy, stabilize energy prices and put Coloradans to work on solar rooftops and wind farms. Our air is cleaner, our water healthier, and we’ve cut global warming pollution. Today, it’s time to take the next big step forward.”
House Bill 10-1001 will raise the state’s renewable energy requirement for large utility companies from 20 percent by 2020 to 30 percent by 2020. The legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Max Tyler and Jack Pommer and Sens. Gail Schwartz and Bruce Whitehead. A 30 percent Renewable Energy Standard would be the highest in the Rocky Mountain West and among the highest nationally.
“Colorado’s New Energy Economy is leading America’s clean-energy revolution,” Gov. Ritter said. “We are well ahead of the current goal of 20 percent renewables by 2020 goal. By requiring utility companies to generate nearly one-third of their electricity from renewable sources, we will continue to improve our energy, environmental and economic security. We will create thousands of new jobs and help bring clean, affordable and reliable clean energy into homes and businesses throughout Colorado.”
Colorado became the first state with a voter-approved Renewable Energy Standard in 2004 with the passage of Amendment 37, which set a 10 percent by 2015 goal. Gov. Ritter and lawmakers doubled the RES to 20 percent by 2020 in 2007.
“Renewable energy is Colorado’s fastest growing economic sector,” Rep. Tyler said. “We want to keep it growing and glowing brightly. That’s why we’re proud to present our number one bill. House Bill 1001 will increase the Renewable Energy Standard by 50 percent and will spur development of small, local power projects from a wide array of sources.”
“You can’t ignore the numbers,” Sen. Schwartz said. “By increasing Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard, 100,000 more homes statewide will have renewable energy and lower energy bills, 30 percent of our electricity will come from clean-energy sources, and thousands more Coloradans will have an opportunity to obtain good-paying jobs in the New Energy Economy.”
Colorado currently has 17,000 jobs in renewable energy and energy research, the fourth-highest concentration in the nation, and 230 solar companies. With more than 300 sunny days a year in Colorado and some of the best wind resources in the country, HB 1001 will recharge the economy by incentivizing more residential, commercial and community solar projects.
“Jobs, jobs, jobs. That is our primary focus for this session and this bill,” Sen. Whitehead said. “The Renewable Energy Standard will cement our position as the premier location for New Energy Economy companies to come and create new jobs.”
“HB 1001 has been a strong collaborative effort and it makes great strides in making sure that jobs in the New Energy Economy are good jobs with training, standards, better wages and benefits for Colorado’s workers. We support this bill and look forward to it becoming law,” said Mike Cerbo, executive director, Colorado AFL-CIO.
Louisville, CO, Dec. 31, 2009 - Solar financing for non-profits and faith communities is often hard to find in these tough economic times. Thanks to a new program, developed by Colorado-based solar integrator Bella Energy, non-profit solar financing has finally reached Colorado.
Community Solar Partners is a unique solar financing program that has taken 3 years to develop. The program was designed to help non-profits and faith communities make critical investments in their infrastructure while reducing the price of investing in solar by about 30 percent. The first solar project financed under Community Solar Partners was recently completed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, of Denver, CO.
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It’s not everyday there is an international meeting to discuss climate change in a building that shares the same name as your company. (Bella) Needless to say we are following the climate talks in Copenhagen and have been twittering little tidbits as we hear about them.
As previously posted, Alison Brown, a former Bella Energy employee is in Copenhagen reporting on the talks.
Here is the latest post from her experience there:
The Bella Center is filled to capacity with people, hopes, and excitement. Rumors are flying, and the excitement is growing. Today is the last day that all accredited people are allowed into the center, tomorrow only a third of civil society can enter, and the numbers will continue to shrink until Friday when no civil society will be allowed in. With little time left in the center, a certain level of frenzy is taking over the centers. At the same time, negotiators are ramping up for constant negotiations through Wednesday night.
At 1:30 youth lined the halls of the center carrying flags from every nation representing youth solidarity in our demands. We stand with the small island states. We stand with Bangladesh’s demands. We stand with Scotland. etc. I was holding Bahrain’s flag right standing between a Chinese guy holding Ecuador’s flag and an Australian guy holding a flag I couldn’t identify. The message was clear — we are all in this together regardless of nationality, age or political beliefs.
Impressively, this action was designed only 15 hours ago, the flags and signs were only finished printing minutes before the action began. It is this unity that is giving the youth movement its power. Faced with the promises of stalled talks, and unambitious resolutions at best, the youth has resolved to only grow their presence and influence in the coming months.While contagious and powerful, this incredible drive to push the negotiators into a deal is also prompting confusion and rumors. Just over an hour ago cheers filled the hall saluting Canada for announcing emissions targets matching the IPCCs recommendations . A half hour later, the promise was proved to be a hoax.
But now, I must go attend the US youth planning meeting.
From 9 News Denver:
DENVER – About two dozen protesters against the use of coal to generate power, rallied in front of the Public Utilities Commission building in Denver Tuesday where the PUC is holding hearings on Xcel’s second rate hike request this year.
The increase would cost the average residential customer 7.6 percent, or $4.92 a month. Xcel was granted a $112 million increase in July.
Those protesting the requested $177.4 million electric-rate increase today say it would allow Xcel to open a coal-fired plant near Pueblo. The Commanche 3 plant is already built.
“We want our electricity and our jobs to come from renewable, clean, free energy, which Colorado has lots of,” said Mimsy Milton of Littleton.
To read more about the protest over the proposed rate change visit 9 news.
Photo Credit: SolarDecathlon.org
Congratulations to Team Germany who has, for the 2nd time in 3 years, claimed the top spot in this year’s Solar Decathlon. Germany’s innovative home design took advantage of the power of solar energy and covered every side of the home with solar electric panels. The innovative designed squeezed out an 11.1 kW system which even took advantage of the north side of the building, a side that is not traditionally used in photovoltaic design. To see and learn more about the system check out the Solar Decathlon video profile below:
Helping push Germany over the top was their perfect net metering score! The building integrated and innovative solar energy system along with energy efficient features provided the boost Germany needed to surpass the runner Team Illinois.
Congratulations to all of this year’s Solar Decathlon participants. You did an amazing job with your projects and provide excellent examples of what solar energy can do to help families live powerfully in the new energy economy. We can’t wait to see what you come up with next year.
Image Credit: David DeFranza: Treehugger.com
The 2009 Solar Decathlon has taken over the National Mall in Washington DC. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Solar Decathlon, it is a competition with over 20 University teams from around the world working to design and build the most attractive and efficient solar homes.
For three weeks in October 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy will host the Solar Decathlon—a competition in which 20 teams of college and university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The Solar Decathlon is also an event to which the public is invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best in home design.
If you have never seen some of the amazing homes that come out of the competition it is a great place to see some innovative, attractive and energy friendly home designs. We’ve included a few links to some photo galleries that help explain a little more about the homes.
http://www.solardecathlon.org/
http://www.msnbc.com (note: msnbc uses dynamic pages and the content may change after posting)
The Center for Resource Conservation has just announced that this year’s SolarWeek Seminars are free!
The seminars run from Monday through Thursday of this week.
Here is the list of seminars (date, topic, location):
You can read summaries of each seminar and register: http://www.conservationcenter.org/e_solarweek_workshops_select.html
Hope to see you at an interesting and inspiring seminar this week!
Come visit us at this Saturday’s Solar Home Tour in Boulder County!
See possibilities, be inspired, and learn how create sustainable systems in your own home at the Center for ReSource Conservation’s Boulder County Solar Week. The week starts with the 14th Annual Boulder County Tour of Solar & Green Homes, Saturday, September 26, which is one of the largest solar & green home tours in the country. Registration begins at 9am at the CRC office. Along with 14 homes to tour, Saturday includes 2 Green Products & Services Expos at the CRC in Boulder (2639 Spruce Street) and the Louisville Public Library. The following week will feature the Solar Week Seminar Series, covering topics such as installing a photovoltaic system, green building basics, energy efficiency, and the future of renewable energy technology. Expo and tour admission is $10; $8 for students and seniors; $5 for Louisville homes only. The week concludes with “Ask an Expert,” a One-on-One Consultation Day with members of the Boulder Green Building Guild (BGBG)
Saturday, September 26, Boulder and Louisville:
Green Products & Services Expos; Tour of 14 Solar & Green Homes
September 28 – October 1, in Boulder, Louisville & Longmont:
Seminars on Green Building, Energy Efficiency & Water Conservation
Saturday, October 3, in Boulder:
Ask An Expert on Residential Green Building Projects
Register early online to avoid long lines on Saturday! Visit http://www.conservationcenter.org/e_solarweek.htm
for more information and to register. Find a coupon for $2 off SW registration attached!
Thanks for all your hard work for this tour!
