Citizens concerned about America’s dependence on coal and foreign oil have something new to be grateful about this Thanksgiving season: approval in numerous states of measures and candidates favoring energy efficiency and renewable energy.
In Washington State, voters approved a ballot initiative very similar to Colorado’s Amendment 37, which passed two years ago. Utilities in Washington will have to obtain 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by the year 2015.
In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarz- enegger won a comeback election after encouraging the state legislature to support a strong global warming bill and the California Million Solar Roofs Initiative, which would provide incentives to install a million solar-electric panels on a homes and businesses. Arizona, Nevada, Minnesota, Kansas and New Mexico also elected (or re-elected) governors strongly favoring renewable energy sources.
In Colorado, no one who watched Gov.-elect Bill Ritter’s acceptance speech on election night could miss his policy emphasis on wind and solar energy, and biofuels. John Salazar and Mark Udall both ran campaigns for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives pledging support for renewable energy. And Ed Perlmutter, winning a hotly contested seat in the House from the 7th Congressional District, pledged to secure stable funding for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden.
As Dan Arvizu, director of NREL observes, “Looking around the country, candidates from both parties made renewable energy part of their top three issues. That means renewable energy is now part of the national conversation, and that’s good for NREL and even better for the country.”
The Colorado legislature also appears poised to emphasize the use of energy- saving strategies and clean-energy sources. The Colorado League of Conservation Voters, whose members support energy efficiency and renewables, says that 48 out of the 51 candidates it supported were elected to the statehouse. In addition, the nonprofit group Environment Colorado reports that 73 of the newly elected members of the legislature have signed their support for the Colorado New Energy Future. This is a plan that would require 10 percent of America’s transportation fuel to come from renewable resources by 2015, while increasing the use of renewable energy to generate electricity to 20 percent by that same year.
In addition, on Election Day voters in Boulder passed a carbon tax. The tax will support the Boulder Climate Action Plan, which is designed to help businesses get utility rebates when they purchase energy-efficient equipment. It will also provide energy audits for homes and will distribute energy-efficiency kits to low-income families.
In his State of the City address in July, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper unveiled Greenprint Denver. This energy-wise approach has a number of goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, implementing a “green building” policy for new construction, and building solar and methane power plants capable of providing power to and heating the equivalent of more than 2,500 homes.
Working in partnership with the mayor, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation recently commissioned a study showing that in the next 20 years, owners of Denver-area commercial buildings could achieve a savings averaging over $3 for every $1 invested by voluntarily installing efficient equipment (especially lighting) and by more effectively controlling energy use.
As the MDEDC report points out, energy efficiency – avoiding energy use so that it doesn’t have to be generated in the first place – itself is a resource. Energy efficiency reduces utility bills, thus freeing up money that can be invested in the local economy.
Finally, just last week the Metro Mayors Caucus held a news conference releasing a memo of understanding focused on saving energy. The mayors of the 37 cities in the metro area came together to pledge to review their cities’ energy use, to use “best practices” and technology to avoid wasting energy wherever practical and cost-feasible, and to help educate the public about making wise energy choices.
I’m grateful for many blessings this Thanksgiving season. Those include family, friends and the many freedoms we enjoy as Americans. I’m also grateful for the foresight that leaders locally and across the U.S. are showing as we look to the energy future of our state and nation.
