DENVER—Colorado U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, who helped spearhead the successful campaign for the state’s renewable energy standards, says a similar effort at the federal level may be in danger.
Udall said congressional leaders are negotiating an energy bill that blends House and Senate versions passed during the summer, and the renewable energy requirements approved by the House seem to be a sticking point.
The Democrat from Boulder County said he will meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Wednesday to get an update on the legislation. He’ll also continue talking to members of the Senate, where the renewable energy provisions failed, and highlight Colorado’s experience with a similar law.
“Those of us who fought really hard in August are not going to rest until the final decision is made,” said Udall, co-chairman of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus in the House.
In August, the House passed energy measures that included the requirement that investor-owned utilities get at least 15 percent of their power from renewable sources and energy efficiency by 2020. Udall said the proposal failed in the Senate after heavy lobbying by utilities in the South.
“The Southern states think they don’t have enough wind and sun and geothermal to meet the renewable energy standard,” Udall said, “but many, many experts believe that’s not the case.”
The Senate mandated higher automobile fuel economy; the House didn’t.
Udall said the fuel economy standards are considered a priority in the effort to reconcile the energy bills, but he doesn’t agree. He said increasing energy efficiency and use of renewable energy would create jobs, be good for the environment and increase natural security by cutting reliance on foreign fuels.
Udall is pushing for the federal government to adopt an approach similar to Colorado’s Amendment 37, a measure on the 2004 ballot that made Colorado voters the first in the nation to require utilities to get some of their power from renewable sources. He was the campaign’s co-chairman.
Legislatures and regulators in other states have adopted similar requirements.
This year Colorado lawmakers strengthened the voters’ mandate by increasing the amount of renewable energy utilities must sell to 20 percent by 2020, up from 10 percent by 2015. Four percent of the energy must come from solar power.
Xcel Energy, the state’s largest electricity provider, was on pace to meet the 10 percent requirement several years ahead of schedule.
“We understand renewable energy is good for the state and good for the country,” said Keith Hay of Environment Colorado, which campaigned for the states’ renewable energy standards.
But Hay said environmental groups are hearing that the federal version might be in trouble.
“I think it will be a significant setback, but I am hopeful going forward that the new administration will make this one of their priorities,” Hay said.
