Colo. raises renewable energy standard

Colo. raises renewable energy standard

By The Associated Press
Monday, March 22, 2010

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 today 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.